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The RKI is lowering hopes that the availability of a corona vaccine in Germany will bring a quick return to normalcy. Wearing a mask and keeping your distance is still necessary, according to one document.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, daily life in Germany will initially remain restricted even with the introduction of a corona vaccine, including the use of masks and distance requirements. The RKI notes this in a new strategy document.
Even if vaccination is “an important part of the fight against a pandemic,” this alone will not be enough, especially since a vaccine will initially only be available in limited quantities and initially reserved for certain risk groups. That is why “certain modifications of being together” are still important. The RKI understands that this includes keeping your distance, observing hygiene rules, wearing a mask, ventilating, and relocating outdoor leisure activities if possible. “The behavior of each individual counts,” warned the authority.
“Adapt the measures to the respective risk”
Two months ago a similar article was published in which the earliest availability of a vaccine was considered possible. The RKI withdrew this document a few hours later because it was an outdated version. In the document now presented, the RKI formulates strategic objectives: the focus is to minimize the spread and health effects of the pandemic, while social and economic life as a whole should be affected as little as possible.
“To deal with Covid-19 in the coming weeks and months, we need measures that are limited in time and region and that are tailored to the respective risk,” said RKI President Lothar Wieler. Health system overload, long-term effects of disease and deaths should be avoided as much as possible, according to the document. The measures taken to do so would have to be “proportionate, limited in time and place and practically feasible.”
Schools and kindergartens must remain open
The RKI also deals with schools and kindergartens: previous results clearly showed that “educational institutions are one of the places that have a role in the infection process”. However, it is important to keep them open by adhering to hygiene concepts, because they are crucial for the development, education and socialization of children and young people and for parents to be able to do their work.
“Coping with the pandemic is a task for society as a whole; it is essential that everyone participates,” the RKI wrote. The last few months have clearly shown that, for example, the isolation of individual people at home or in nursing homes is not enough to effectively protect particularly vulnerable population groups.
A targeted testing strategy is recommended
With a view to traveling, the RKI writes: “Greater mobility (professional or private travel activities) means greater risk.” However, the risk does not depend mainly on the place of travel, but essentially on the behavior of the individual in an area with transmission of the virus.
When using corona tests, the authority continues to advocate for a specific strategy. Testing people with symptoms and protecting particularly vulnerable groups like the elderly in nursing homes “takes priority.”
Also vaccinate against influenza and pneumococci.
The RKI also advocates for extensive vaccination against influenza and pneumococci, especially in risk groups. “Vaccines against other respiratory diseases will play a decisive role in controlling the pandemic in the coming months, especially in the cold season.” This could protect people and ease the healthcare system.
At the same time, work continues on a vaccination strategy against Sars-CoV-2 and a nationwide vaccination campaign is being prepared. This also includes defining groups of people who should first receive a corona vaccine. These are mainly elderly and sick people, as well as health service employees.
