In the last two years of the pandemic, a number of attempts have been made around the world to get people to get vaccinated. While in Germany people foolishly relied on common sense and free bratwurst, in the USA you could take part in lotteries worth millions or win college scholarships with spades. In Israel there was hummus, in India eggs, petrol or tricycles and in the Czech Republic vacation days.
In Germany, especially in Bavaria, the prospect of health, common good and sausages has not led to an excessive willingness to be vaccinated. Maybe a different approach would have been better. Namely, not to cancel folk festivals because of the lack of immunization, but to organize folk festivals precisely for this reason. To get people to vaccinate.
Because what doesn’t the Bavarian do to consume very expensive beer in beer mugs with complete strangers in the sweat of his brow on hard wooden benches while listening to the “Tin Dimpfe” or the “Trio Voigas”? In Straubing the answer must be: everything.
There, on August 12th, after a miserably long Corona break, the Gäubodenvolksfest, the largest folk festival in Bavaria after the Wiesn, will finally start again. And so that you only bring home a raging intoxication from the beer tent, but no corona infection or if you do, then one with mild symptoms, the Klinikum Straubing points this out as a precautionthat you should please get vaccinated or boosted now, for a carefree visit to the beer tent.
A pretty good idea. Why hasn’t anyone thought of that before? Instead of endlessly discussing whether Volksfest A should take place or not, large countdowns could have been installed in central places, counting down the days until Volksfest A. In addition, a counter that indicates the vaccinated in real time. Folk Festival A will take place when a critical mark is reached. Peer pressure is almost the common good.
Unfortunately, there is no more time for such extortion measures. The only thing that remains is the appeal to the population: there is still enough time before the Gäubodenfest to be immunized or refreshed! You would then be prepared for the Oktoberfest in Munich a few weeks later. And – oh yes – for the third autumn/winter wave.