Vaccination Commission faces major personnel changes
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) is likely to face major personnel changes. The current chairman, virologist Thomas Mertens from Ulm, referred to information provided by the Federal Ministry of Health on Thursday regarding a planned change to the rules of procedure. According to this, the term of office of members is to be limited to three terms. If this were to be implemented for the next commission, twelve members would leave, explained Mertens. The independent body currently comprises 17 experts. The "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the "Augsburger Allgemeine" (Thursday) and other media previously reported on this.
Mertens told the German Press Agency: "It would be worth considering whether such an abrupt change is the best thing for the Stiko." Regardless of the developments, he had already announced in the fall of 2022 that he would no longer be available for another term of office. He had chaired the committee since 2017.
In response to an inquiry, the Federal Ministry of Health explained that preparations are currently being made for the new appointment of the Stiko. The current appointment period is due to expire in February 2024. The Stiko has achieved top performance, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic, and works at a high level both nationally and internationally. The Ministry would like to thank Mertens in particular, on behalf of the entire Stiko, for his outstanding work. The basic principles such as the connection to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), independence from political influence and honorary membership are to remain.
The Stiko makes recommendations on vaccinations that serve as a guide for many doctors. Among other things, it analyzes the risk-benefit ratio for certain population groups. During the coronavirus crisis, there was also criticism of the work of the committee, which was accused of slow decision-making processes in some cases.
The impending changes in Stiko's rules of procedure could lead to a significant shift in the field of Health Science, with up to twelve experts potentially stepping down. Despite these upcoming changes, the Federal Ministry of Health commends the Stiko's exceptional performance in Health Science, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: www.dpa.com
