The general practitioners in Germany reacted with incomprehension to the decision by the health ministers to offer all children from the age of twelve a corona vaccination offer.

Why a recommendation from the Standing Vaccination Commission on this question on the basis of well-founded studies could not be waited for is "a mystery" to him, said the federal chairman of the German Association of General Practitioners, Ulrich Weigeldt, the editorial network Germany.

"The whole thing sounds a bit like an election campaign noise."

Weigeldt accused the health ministers of “disregarding the competence” of the STIKO and warned that the decision to offer vaccinations could lead to uncertainty.

In addition, the pandemic risk is currently “more among adults who do not want to be vaccinated than among children and adolescents between the ages of twelve and 17”.

In the “Wirtschaftswoche” on Tuesday, Weigeldt described the idea “that we vaccinate all young people even after a STIKO recommendation” as “just as science fiction as the idea of ​​a vaccination rate of 90 percent”.

But this is also not necessary.

"What most children suffer from is certainly less long-covid than long-lockdown," said the doctor.

He therefore pleaded for a debate about compulsory vaccination for daycare and teaching staff.

The federal and state health ministers decided on Monday to offer children and adolescents from the age of twelve a wide range of corona vaccinations. In doing so, they circumvented the STIKO, which so far only recommends corona vaccinations for twelve to 17-year-olds if there are particular risks.

Ulrich Heininger, STIKO member and pediatrician, commented on the decision of the health ministers on Deutschlandfunk.

“As a pediatrician, I welcome that because it corresponds to my personal opinion,” he said.

Children and adolescents have the same right to vaccination against Covid-19 as adults.

“As a STIKO member, I see things a little more differently,” he said.

"I would have liked the health ministers to have contacted us beforehand and agreed with us when it would be wise to go public with such a recommendation or such a measure."

Spahn defends decision

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) meanwhile defended the decision of the federal and state governments.

Spahn said on Tuesday on RBB-Inforadio that the vaccination would remain voluntary.

There is also no contradiction to the STIKO.

"That is entirely in line with the Stiko," said Spahn.

“Whoever wants can get vaccinated, nobody has to.

That is not a contradiction, we are in harmony with one another, ”said the minister.

Spahn pointed out that many in the age group would already be vaccinated.

"There are already over 900,000 children and young people from twelve to 17 years of age, around 20 percent of this age group, vaccinated at least once, at their own request," said the minister.

With a view to criticism of a general vaccination offer for adolescents, as expressed by the General Practitioners Association, Spahn said: “It's expressly not about applying pressure.” Vaccination for children and adolescents in particular is “also an emotional issue that many people experience Families is discussed ”.

It is about giving those who want to be vaccinated the opportunity to do so.

Laumann emphasizes individual advice before vaccination

The North Rhine-Westphalian Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) also spoke out in favor of accepting the independence of the STIKO.

He has confidence in the scientific committee, said Laumann on Tuesday on the radio station WDR 5. North Rhine-Westphalia will continue to comply with the STIKO recommendation on corona vaccination for adolescents from the age of twelve.

There is the "strict requirement" that individual advice must be given before vaccination.

In North Rhine-Westphalia they are proceeding “very carefully” here.

In the country's vaccination centers, specific times would be offered when parents could come with their children and the vaccinations would be carried out by pediatricians.

Laumann appealed to parents, grandparents, staff in daycare centers and schools or youth clubs to get vaccinated.

Because that also increases the protection for the children.

In Germany, the STIKO does not recommend vaccinations for children in general, but only if there is a higher risk of more severe corona courses, for example due to diseases such as diabetes.

The data situation is not sufficient to rule out possible consequential damage.

Lower Saxony's Minister of Health Daniela Behrens (SPD) defended the federal-state decision on vaccination offers for children and adolescents. Behrens said in the NDR Info program on Tuesday that the vaccines are approved for children aged 12 and over and are vaccinated in "all countries without restrictions". “In Germany we have a very intensive debate on this with STIKO. We take them seriously. And that's why it's not an affront to the STIKO, but something that we would like to offer parents who want their children and adolescents to be vaccinated, ”said the Minister of Health.