Federal government stops vaccinations with AstraZeneca

The Federal Ministry of Health has suspended Corona vaccinations with the Astrazeneca vaccine as a precautionary measure with immediate effect. This follows a recommendation by the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the German Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Products. After the reoccurrence of thrombotic events in direct temporal connection with the administration of AstraZeneca, the Federal Institute considers further investigations to be necessary. It will then ultimately be the responsibility of the European Medicines Agency EMA to decide whether and in what way the new findings will affect the approval of the vaccine.

The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg also stopped the use of AstraZeneca immediately after receiving the directive from the Federal Ministry of Health. As District Administrator Dr Reinhard Kubat and First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese announced, employees of day-care centres as well as teachers and educational staff at schools were to be vaccinated with AstraZeneca on Monday as well as on the coming weekend. The appointments have been cancelled. Those who would have had an appointment later in the afternoon or evening on Monday were asked not to visit the vaccination centre. Appointments for the weekend are also cancelled. It is not yet known when they will be made up.

However, the ongoing operation of the vaccination centre Waldeck-Frankenberg in Korbach with the appointment commitments for the Biontech vaccine remains unaffected. The District Administrator and the First District Councillor stated that the situation would be reassessed as soon as possible and a corresponding strategic position taken. When there is clarity about the further course of action, the public will be informed immediately.