First there was anger about the corona protection for seniors, now it's about the children.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) could also approve BioNTech's vaccine, which has previously been approved from the age of 16, this Friday for children and adolescents between the ages of twelve and 15.

This Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the Prime Ministers of the federal states are joining forces for another vaccination summit - and it is not exactly harmonious.

Kim Bjorn Becker

Editor in politics.

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    Christian Geinitz

    Business correspondent in Berlin

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      There are disagreements about child vaccinations not only between the federal and state governments, but also between Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) and doctors, patient representatives and, above all, the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko).

      Spahn has suggested that after successful approval, the twelve to fifteen year olds should be given preference for vaccination.

      In the ARD-Mittagsmagazin he said on Wednesday that everyone in the age group should be given the opportunity to get vaccinated by the end of August - this coincides in half of the federal states with the end of the summer holidays and the start of classes in the new school year.

      However, it must be "absolutely clear" that vaccination should not be a condition for attending school.

      Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD), who is also Family Minister after Franziska Giffey's resignation, said: "Our promise is: there will be no compulsory vaccination against Corona - neither for adults nor for children and young people." it is “desirable and important” that every adolescent should be offered a vaccination in the summer.

      Involving the children would once again disrupt the vaccination campaign - to the detriment of groups that are significantly more at risk.

      The Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance (ZI) warns against this.

      The institute calculates that around three million twelve to fifteen-year-olds would be eligible.

      As currently only around 1.7 million doses of the BioNTech preparation are available each week for primary vaccinations - the rest is being held back for secondary vaccinations - early childhood vaccinations delay the immunization of adults by almost two weeks.

      "Children have an extremely low risk of a severe course of Covid-19," says ZI managing director Dominik von Stillfried.

      "To prioritize them over older people, who are much more at risk, is difficult to understand."

      On the other hand, there are good reasons to look at underage risk patients - for example those who suffered from cardiovascular diseases or obesity. There are already indications that the Stiko takes a similar view and may only recommend the vaccination of young at-risk patients. The panel said that the available data from 1,000 teenagers on safety, tolerability and effectiveness were not sufficient for a scientific assessment. Presumably, the recommendation will therefore only follow clearly after approval.

      The sensitive question will also be a topic at the federal and state vaccination summit this Thursday. It is unclear whether there is a majority there for Spahn's position. Several federal states emphasized on Wednesday that they want to adhere to the recommendations of the Standing Vaccination Commission. Although one does not want to anticipate the discussion on Thursday, it was said, among others, from North Rhine-Westphalia. Berlin's Senator for Health Dilek Kalayci (SPD) made a similar statement. The basic goal must be to be able to offer children and adolescents a vaccination ”, Kalayci told the FAZ