Falling through the grid

The number of people who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons is very low. Nevertheless, they do exist: people who cannot be vaccinated because of illness, previous illness or allergies, or who are advised against vaccination from a medical point of view. They are often forgotten in the discourse about vaccinating, boosting or not vaccinating. When the Covid law was reformed again in December and submitted to parliament for a vote, they were also a topic again. Since then, those affected have been given a corresponding doctor's certificate stating that they cannot be vaccinated. This was also the case for Tom (name changed by the editors).

According to Tom, the vaccines currently in use may not be suitable for him. Some people who are allergic to one of the listed active ingredients of a vaccine or to other ingredients should not be vaccinated by one specific vaccine. At this point, it should be mentioned that it may be possible to receive another of the current vaccines. The German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA), among others, has stated that people who are allergic to one vaccine can be given another without any problems.

Marianne was vaccinated despite contraindications. "I was told not to get vaccinated. I have some allergies, psoriasis and Hashimoto's, a thyroid disease. The latter are both autoimmune diseases." All good reasons for her to inform herself extensively. This is exactly what the 67-year-old did together with her husband. "We watched so many TV shows, read articles and listened to podcasts." She wanted to know what she was in for and be prepared.