How can the pace of the vaccination campaign be increased? The previously free corona tests are now the focus of the debate. More and more demand that the unvaccinated should pay for the smear in the future.
In the debate about vaccination incentives, Medical President Klaus Reinhardt spoke out in favor of no longer offering free corona tests to unvaccinated people from autumn. “If everyone has a chance to get a full vaccination by the end of summer, it is fair that unvaccinated rapid tests or PCR tests should have to pay for themselves when going on vacation, going to restaurants or going to the movies,” said Reinhardt to the editorial network Germany.
“In the end, it shouldn’t be the case that the community has to pay for individuals who are unwilling to vaccinate,” he said. Politicians should already make it clear “that in the long run there will be more and more disadvantages for unvaccinated people”.
The Federal Government’s Tourism Commissioner, Thomas Bareiß (CDU), also sees the end of free corona tests for those unwilling to vaccinate “a question of justice”. The costs for the tests would be borne by the general public and that would be correct as long as not everyone had received a vaccination offer, said Bareiß on Wednesday. But it is also clear that those who refuse to be vaccinated have to be aware of their responsibility and in future should bear the costs of any tests that are still necessary themselves.
Söder: Testing costs enormous sums of money
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CDU) had previously made a similar statement. “Testing costs enormous sums of money,” said Söder. Therefore, it must also be considered whether the corona tests could remain free if everyone had received a vaccination offer.
However, his advance met resistance in the Union parliamentary group. “Carrying out tests, such as rapid antigen tests, is and will remain an essential part of our pandemic control strategy,” said CDU health politician Michael Hennrich of “Welt”. “In my opinion, there should be no obstacles to prevent people from being tested.”
The SPD also spoke out in favor of sticking to the previous practice for the time being. “I am pleased that the citizen tests are so well received. We should maintain this offer as long as it is necessary,” said SPD parliamentary group vice-president Bärbel Bas.
The FDP, on the other hand, advocated the abolition of free tests. “It goes without saying that it makes no sense to continue free tests indefinitely,” said FDP health politician Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus. “As soon as a vaccination offer has been made to all those willing to vaccinate, it makes sense to have paid tests for citizens who can be vaccinated.” However, there would have to be exceptions for the seriously ill and children.
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) said that they are currently still in a phase of conviction, in a later phase one could certainly think about the end of the free corona tests in Germany for unvaccinated people. In France, PCR tests will become chargeable from autumn, unless they have been prescribed.
