Corona pandemic: Lauterbach sees the majority for the introduction of compulsory vaccination in danger

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) sees a majority in the Bundestag for general vaccination.

However, he fears that the three different motions could compete with each other in such a way that this majority would not come about.

"I therefore believe that it is very important that we bring the applications together," he said in Berlin on Friday.

First of all, it makes sense to bundle the two applications from the coalition for compulsory vaccination at 18 and 50 years of age.

"The small differences must not make it impossible to have a great common ground," says Lauterbach.

At best, the Union will then also participate with its application.

"I still hope that we can make a joint decision afterwards."

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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Regarding the corona situation, Lauterbach said that there were still high numbers of new infections, “which we probably underestimate”.

200 to 300 Covid-19 patients die every day.

Those are the highest numbers in months.

The new subvariant BA.2 accounts for up to 24 percent of all cases, with six percentage points more every week.

BA.2 probably does not result in more severe courses than the original variant, but is more contagious.

"Otherwise, a serious relapse cannot be ruled out"

Lauterbach appealed to the prime ministers not to go beyond the agreed easing under any circumstances: “Otherwise a serious relapse cannot be ruled out.” At the federal-state meeting, it was agreed that the restrictions would be gradually reduced.

Most of the restrictions should fall at the beginning of spring on March 20th.

Then the legal basis for this expires according to the Infection Protection Act.

Lauterbach warned against regarding March 20 as a "freedom day".

The pandemic is not over yet: "A Freedom Day is not without danger, it gives us a security that we do not have."

The minister therefore does not expect a full opening on March 20th.

He is currently revising the Infection Protection Act together with Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).

According to Lauterbach, the planned state regulations on “basic protection” must include distance rules, contact restrictions and hygiene concepts as well as the protection of homes or clinics and provisions on “hotspots” with a high incidence.

"There must be a substantial supporting law," demanded the minister.

He himself deliberately takes a cautious position.

This is the only way to be well prepared for autumn, when a new wave is to be expected.

In contrast to other countries, the Federal Republic has to be particularly careful, since up to twelve percent of people over the age of 60 have not yet been vaccinated.

"Germany has to go its own way because we have a special situation," said Lauterbach.

He warned that the number of infections could fall but the number of deaths could rise.

The President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, also said that the chronically ill and the elderly are primarily at risk.

Bucking the trend, the incidence in over 80-year-olds is increasing.

Hospitalization among the elderly is also increasing, and there are more outbreaks in nursing homes again.

Wieler hopes Novavax's new protein-based vaccine will provide incentives for the undecided.

The STIKO vaccination commission is now recommending a second refresher course for vulnerable groups.

This fourth injection should take place no earlier than three months after the third.

For medical and nursing staff, the interval should be six months.

The head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Andreas Gassen, added that the demand for vaccinations was falling significantly.

Most recently from one million to 800,000 doses a week.

Novavax could bring a new boost.

He observes an “extremely high number of unreported cases” for infections, since there are only four PCR tests for every 100,000 inhabitants, of which 44 percent are positive.

Gassen is skeptical about antigen citizen tests.

The 73 million swabs would have cost 900 million euros.

Eight out of nine tests could only detect Omikron with a high viral load: "The question arises: do these citizen tests make sense without a reason?"

Gassen demanded that the medical assistants (MFA) in the medical practices should also receive a corona bonus.

Lauterbach replied that the bonus should initially be limited to care.

The vaccination reimbursement for practices of 28 euros per dose is “not bad” from an international point of view.