Corona vaccine: hotline overloaded – Ministry of Health gives details

The start of corona vaccination is bumpy in Germany. Now the heads of Biontech have ruled on the expansion of production. There are also problems with the Corona direct line.

Update of Sunday, January 3, 2021, 10:00 am: the Crown-Hotline that some states also use for Vaccination appointments usage is obviously difficult to achieve. We are currently investigating “very serious indications that the hotline is overloaded,” a Health Ministry spokesman told “Welt am Sonntag.” Behind him are probably technical problems.

So that’s it Phone number 116117 overloaded. This is operated by the Association of Health Insurance Physicians (KV). It is used to establish contact with the medical service on call during the night and on weekends, for example. According to the Health Ministry, up to 500,000 calls to the Corona hotline are expected in the coming weeks.

Update from Saturday, January 2, 2021, 2:50 pm: A physician from the National Academy of Sciences. Leopoldina accuses the federal government of “serious failure” in the acquisition of the corona vaccine. “Why don’t you have many more in summer? vaccine ordered at risk? Frauke Zipp asks. Recently there were official memorials for the dead, now patience is required, criticizes the neurologist. If it is enough Corona vaccine is available, 60 percent of the population can be vaccinated in two or three months, he told the newspaper “Die Welt”.

Biontech wants to deliver more corona vaccine to the EU: the head of the company criticizes the EU strategy

+++ 8:01 pm: the Corona vaccine from Mainz company Biontech has been vaccinated for a few days in the EU, the vaccine is in high demand and in short supply. There are already discussions among experts on whether the second vaccination could be postponed to have more vaccination capabilities. Well i want Biontech plus vaccine deliver to the European Union as planned. The company is “in advanced discussions about whether we can continue Vaccine dose from Europe to Europe this year ”, explained the head of the company Ugur Sahin towards the dpa news agency. “We are working with the EU to further expand our production capacities and to be able to provide additional doses of vaccine.”

This week it was agreed with the EU Commission, another 100 million Vaccine dose to deliver. An option that was already agreed in the EU framework agreement was used: initially 200 million cans of Biontech vaccine with an option to purchase 100 million more units. This expansion was contractually agreed a few days ago after EU states announced a corresponding need. When asked, a company spokeswoman declined to say how quickly a contract for additional deliveries could be finalized and what quantities are involved.

Biontech boss wonders about EU corona vaccination strategy

Updated on Friday, January 1, 2020 at 10:31 am: The Vaccine manufacturer Biontech of Mainz is working under high pressure to increase production capacities for the Vaccine for coronavirus expand. “At the moment things are not looking good, there is a hole because there are no other approved vaccines and we have to fill this gap with our vaccine,” he said. Biontech-Chef Ugur Sahinwho runs the company together with his wife Özlem Türeci, the “Spiegel”. Germany but “he will get enough vaccine.” Sahin promises more certainty in planning: “At the end of January we will have clarity on whether and to what extent we can produce more.”

According to the Spiegel report, the US had 600 million doses of in July Biontech insured, twice that of the EU. The Europeans had not awarded the contract until November. Sahin explains why it took longer: “The process in Europe It is certainly not as quick and easy as in other countries. Also because the European Union it is not directly authorized, but the states have a voice. ”

Biontech boss Ugur Sahin: increasing the production of the corona vaccine is “anything but trivial”

It is “anything but trivial” than Production of the corona vaccine increase in the short term. Biontech has already “commissioned five manufacturers in Europe to support the production,” Özlem Türeci said. “More contracts are being negotiated.” Recently, several politicians called for production of the vaccine to be accelerated, including Christian Lindner (FDP) and Markus Söder (CSU).

the Biontech and Pfizer vaccine It was approved in the EU shortly before Christmas and has also been administered for a few days. More approvals for Corona vaccines it does not exist in the EU until now. The international community has already ordered doses of vaccines from several manufacturers that are still in development. “Many other companies were supposed to come with vaccines. Obviously the impression prevailed: we will have enough, it will not be so bad and we have it under control. I was surprised, ”Sahin said.

