The delta variant of the coronavirus continues to cause researchers and health experts great concern – especially because of the risks to children.
It is a paradox that irritates many people in Baden-Württemberg – on the one hand, there has been a new corona regulation for the southwest * since today (Monday, June 28), on the other hand, scientists and doctors are warning about the delta -Variant of the coronavirus, which has currently secured the predominance in some countries and was also found with the first new infections in Heilbronn *.
But Delta is apparently not only much more contagious than previous mutations or the original coronavirus – it also harbors greater dangers for children , as reported by echo24.de *. That is why SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach has now made a clear appeal to the Standing Vaccination Commission. The request to the STIKO: Rethink the vaccination recommendation for children.
Delta variant: Lauterbach appeals to the Standing Vaccination Commission – children are at risk
Lauterbach now told the Rheinische Post that the STIKO argued that Covid-19 was harmless for children. But he emphatically emphasized: “In my opinion, this does not apply to the Delta variant,” in Great Britain, for example, many children with Corona are already being treated in hospitals. Therefore, the Standing Vaccination Commission must update its recommendation. “The information from STIKO always relates to old versions,” explained Lauterbach. Infecting children with the Delta variant is too risky.
In general, the coronavirus was always considered to be less dangerous for children and adolescents – the majority of the kids who fell ill had the disease progressed more easily with the previous corona mutations than older people. But children are not safe from Corona either. Epidemiologist Prof. Dirk Brockmann said on ZDF: “You just have to recognize: Either they are vaccinated or they become infected.” Brockmann also explained that severe courses are also possible in children and adolescents. About one percent of infected children and adolescents end up in hospital after a corona infection *. This is also reported by fr.de *.
Delta variant and children: The STIKO recommendation has so far applied to these 12 to 17-year-olds
The Standing Vaccination Commission recommends corona vaccination for young people between the ages of 12 and 17 only with certain previous illnesses – these include, for example, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung diseases or other risk factors. According to data from the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance, around eleven percent of children and adolescents in this age group fall into this category.
However, this recommendation does not mean that people between 12 and 17 years of age without a previous illness cannot be vaccinated at all. On request and after medical advice, according to STIKO, vaccinations are possible for everyone from the age of twelve. About three weeks ago, the Standing Vaccination Commission justified its recommendation with the argument that the risk of severe Covid 19 disease for children and adolescents of the age group mentioned was low.
Delta variant and children: Other health politicians are also alarmed about the corona mutation
Nevertheless, SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach is concerned about the spreading delta variant. For him, it is a dangerous sign that many children with Covid-19 are already being treated in hospitals in the UK. In the Rheinische Post he made it clear: Continuing alternating lessons is not a solution for him as long as the children and young people are not vaccinated on a large scale. Another problem: the delta variant is more difficult to recognize than previous mutations. Because Delta sometimes expresses itself in other symptoms.
Other health politicians are also alarmed about the delta variant of the corona virus. Research results have shown that the corona vaccines approved to date are effective against Delta, but the initial vaccination with vaccines from AstraZeneca, Moderna or BioNTech is not sufficient. That is why Janosch Dahmen (Greens) and Andrew Ullmann (FDP) are calling on Welt am Sonntag to generally shorten the vaccination intervals and bring forward the second vaccinations. * echo24.de and fr.de are offers from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Kay Nietfeld
