“Do you have any questions about coronary or influenza vaccination? Talk to us.” Many pharmacies, doctors’ offices, dental practices, nursing homes, hospitals, and health insurance companies in North Rhine-Westphalia will remind people of coronary and flu vaccinations in the coming days and weeks with warnings. The health system of North Rhine-Westphalia has joined forces under the leadership of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MAGS) in the new alliance “NRW vaccinates – stay healthy!” to actively educate about protection through a new corona vaccination and seasonal flu vaccination.
Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann explains: “The alliance ‘NRW vaccines – stay healthy!’ aims to provide information where it counts: among the local population. Citizens receive direct and individual advice from trusted experts. So everyone can be sure that they will receive the necessary information on coronary and flu vaccination. Obviously I hope that many citizens will take advantage of this offer, especially when questions and uncertainties arise. Compared to previous years, the recommendation of the Standing Commission on Vaccination is more differentiated. We meet the growing need for information together with our partners in the health sector. To get through the autumn well, those who have been vaccinated since
The Standing Committee on Vaccinations recommends getting vaccinated. Vaccination is still the best protection against a serious illness with influenza and corona and can ultimately save lives. “
The alliance focuses on direct contact and on-site advice. As a result, MAGS provides medical practices, dental practices, pharmacies, health insurance companies, hospitals and nursing homes with printable signs with which they can refer to their counseling services. To reach citizens at home, the MAGS has www.jetztimpfen.nrw.de gathered up-to-date information on protection through coronary and influenza vaccination. The alliance also uses their respective social media channels to draw attention to the advisory service.
The Standing Commission on Vaccinations (STIKO) currently recommends a renewed (fourth) corona vaccination for all citizens over the age of 60 and especially for staff in medical and nursing facilities, as well as for those aged five and over years with previous illnesses. MRNA vaccines adapted to the omicron variant of the virus, favored by STIKO for booster vaccinations, are now available. Due to the onset of the autumn wave, it is also urgently recommended that all people over the age of 12 get their first booster vaccination if they have not yet received it. Newly adapted vaccines are suitable for this too. Also, flu vaccination is especially recommended for people over the age of 60 and can usually be given at the same time as corona vaccination.
The partners of the NRW vaccinates – stay healthy alliance are: AOK NorthWest, AOK Rhineland / Hamburg, North Rhine Chamber of Pharmacists, Westfalia-Lippe Chamber of Pharmacists, North Rhine eV Association of Pharmacists, Westphalia-Lippe eV Association of Pharmacists, North Rhine-Westphalia Medical Association, Westphalian-Lippe Medical Association, BKK NORDWEST State Association, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Nursing Committee, IKK Classic, North Rhine-Westphalia Health Insurance Coroner Association, Association of Physicians health insurance lawyers of North Rhine-Westphalia-Lippe, Association of Dentists of Compulsory Health Insurance of North Rhine-Westphalia, Association of Dentists of Compulsory Health Insurance of Westphalia-Lippe, KNAPPSCHAFT, Hospital Society of North Rhine-Westphalia and . V., SVLFG, the Association of Health Insurance Replacement Funds (vdek), the North Rhine Dental Association, the Westfalia-Lippe Dental Association and the North Rhine State Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs -Westfalia.
Ingo Morell, president of the North Rhine-Westphalia Hospital Association (KGNW), explains: “People seriously ill with corona have yet to be treated as hospitalized and too many people are still dying every day in this pandemic. doctors, this continues to be a major burden. Anyone with the necessary vaccine protection protects themselves from a severe course – and thus relieves the burden on employees in hospitals, who are predictably heavily burdened with the flu and the coronavirus again. get vaccinated “.
The board of directors of the Associations of medical examiners of North Rhine-Westphalia (KVNO) and Westphalia-Lippe (KWVL) points out: “In Corona times, vaccination is and will remain our ticket back to normal – this this is especially true in view of the coming autumn and winter months, of which we cannot currently say how the contagion situation will develop. One thing is certain, however: the practice teams in North Rhine-Westphalia have ordered sufficient flu vaccines and the corona. The doctors in the private practice are ready to individually advise people on both and to start the ‘double turbo vaccination’ together, “points out Dr. Frank Bergmann (CEO KVNO) and Dr. Volker Schrage (Vice President of KVWL).
“Influenza vaccination is one of the most important and effective preventive measures,” says Günter Wältermann, CEO of AOK Rheinland / Hamburg on behalf of the health insurance companies and health insurance associations of North Rhine-Westphalia. “It is especially recommended for anyone who has an increased risk of infection and a severe disease course. With the ‘NRW vaccinate – stay healthy!’ people in North Rhine-Westphalia have access to a well-founded range of advice on all issues relating to flu vaccinations ”.
Dr Hans-Albert Gehle (President of the Westphalian-Lippe Medical Association), Rudolf Henke (President of the North Rhine-Westphalia Medical Association) and Sandra Postel (President of the Establishment Committee of the North Rhine-Westphalia Nursing Chamber) agree that regular population clarification is critical for both corona and influenza vaccinations: “Vaccinations are always a matter of trust. If you are unsure of the right time for booster vaccinations and the vaccine, we advise citizens to contact a trusted doctor. Uncertainty must not lead to vaccination fatigue. Lightening the burden on the healthcare system and protecting staff, patients and those in need of care must continue to be a priority. Because if you are vaccinated, you can protect your health in a very simple way and also take social responsibility for your fellow men. That’s why we support the ‘NRW vaccinates – stay in health!’ Alliance “
“The approximately 4,000 pharmacies in North Rhine-Westphalia will provide significant support for the new state initiative for coronary and influenza vaccinations with their high level of counseling expertise in their more than 800,000 customer and patient contacts per day.” , the associations of pharmacists and chambers of North Rhine-Westphalia underline in a joint opinion.
The Presidents of the Dental Associations of North Rhine-Westphalia and Westphalia-Lippe, Dr. Ralf Hausweiler and Jost Rieckesmann, as well as the chairmen of the board of directors of the dental associations of legal health insurance in North Rhine-Westphalia and Westphalia-Lippe , Dr. Ralph Wagner and Dr. Holger Seib agrees: “The dental profession has been involved in all measures to combat the pandemic from the beginning. Of course, it also welcomes and actively supports this campaign by our state government in North Rhine-Westphalia.”
For more information, see www.jetztimpfen.nrw.de.
