Cross vaccination against Corona: General practitioners complain about additional work

Status: 03.07.2021 8:54 a.m.

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Two different vaccines against the coronavirus – according to Health Minister Spahn, this is “particularly effective”. It is primarily general practitioners who have to implement this new STIKO recommendation. They complain about the new burden.

The cross-vaccinations recommended by the STIKO pose enormous challenges for general practitioners: “Patients are insecure, ask which vaccine they will now receive with the second vaccination and want to bring their appointment forward accordingly,” said the federal chairman of the German Association of General Practitioners, Ulrich Weigeldt Editorial network Germany. The adjustment of the recommendation caused “enormous additional effort” in many practices on the first day.

The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) also fears a new run on practices, as KBV boss Andreas Gassen said. “In the next few weeks, there will be over three million AstraZenca second vaccinations in the practices.” Providing all those affected quickly with mRNA vaccines could “not cost the doctors”, warned KBV deputy boss Stephan Hofmeister.

Higher consulting effort

The General Practitioner Association criticizes the fact that the new STIKO recommendation surprised the doctors: Of course, it is the task of science to adapt recommendations to the current state of knowledge, said Weigeldt. “But that does not speak against clear communication and the early involvement of those who ultimately implement the recommendations. If we start to falter, so does the entire vaccination campaign.” Doctors and practice teams are faced with enormous logistical challenges from one day to the next. After all, the mRNA vaccines are “only available to a limited extent,” said Weigeldt. The consulting effort is also significantly higher.

The vaccination commission surprisingly announced on Thursday that people who had received a first dose of the corona vaccine from AstraZeneca should in future receive an mRNA vaccine like the one from BioNTech / Pfizer or Moderna as a second syringe, regardless of age.

Uncertainty about the interval between vaccinations

According to Weigeldt, the STIKO announcement also raises many questions, such as what the recommendation means for patients who have already been vaccinated twice with AstraZeneca and what the maximum interval between first and second vaccination is when cross-vaccinated with two different vaccines. In its latest recommendation, the STIKO had shortened the minimum interval to four weeks.

For the patients, of course – especially with a view to the upcoming summer vacation – it makes a big difference “whether they wait nine to twelve weeks for their second vaccination or just four”.

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn called the cross vaccination “particularly effective”. It offers a “very, very high level of vaccination protection”. There is also enough vaccine available to implement the recommendation, said Spahn. In principle, cross-vaccination is now possible – depending on the availability of vaccines and logistical requirements. The federal states promised on Friday that they would immediately implement the new STIKO recommendation published the day before.