RKI numbers: seven-day incidence increases slightly to 17.9

The nationwide seven-day incidence of new corona infections has increased again slightly and is now 17.9.

As the Robert Koch Institute announced on Tuesday morning, citing information from the health authorities, 1766 new infections and 19 further deaths related to Covid-19 were registered within 24 hours.

A week ago the incidence was 14.5.

The seven-day incidence is an essential benchmark for tightening or relaxing corona requirements.

It indicates the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week.

The total number of corona infections recorded in Germany since the beginning of the pandemic is, according to the information, 3,773,875.

A total of 91,679 corona deaths have been reported so far.

The RKI puts the number of those recovered from a corona infection at around 3,658,300.

STIKO Chairman: The problem is also unvaccinated adults

In the discussion about vaccinating children and adolescents, the chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), Thomas Mertens, called on 18 to 59-year-olds to be vaccinated against Corona. They are underrepresented among the vaccinated, he said in an online event with the CDU member of the Bundestag Ronja Kemmer on Monday evening in Ulm.

"Over 75 percent in this age group would be great." Then a fourth wave can also be flattened. A sense of community is required, because unvaccinated people could infect others, who in turn could fall seriously ill with the virus. The unvaccinated 20 percent of teachers in particular should catch up on this. The coronavirus will remain, but after an infection of the population, the severe courses would disappear. "It will be like a normal virus, which no longer frightens us so much."

Vaccination of children and adolescents, however, does not contribute to herd immunity.

The virologist defended the STIKO's position not to recommend vaccinations for 12 to 17-year-olds in general - unless they suffer from certain pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or obesity, which pose an increased risk of a severe course.

More young Americans in the risk group

It is not surprising that different decisions were made in other countries based on the same data from international studies.

The evaluation of the data and the conclusions are always linked to the respective prerequisites.

The fact that so many young people are vaccinated in the USA, for example, is the result of a higher proportion of malnutrition, obesity and diabetes in this age group.

Intensive medical treatment is an “absolute rarity” for healthy children, and deaths only occur in seriously ill children and adolescents.

The STIKO had been criticized for its "outsider position".

According to Mertens, however, the scientists agree that vaccination is currently out of the question for 9.1 million children aged 0 to 11 in Germany.

Politicians have just decided on additional vaccination options nationwide.

All countries now want to offer vaccinations for 12 to 17 year olds in the regional vaccination centers.

The health ministers decided unanimously on Monday.

According to von Mertens, this is purely a precautionary measure, it is not based on scientific evidence.

Pediatricians for vaccination

The president of the professional association of paediatricians, Thomas Fischbach, on the other hand, called on the STIKO to change its position. "Doctors are already allowed to vaccinate children and adolescents from the age of twelve according to the currently valid recommendation after intensive education," said Fischbach of the Rheinische Post. “Personally, I am a supporter of these vaccinations. The risk of side effects from the vaccination is extremely low, as shown by all the data from other countries. ”Therefore, he would like to see“ a prompt reassessment by the STIKO ”.

SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach warns against premature optimism following the decision by the health ministers on vaccinations for children. “There will be no herd immunity in schools. The willingness to vaccinate is not enough for that ”, says Lauterbach of the editorial network Germany. It is estimated that only 60 percent of young people would get vaccinated. But he could imagine, if the coronavirus breaks out in some classes and unvaccinated children have to be quarantined, that some young people will ultimately be vaccinated. "If many young people are vaccinated quickly now, we can avoid large quarantine cases".