Critics call for reforms to Germany's vaccine panel as COVID cases spike

Empty bottles with medication for patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are collected after a night shift at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the "Klinikum Darmstadt" clinic in Darmstadt, Germany, December 12, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Critics are calling on Germany's vaccine advisory panel to overhaul the way it evaluates COVID-19 shots as the nation struggles to tame soaring infections and as its chief comes under fire for questioning the safety of inoculating children.

The panel of 18 appointees known as STIKO last week recommended vaccinations for limited numbers of children, including those at risk of developing severe COVID-19, but stopped short of a blanket recommendation for 5-11 year olds.