After the centre opens: Over 80s to be vaccinated first

The vaccinations against the coronavirus in Waldeck-Frankenberg have started. Vaccination is carried out according to the vaccination ordinance of the federal government and the vaccination strategy of the state of Hesse: According to this, people and staff in medical and old people's and nursing homes as well as people over 80 years of age are to be offered vaccination first. Vaccinations in the facilities in the district are already underway. According to the current status, people over 80 years of age who do not live in institutions will be the first to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccination centre is put into operation.

"When our vaccination centre in Korbach will open its doors, however, has not yet been determined at this point in time," informs Karl-Friedrich Frese, First District Commissioner and Head of the Health Department of the district. This would require further instructions from the state of Hesse, which also organises vaccine deliveries. "But one thing is certain: as soon as our centre in Waldeck-Frankenberg opens, the over-80s who do not live in institutions but, for example, still at home, will be the very first to whom we will make an offer of vaccination. We will also find solutions for people with limited mobility. Everyone who wants a vaccination will also get one."

However, it is not yet clear when this will be. "What is important, however, is that people over 80 do not have to take action themselves yet - nor do they have to sign up or register anywhere," Frese continued. "As soon as we can make the vaccination offer for these people, we will immediately and comprehensively inform them about how the path to vaccination will proceed," says the head of department - and asks for their understanding that in the current situation, no more concrete statements can be made yet, especially about when the vaccination centre will go into operation with which vaccination options. "We are also still waiting for the exact information from the state of Hesse on this."

Against this background, it is also urgently requested that the hotline of the district's specialist health service not be used for questions about the vaccination sequence for the time being - but that it be kept free for people who have concrete questions about infections, quarantine and safety measures. "I understand very well that for many older people in particular, vaccination is very important or relatives would also like to find out about it for their parents or grandparents, but at this point I ask for a little patience until all the procedures have been established. The people in the district can trust that we will provide comprehensive information as soon as everything has been decided."

The fact that a vaccine against the coronavirus is now available at all is a milestone in medical history for District Administrator Dr. Reinhard Kubat: "We have a vaccine at our disposal with which we can open a new chapter in the fight against the pandemic. As a trained biologist, but above all as a human being, I have great respect for the excellent work of all the scientists, which gives us hope for an early return to the normality we all long for."