Frustration because of sluggish appointments and a lack of vaccine – that wasn’t that long ago. Today the federal and state governments are facing a different challenge: as little vaccine as possible should expire.
More than half a year after the start of the corona vaccinations, Germany is heading for an oversupply of vaccines. The availability of vaccines will soon “significantly” exceed demand, stated the federal and state health ministers in a decision on Monday after a video switch. The decision was before the German Press Agency in Berlin. “There has been a decline in demand in the vaccination centers as well as in medical practices and company doctors.”
For the success of the vaccination campaign, however, the highest possible vaccination rate is crucial. 46.4 percent of people in Germany are now fully vaccinated. “The federal and state governments will once again intensify their efforts in order to target those people with a vaccination offer who have not yet decided in favor of a vaccination,” said the conference of health ministers.
As already announced, the current vaccination campaign is to be stepped up. Mobile teams would make additional low-threshold offers on marketplaces, nearby churches, supermarkets, department stores and cultural, sports and leisure activities. The logistics around vaccine deliveries are to become more flexible.
Vaccine donations for third countries
After its start in December, the vaccination campaign had been shaped for months by the fact that far less vaccine was available than needed. For this reason, vaccinations were first given in old people’s homes and priority was given to the very old, people with previous illnesses and members of certain professional groups. The federal and state governments have now confirmed: “The upcoming deliveries by the end of July will enable every adult willing to be vaccinated to be offered a vaccination in the form of a first vaccination.”
The federal and state governments are planning to pass this on to other states. “The scrapping of vaccines must be kept to a minimum,” said their decision. “The federal government will make vaccines that are not used in the national vaccination campaign and whose storage permit distribution available to third countries through vaccine donations.” The Federal Ministry of Health will promptly initiate a logistical process in order to collect vaccines stored in the distribution centers in the federal states. It should be clarified how to deal with vaccines that have already been delivered.
