TV Criticism “Anne Will”: Debate about compulsory corona vaccination – virologist against

TV Criticism

The head of the Robert Koch Institute has one “serious emergency” proclaimed, but a general lockdown, which is also called that, is currently politically taboo. Nevertheless, 3G should apply at work, on buses and trains, and 2G should apply across the board for leisure, culture, gastronomy and sport, and the federal states are also calling for staff in hospitals and care facilities to be imposed. Is that enough? That is the question at “Anne Will”: “The Corona Emergency – Can Germany Still Break the Fourth Wave?”

Who discussed?

How did the discussion go?

When two female scientists have the highest share of speeches “Anne Will” then that’s a good sign for the much maligned talk show culture. She be “insanely frustrated” of the current Corona emergency, says the virologist Melanie Brinkmann, co-author of an open letter from scientists who meanwhile has over 500 co-signers. “Every day of waiting costs human lives”It says – the letter is an urgent appeal to those responsible for politics.

One of them, Saarland’s Prime Minister Tobias Hans from the CDU, lets it be known in the program that he was guided less by science than by the principle of hope when the measures to combat the pandemic were relaxed in the autumn. Yes, it has the force of the fourth wave “not foreseen”yes he thought “you can do that”. And he, too, was for it, at the end of October “epidemic emergency of national importance” to cancel – what he now calls “wrong signal” criticized. Now he is calling for veterinarians, dentists and pharmacists to vaccinate people against corona. “It was warned of the power of the delta variant of the corona virus”, says Brinkmann, who once again lovingly explains vividly, using a football stadium, what exponential growth is, and that basically started in the summer.

Where 2G and 3G will not be enough

The measures that have now been decided – such as the 2G and 3G rules – are also being implemented consistently “not enough where the incidences are already very high”, analyzes Brinkmann, in Bavaria for example and in Saxony. “The unvaccinated are driving the pandemic”says the virologist. They also have to be vaccinated for certain occupational groups “just a drop in the ocean”. Which does not mean that she wants to speak out about a general vaccination requirement: “The problem is time, and we’re running out of time”. Above all, Brinkmann calls for massive campaigns for vaccination – it was foreseeable for a long time that the vaccination quota would now “arrived on a plateau” may be. And that this quota is not enough if you are fighting against the delta variant.

Psychologist Cornelia Betsch brings into play an obligation to advise unvaccinated people – studies in the USA have shown that this can increase vaccination rates. “People’s preference for mandatory vaccination is increasing”says Betsch, who is more “public policy advice” as the RKI boss Lothar Wieler wishes. She also criticizes them “inconsistent communication” politics and their actions far too slow. Different and difficult-to-understand rules in particular would lead to a loss of confidence in politics, but people are guided by the measures that are taken – more than the recommendations of science. At the same time, most people could well understand the situation “assess well”, so Betsch.

Heil praises Italy for its corona policy

Hubertus Heil, still-and maybe also-again-Minister of Labor finds that he is the “Team caution” heard, and wants to first explain the new rules of the Prime Minister’s Conference, and of course, like everyone else in the group, urgently promote vaccination. At the same time, he is a little self-critical and praises Italy for its corona policy. But he doesn’t want to talk about a general compulsory vaccination either, but he also sees major legal problems – to implement it in a legally secure manner is initially only institution-related, believes Heil.

The special moment

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from the FDP is currently being traded as a possible new defense minister – why she is invited here in the group remains unclear. But she uses the opportunity to distinguish herself as a social conscience and on “unimaginably great social problems in society” to draw attention to, and to the “great social responsibility of politics”. She believes that half of those who have not yet been vaccinated can still be won over – the other half will “turned wrong somewhere in life” she doesn’t want to bother at first. Above all, the following sentence will remain from her on this evening: “A vaccination requirement is not a compulsory vaccination”.

The knowledge in theses

Conclusion

“Programs of this kind are not enough”, says Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, although this evening the meaning of “Anne Will” for the enlightenment of the people is emphasized. However, the evening also showed how much the discussion culture can benefit when women make up the majority in such a group – and not primarily politicians, but scientists have the floor.