In Germany, 30 million vaccinations are to be administered by Christmas – this is what Bald Chancellor Olaf Scholz would like. Can the goal be achieved with the current vaccination speed? A look at the data.
For a long time, one value counted in the fight against the coronavirus: the number of people who had received two vaccinations and were therefore considered fully vaccinated. Now another variable comes into focus: the number of booster vaccinations, also called booster vaccinations. The third spade is necessary because the vaccination against the coronavirus wears off over time. The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommends it for all people aged 18 and over who received their second vaccination six months ago. can be “boosted” after five months. More than 14.5 million people in Germany have already received a booster vaccination.
In view of the high number of infections and busy intensive care units, experts are pushing for a quick vaccination rate. 30 million vaccinations, including booster as well as first and second vaccinations, are to be administered by Christmas in order to contain the fourth wave – that is what soon-to-be Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) demanded in a federal-state round at the end of November and was an ambitious one Goal ahead. But is the goal with the current vaccination rate realistic?
Booster vaccinations make up the lion’s share
Current figures show: If the vaccination rate is not significantly increased in the coming days, the target will hardly be reached. Since December 1st, 4,732,988 corona vaccinations have been administered (on average almost 789,000 vaccinations per day). Booster vaccinations account for the lion’s share of this, namely 3,998,190 units. That corresponds to 84.47 percent.
25,267,012 vaccinations are still open. In order to achieve the vaccination target by Christmas (December 26th), more than 1.26 million vaccinations would have to be administered per day. If Christmas Eve (December 24th) is set as the cut-off date, there would have to be more than 1.4 million vaccinations per day.
Pharmacists should also vaccinate
Values like these can in principle be achieved, figures from spring and summer show that. On the previous record day, May 12, 2021, almost 1.42 million vaccinations were administered. At that time, however, vaccination centers were open in many places, which made it possible to vaccinate many people within a short period of time. In addition, there are usually fewer vaccinations on weekends, especially on Sundays. In order to achieve the required average of more than 1.4 million vaccinations per day, significantly more people would have to be vaccinated on weekdays from Monday to Friday.
In order to speed up the vaccination campaign, the Ampel-Coalition has launched a draft law according to which dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists may also temporarily administer vaccinations against the coronavirus, provided they are trained accordingly. The law is to be passed in the Bundestag next Friday. Whether the measure will come in time to give the vaccination campaign a decisive boost remains questionable.
Source From: Stern
