In some federal states, the Astrazeneca corona vaccine is approved for volunteers under the age of 60 – contrary to the STIKO recommendation. But what happens in the event of vaccination damage?
Update from Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 10:50 a.m.: A change in the Infection Protection Act should give people who are vaccinated with Astrazeneca more security. Because in the case of vaccination damage in under 60-year-olds, the federal and state governments have not yet been liable. According to Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), that should change.
After some changes, the Standing Vaccination Commission currently only recommends the Astrazeneca vaccine for people over 60. But people under the age of 60 can also be vaccinated voluntarily. In order to give security to precisely these people and the vaccinating doctor: the Infection Protection Act is now to be adapted accordingly.
Liability for Astrazeneca vaccine damage: people under 60 are also compensated
In a draft by the CDU / CSU and SPD for a second law amending the Infection Protection Act, it says: “It is made clear that the right to care in the event of vaccination damage also applies to health damage caused by vaccinations against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.”
In April, for example, the State Medical Association of Hesse made it clear that people under 60 who experience significant side effects after an Astrazeneca vaccination will also be compensated. Because the state recommends – unlike the STIKO – all approved vaccines retrospectively from March 31, 2021. In general, those affected should find out more from the respective state medical association and the state. Because the federal state is the decisive level in these cases.
Astrazeneca under 60: who is liable for vaccine damage?
First report from Sunday, April 25th, 2021: The corona vaccine from the manufacturer Astrazeneca has had a real rodeo ride in Germany. First not approved for people over 65 years of age, then suspended, then approved again – ultimately, on the recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), only people older than 60 years should be vaccinated with it. However, if you are younger and still willing to vaccinate and are not deterred by all the back and forth, you can still get vaccinated with Astrazeneca in Saxony, Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Berlin is also involved in the approval and it could soon be that time in Bremen. You have to be of legal age for a voluntary Astrazeneca vaccination and extensive advice from a vaccinator is mandatory. But what happens if there are more severe side effects than normal, possibly even the rare cerebral vein thrombosis? Who is liable and who pays potential treatment?
Astrazeneca vaccination liability for people under 60: who has to pay?
In general, the federal state is liable for damage after a recommended vaccination, according to the website of the Federal Ministry of Health. With the Astrazeneca vaccine not recommended for people under the age of 60, countries are off the hook if vaccination damage occurs. According to a report from Ntv, the health insurance would cover treatment costs. But if the damage is so severe that vaccinated people become unable to work, for example, those affected should not have high hopes of getting help. “Since the state is out because it has not recommended Astrazeneca for under 60-year-olds,” said the medical lawyer Britta Konrad opposite the broadcaster Ntv.
Means: People under 60 who voluntarily get vaccinated with Astrazeneca cannot expect compensation or similar payments in an emergency – they get vaccinated at their own risk. The lawyer Alexander Ehlers told Bayerischer Rundfunk that in some cases the vaccination doctor could be held liable if he or she had not complied with the duty to provide information. However, once doctors have provided information, the patient will probably have to bear the risk themselves, according to Ehlers.
| vaccine | initial doses administered until April 20th, 2021 | Cases of sinus vein thrombosis until April 22, 2021 * |
|---|---|---|
| Astrazenecas Vaxzevria | 4,777,923 | 63 |
| Biontechs Comirnaty | 11,571,347 | 12 |
* The number of vaccination doses administered and the number of reported sinus vein thromboses up to a certain date cannot easily be put into relation, as the thromboses can also occur days or weeks after the vaccination. In addition, delays can arise, for example due to the diagnosis and reporting to the competent authority, which is why further cases could have arisen among those vaccinated up to April 20, 2021 that have not yet been discovered and / or recorded.
Astrazeneca vaccination: liability for vaccination damage for under 60 year olds does not apply
Anyone who wants to be vaccinated with the Astrazeneca vaccine voluntarily and does not belong to the group of people for whom the vaccination is recommended should be aware of this risk. Nevertheless, sinus vein thromboses are very rare. According to the Paul Ehrlich Institute responsible for vaccines, 63 cases had been reported by April 21, twelve of which were fatal. For comparison: a total of more than 4.7 million people have received the Astrazeneca initial dose so far.
Incidentally, sinus vein thrombosis does not only occur with the Astrazeneca vaccine “Vaxzevria”, but also with the Biontech vaccine “Comirnaty”, albeit less often. The Paul Ehrlich Institute is aware of twelve cases, three of which were fatal. So far, more than 11.5 million people have been vaccinated at least once with “Comirnaty”. (ial / sot)
Headline list image: © Marcus Brandt
