Doctors’ protest: Haslauer announces round table

As of now, AstraZeneca could be vaccinated as the third approved serum – the health workers are intended for this. However, a large group of almost 50 resident doctors in Salzburg want to be vaccinated as quickly as possible, but not with the AstraZeneca vaccine, but with that from Biontech and Pfizer. So far, the state government has rejected the protest of the medical profession – no one can choose the vaccine. The group of doctors called for a round table – Governor Haslauer agreed on Monday.

Medical group rejects AstraZeneca vaccine

The group rejects the AstraZeneca vaccine because it offers only about 85 percent protection after two vaccinations and there are three months between the two partial vaccinations. With her many patient contacts and the fact that many resident doctors are over the age of 65, this is unacceptable. The skepticism of the resident doctors about the rapid immunization through this vaccine is to be dispelled at a round table next week.

200 doctors join forces via WhatsApp group

The Salzburg vascular surgeon Michaela Magometschnigg was in contact with fellow doctors for the entire past weekend because of the “Salzburg vaccines fair” initiative. “We are now 200 doctors in this group – why so many doctors, because the Styrian doctors do not want to be administered the AstraZeneca vaccine either. All other federal states have already vaccinated their doctors, ”says Magometschnigg.

The doctors had already registered for a vaccination in mid-January in December, when the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine was being discussed. This vaccination date has been postponed, now AstraZeneca is to be used. The doctors’ protest is directed against this change of plan. “If we get a Biontech vaccine, then we will be immune in three weeks and no longer infect our patients. We want this to protect our patients. If we get an AstraZeneca vaccine, we won’t have 82 percent protection until the end of May, ”criticizes the vascular surgeon Magometschnigg.

Criticism: Twelve weeks between the first and second vaccination

Doctors reject the newly approved serum because the Biontech, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require the second vaccination after two to three weeks, while AstraZeneca has twelve weeks between the first and second vaccinations. This vaccination interval is too long for the doctors. The Salzburg infectiologist Richard Greil tries to clarify this matter. “With the AstraZeneca vaccine, the maximum protective effect is achieved after 22 days and therefore long before the second vaccination is administered,” explains Greil

22,000 AstraZeneca cans expected by the end of February

Greil emphasizes that the effect of all three approved vaccines is equivalent. The first delivery from AstraZeneca has now arrived in Salzburg, and in future it will be delivered every week, and 22,000 vaccine doses are expected by the end of February.

–

–