BERLIN — Germany’s current health minister has called on the states to activate some COVID-19 vaccine centers that were shut down in late summer. This is to administer booster shots to new coronavirus infection.
The German standing committee on vaccination recommends booster shots for older people and some other groups. However, the health ministry stated that everyone is entitled to one. This was in response to criticisms from a group of doctors.
Since the summer, the country’s vaccination campaigns have slowed down significantly. Official figures show that approximately two-thirds (83 million) of the country’s population have been fully vaccinated.
In the meantime, new infections have been increasing steadily in recent weeks. Monday’s new case count for the last seven days was 154.8 per 100,000 residents, an increase of 110.1 from a week ago.
According to Monday’s Rheinische Post, Jens Spahn, Health Minister, stated that “in order to make it possible to booster vaccination for as many people as possible as soon as possible”
Spahn also asked for invitations from regional authorities to all over-60s in order to have another chance.
Although specialized vaccination centers played a large part in Germany’s first vaccination campaign, many were closed or abandoned as the campaign progressed.
