The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) is sticking to its wait-and-see approach to vaccinating children and adolescents despite political pressure.

The STIKO chairman Thomas Mertens told the broadcaster NDR Info on Monday that there was still too little data on possible health consequences for 12 to 17 year olds.

"We say we cannot make a general recommendation as long as we do not have the necessary data security in this regard."

Political pressure for a quick decision has no influence on the STIKO, Mertens made clear.

"It may well be that we will change our recommendation, but certainly not because politicians have spoken out," said the STIKO chairman.

Health ministers advise on vaccination options

This Monday, the federal and state health ministers are discussing corona vaccination offers for young people.

"All federal states will now offer vaccinations for 12 to 17-year-olds in the vaccination centers," writes the Federal Ministry of Health in a proposed resolution sent to the federal states.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer for children and adolescents from the age of twelve in May, and the approval for Moderna followed a few days ago. For Germany, the Stiko has so far only recommended vaccination, despite intense political pressure, primarily to children and adolescents with certain pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or obesity, who are at increased risk of a severe course.

Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller defended the plans on Monday to offer vaccinations to children from the age of twelve. Although the STIKO is still hesitant here, many doctors and scientists are of the opinion that a vaccination protects young people much better, said the SPD politician on Monday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. In Berlin it can already be seen that the group of 15 to 25 year olds has an incidence that is two to four times higher than that of other population groups. To react to this and to make an offer that is not an obligation, he considers "very appropriate".

The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach also considers corona vaccinations for children from twelve to be appropriate.

He said on Deutschlandfunk that politics is now creating facts here is right.

The main studies on vaccinating children showed that infection with the delta variant of the coronavirus was more dangerous than vaccination.

Scientifically, he clearly came to the conclusion that vaccinations help children.

The US health authority CDC, which has probably the best specialists in the world, recommends vaccinating children.

More than six million children have been vaccinated in the USA, and immunization has been well studied here.

After a good six weeks of vacation, the new school year begins this Monday in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

These are the first federal states in Germany where lessons are starting again - under the sign of the corona virus.

In Schleswig-Holstein, all indoor students must wear masks for the first three weeks of the school year.

Those who have not been vaccinated or recovered have to test themselves twice a week.

This applies to students as well as to all employees.

Girls and boys no longer have to put on masks in the schoolyards.

In the new school year you can also stay outside in any group - the “cohort rule” is no longer applicable.

Mask requirement in the first two weeks of school

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, masking is compulsory in the first two weeks of school.

In addition, the students and the unvaccinated teachers have to take a corona test twice a week.

In the second week of school there should be vaccination offers for adolescents from 16 years of age in the school, in the first week the need for them should be inquired about.

From the point of view of Schleswig-Holstein's Minister of Education, Karin Prien (CDU), the chances of starting the new school year are significantly better than in 2020. The background to this is particularly the progress made in vaccination.

Significant progress has also been made with digitization in schools.

Vaccination campaigns in schools for students from the age of twelve and for employees are to begin on August 19.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Education Minister Bettina Martin (SPD) had announced that she did not want to close schools across the board as a preventive measure, even if the incidence was high. The health authorities of the districts and urban districts should make decisions taking into account the regional infection numbers as well as hospital admissions and intensive care patients. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has one of the lowest corona incidences nationwide, but it is increasing.