The distribution of coronavirus vaccines for children aged 5-11 starts today in Germany. The Ministry of Health announced that 2.2 million doses of BioNTech / Pfizer vaccines are immediately available for children of this age group. Vaccinations will be performed at pediatricians, vaccination centers, but also in zoos, natural history museums, and even football fields. Vaccination of 5-11 year olds is done after the recommendation of the independent Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) to provide the vaccine to children with a medical history, to those who have contact with high-risk patients as well as to the rest, when the parents wish.
Federal Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watsinger called on parents of young children to seize the opportunity for vaccination. “Vaccinating children is a contribution to keeping schools open,” he said. After all, any vaccination helps to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The president of the Federal Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ), Thomas Fisbach, expects that the response to the vaccination of young children will be as great as in the case of 12-17 year olds. Since the campaign began in September, 50% of teens have been vaccinated. At the same time, Mr. Fisbach warned about the possibility of problems in the supply. In the case of vaccines for children 12 years and older, only half the quantity of the order was delivered to the pediatricians “many times”.
DW – Panagiotis Kouparanis, Berlin
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