3:34 p.m .: FDA concerned about possible heart muscle inflammation risk with Novavax vaccine
“The identification of several cases that may be associated with the vaccine” gives “cause for concern,” said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Accordingly, the risk of myocarditis with Novavax could be higher than with the mRNA vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna. The protein-based Novavax vaccine has already been approved in numerous European countries, including Germany. The authorities originally hoped to be able to convince people who were skeptical about vaccination. An independent FDA committee of experts is scheduled to meet Tuesday and assess the risk of the Novavax vaccine for approval.
12.30 p.m .: FDP Vice Kubicki accuses the Greens of “fear-based politics”.
FDP deputy leader Wolfgang Kubicki reacted with outrage to warnings from Green politician Katrin Göring-Eckardt to tighten infection control measures again in the fall. “It is unworthy of a Bundestag Vice President to give the impression that the Bundestag cannot react quickly enough to the challenges of the pandemic,” Kubicki told the German Press Agency in Berlin. “I recommend the Greens to return to fact-based politics instead of continuing to pursue fear-based politics.” Göring-Eckardt had told the editorial network Germany (RND/Saturday): “Christian Lindner and the FDP must not slow down again when it comes to protecting against Corona in the fall.” The current version of the Infection Protection Act is only valid until September 23rd.
9:00 a.m.: Unvaccinated baseball pro Kepler is not allowed to go to away games
The German baseball professional Max Kepler, who plays for the Minnesota Twins in the North American Major League Baseball, is not allowed to accompany his team to the away game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada, the reason for this is the professional athlete’s missing corona vaccination. The Berlin native will miss three games in Toronto due to the travel ban and will have to forego $111,264 of his $6.75 million annual salary.
5 a.m.: City day demands: new infection protection law before the summer break
The German Association of Cities is calling for the Infection Protection Act to be amended before the Bundestag’s summer break. “One lesson from the past should be not to change the Infection Protection Act at the last minute with a hot needle. Such procedures are too error-prone,” said the managing director of the city council, Helmut Dedy, to the editorial network Germany (RND/Saturday). Dedy warned that people should not wait until September to find out what the plan for dealing with the pandemic in autumn and winter looks like. A legal basis is needed for the mask requirement indoors and for access restrictions.
4:24 a.m .: RKI reports 41,087 new infections
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 41,087 new infections were registered within 24 hours. That is 1,111 more cases than on Saturday a week ago. At that time, 39,976 corona infections were reported. The nationwide seven-day incidence thus increases to 270.3 – compared to 261.3 the previous day. 73 other people died in connection with the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 139,386.
Saturday 4 June 2022
