German health minister seeks to step up booster shots
Germany’s health minister called Wednesday for booster vaccinations to be stepped up and for more frequent checks of people’s vaccination or test status as new COVID-19 infec- tions increase.
Senior health officials also appealed anew to German residents who haven’t yet been vaccinated at all to get their shots, though Health Minis- ter Jens Spahn acknowledged that many of the holdouts can’t be convinced. They said that pressure on hospital beds is rising, particularly in regions where vaccination rates are relatively low.
Spahn said that although officials agreed in August to make booster shots available to over-60s and nursing home residents and staff, only a bit over 2 million have been administered so far. should take priority, but as far
“That is much too few — the as others are concerned “the pace of boosters is not suffi- vaccine is there, the clearance cient,” he added. is there and findings from other
T here is some tension countries are there.” between the minister and Official figures show that doctors’ organizations over about two-thirds of Germathe issue. Germany’s inde- ny’s population of 83 million pendent standing committee has completed its first round on vaccination — whose recof vaccination. The head of the ommendations are followed country’s disease control cenby many doctors — currently ter, Lothar Wieler, said that recommends boosters for over16.2 million people age 12 or 70s and a few other groups, above remain unvaccinated — but the health ministry says including 3.2 million over-60s. everyone who wants one is Germany hasn’t made coroentitled to one. navirus vaccinations obligatory
“If every country waited for for any professional groups, data before they do anything, unlike some of its European we wouldn’t have any data,” counterparts. But regional Spahn said, noting that boost- governments have limited ers have been cleared by Euro- access to some indoor events pean authorities and vaccina- and facilities to people who tions of teenagers also were have been vaccinated, have started well before a recom- recently recovered or been mendation from the committested, and some are tightentee. He said the most at-risk ing those rules.