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In the coming months, the first vaccines against the corona virus could be approved, also in Germany. But there is still a lot to do to be able to supply millions of people.
By Oda Lambrecht and Christian Baars, NDR
The first vaccine could soon be approved in Europe. When the time comes, as many people as possible should be vaccinated in a short time, and no time is wasted. “Now it is a question of preparing everything for the moment when the vaccine is available,” says Bavarian Health Minister Melanie Huml.
But what is the situation in the federal states? What are the preparations? the Ed has asked in all 16 federal states. Most said preparations were underway, but that they were challenging. “Important information is not yet available,” the Lower Saxony Ministry of Health seriously states.
For example, it is not yet known who should get vaccinated first. Rhineland-Palatinate also believes that the biggest challenge currently is the fact that it is not yet clear which groups of people should be vaccinated first.
Who will get vaccinated first?
The Standing Commission on Immunization of the Robert Koch Institute is currently working with the Ethics Council and the Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences to develop the framework. It will first determine the basic objectives, that is, whether, for example, patients at risk should be protected first or whether the priority is to slow the spread of the virus.
Only then will the vaccination commission specifically recommend the order in which certain population groups such as young or old, medical personnel or teachers should be vaccinated. Ultimately, the federal and state governments should jointly decide on this prioritization.
60 central vaccination stores planned
Another challenge countries are currently facing is finding suitable places for vaccines to be delivered to and from where they can be further distributed. One problem is that some of the vaccines currently in development will likely have to be transported and stored frozen at minus 70 degrees. For this, for example, appropriate ultra-low freezers should be purchased, it is said from Bavaria.
Currently it is planned that 60 central warehouses will be established nationwide. Federal states must name suitable locations by November 10. This arises from a draft resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Health (GMK). The federal government wants to buy and finance the vaccine centrally. Private companies or the armed forces are supposed to handle the transportation to the central warehouse.
Vaccination centers in the federal states
From then on, the federal states will take over the distribution of the vaccine and the planning of vaccines. You want to set up vaccination centers in different places: rooms or corridors that are as large as possible, where many people can be vaccinated at the same time. Suitable locations in Schleswig-Holstein are being checked in all independent districts and cities, the local Health Ministry announced. In addition, mobile vaccination teams will be deployed in all countries, for example to travel to homes for the elderly and elderly.
It is also not clear yet which specific vaccines will be available, and whether they will then have to inject once or twice. As things stand today, most medications will probably need two doses a month apart.
Are syringes enough?
The federal states must procure the necessary accessories, such as syringes. However, the specific quantities you have ordered or have already purchased differ considerably. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, for example, estimates that they needed about 3.2 million syringes to vaccinate the entire population of about 1.6 million people. According to its own information, the country has so far ordered material for around 500,000 cans, that is, for around 15 percent of the population.
Saxony-Anhalt announced that it had ordered 1.3 million syringes. If two vaccines are required, that would be enough for about 30 percent of the local population. The largest federal state with almost 18 million inhabitants, North Rhine-Westphalia, has so far only ordered about 2.6 million syringes, but emphasizes that initially this is enough. It is planned to order about 20 million more syringes. Bavaria has already bought much more, that is, 34 million syringes, two for each inhabitant.
Narrow lips when things get specific
Some states did not provide specific information, such as Schleswig-Holstein and Hesse. And the spokesman for the Hamburg health authority said accessories had been ordered but would not give figures because that could affect the market. Lower Saxony simply announced that “the state has already acquired the necessary equipment for vaccination.” Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia made similar statements. Bremen announced that it was still checking how much material was already available.
A short reply also came from Berlin: “We are in the middle of preparations. We will inform you as soon as we are ready.” Brandenburg and Sarre did not respond at all.
Most of the countries that have responded do not fear much difficulty in doing so. Only Thuringia writes that a shortage of syringes and needles should be expected due to increasing global demand. Baden-Württemberg announced that it was to be expected “that due to high demand, the total quantities required will only be gradually available”. But vaccines will only be available gradually.
The “last mile” as a problem
Pharmaceutical logistics expert Matthias Klumpp from the Fraunhofer Institute in Dortmund is also relaxed on the question of recruitment. Trust that there will be enough syringes, needles and freezers in Germany. The structures and actors are “basically very well prepared” for the transport of vaccines.
However, general delivery is a complex challenge, especially the “last mile,” that is, the question: where and how are vaccines ultimately administered to people. To vaccinate about 60 percent of the entire population in Germany twice in a year, almost 350,000 vaccinations must be carried out every day. Planning and assigning appointments is a corresponding challenge. Klumpp advocates the development of digital solutions, such as an application for scheduling vaccinations.
Bottleneck: medical personnel
However, from their point of view, the biggest problem could threaten staff. Vaccines can be administered by health professionals, but doctors must always be present, for example, in case of side effects. And in Corona’s current situation, medical staff in clinics and offices are already working “at the limit of their capacity,” recalls Klumpp. The biggest bottleneck is expected here. Therefore, the staff must be well planned. And everyone should be clear: “This is not a 100-meter sprint, this is a marathon.”
