Professor of General Practice Jochen Cals from Sittard finds it disappointing that no account has been taken of possible setbacks now that the Janssen vaccine cannot be started. “There is no direction.”
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Cals made his statements in the L1 program Evening Guests: Corona in Limburg.
Too little, too late
According to Cals, frustration grows in all types of professional groups when there is a delay in vaccination. “What you see in line with the policy is: too little, too late. That applies to the discussion about the protective equipment, the mouth masks discussion and about the strategies of vaccination. We see that things are not going the way we want with vaccines. And we keep seeing that a plan is only made when something falls away. “
Janssen vaccine
The professor of Maastricht University is thus referring to Wednesday’s news about the Janssen vaccine. The American developer has asked the Netherlands not to use the delivered vaccines for the time being. These were intended for healthcare employees. In the United States, unusual blood clots, along with a decreased platelet count, were seen in six people. Outgoing minister De Jonge announced that he would take the developer’s advice and not start vaccinating on Thursday.
Director
Cals finds it especially distressing for the people who are waiting for an injection. “Any injection that is not in an arm does not protect.” According to Cals, there is no direction from the ministry. “We are going to have a meeting about it again for a month and are going to ask for advice again. The Ministry of Health has learned that. Due to the market forces in healthcare, everything is put to the field, nothing is done itself anymore. The ministry has forgotten to take control. because there is no direction. ” Cals is also critical of the road map presented by the cabinet on Tuesday towards a ‘normal’ society. “The map presented yesterday is not a road map, it is the Tom Tom who has lost his way.”
Carpet
Janssen is not the first vaccine where side effects are reported after the first injections. Many complaints about side effects have also been received around AstraZeneca. Agnes Kant, Head of Side Effects of the Lareb center, notices this. “We have had no fewer than 33,000 reports since the beginning, but fortunately it is largely about the known side effects. Of course you have to compare it to the coronavirus, which we have been suffering from for a year. So you have to put it in the right context. place.” With regard to blood clots, the number of reports remained below ten. Kant thinks it is good that side effects are reported: “Better a magnifying glass than shoving it under the rug.”
Birth control pill
According to Cals, his general practice in Sittard is inundated with phone calls about the side effects of vaccines. “Explaining the risk is very difficult. It is extremely rare. Just like the chance that you will win a big prize in the lottery is very small.” Cals points out that other medications also have side effects. “Take the contraceptive pill, there are the same risks.” Kant wants to counter that new information is constantly becoming known during the vaccination, which is reported by her and her colleagues.