Ugur Sahin, Head of Biontech: The production of mRNA vaccines is very complex

On the question of whether Biontech Sahin emphasized the complexity of mRNA vaccine production that could be licensed to other manufacturers to produce the new vaccine. “You can’t just switch so that instead of aspirin or cough syrup, the vaccine is suddenly produced. The process requires years of experience and adequate structural and technological equipment. “

Corona vaccine: SPD asks Jens Spahn to act

Update Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 8 am.: The parliamentary manager of the SPD in the Bundestag, Carsten Schneider, has ministers of health Jens spahn drove the Difficulty starting vaccines. to fix quickly. “He is responsible for the acquisition and distribution of vaccines. That, and only that, must now be the number one priority for him, “Schneider told the German press agency. “The Bundestag has provided him with the necessary skills and financial resources for this. The federal states are responsible for on-site vaccination. It is difficult to organize if it is not clear when and how much vaccine will arrive. “

Corona vaccine breaks down: next deliveries will be early

+++ 5:26 pm: After the afternoon Vaccine supplies in Bavaria and Berlin the next installment should be anticipated. Consequently, the next batch of Biontech vaccine beautiful on January 8, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Health. “Subsequently, the next delivery will be made on January 18, 2021 and, thereafter, initially weekly on Mondays.”

The hesitant delivery of the Vaccine it provoked widespread criticism. Confusion about the exact deadline for issuing the funds also generated discontent. The Bavarian Secretary of State Klaus Holstschek said: “For career planning, we need reliable information about upcoming at an early stage. Vaccine delivery. “

Update of Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 4:24 pm: There is currently one not only in Berlin Vaccine shortage. Bavaria is also affected. The “Bayerischer Rundfunk” reports on this. 17,000 people already have it Vaccine to receive. But it has to stay that way for now.

Because strong Bavarian Minister of Health Melanie Huml Contrary to plans, the Free State will probably not receive any deliveries in the first week of January. For the politician it is at such high levels New corona infections incomprehensible. “The vaccination doses that were actually promised were already firmly planned in our vaccination centers,” he said. Starting January 11, deliveries will begin rolling again.

Corona vaccine: Berlin delivery canceled – harsh criticism of Jens Spahn

First report of Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 4 pm: Berlin: the corona vaccine is still in short supply in Germany. And it is urgently needed as well, as more and more people die from or with Corona. In the coming year, there should be a significant expansion of the Corona vaccines give. Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) hopes that Moderna’s vaccine will be approved soon. Spahn assumes “expedited processing”, as reported by AFP.

In addition, another production plant for the preparation of Biontech and Pfizer start in Germany. “If all of this works, we will be able to vaccinate the area faster than expected,” said Jens Spahn in Berlin. So far, more than 78,000 citizens have received the corona vaccine. Mainly people living in nursing homes received the vaccine.

Corona Vaccines – Jens Spahn criticism: “I’m angry”

But not everyone agrees with the vaccination campaign so far. Especially in the capital there was anger. “We have now received the message from the Federal Ministry of Health that the delivery will be canceled in the first calendar week without replacement,” he said. Berlin Health Minister Dilek Kalacyi in the “rbb”. You need a reliable delivery. In reality, the Spree metropolis would have received 58,500 doses of vaccination before the turn of the year.

Uncertainty about deadlines makes appointment making much more difficult. The vaccine is needed now. “I’m upset. The shortage of Vaccine it is still a problem for the start of vaccination in Germany, ”he said. SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil is also not satisfied. “I find that the chaos around vaccination starts very upsetting,” said Klingbeil of the “Rheinische Post” in Düsseldorf.

Corona vaccines: Jens Spahn admits there are problems

The minister had months to prepare the campaign. “He has been given enough skills for this,” Klingbeil continued. as well Jens spahn I had to admit that there are problems. “Yes, it shakes in one place or another,” said the politician. However, overall, the “largest vaccination campaign in German history has started successfully”. (Moritz Serif and Daniela Deeg with dpa and AFP) * fr.de is part of the national network of Ippen-Digital publishers.

Headline list image: © Felix Kästle / dpa