Germans are waiting in Berlin to get vaccinated against Covid-19. – Markus Schreiber / AP / SIPA
The priority given to age for vaccination will soon be lifted among our German neighbors. The country provides access to vaccines against Covid-19 for all adults no later than June, the Minister of Health said on Thursday. “Today, I think we will be able to lift the priority (access to vaccines based on age or possible co-morbidities) in June,” Jens Spahn told the upper house of Parliament.
Before this deadline, “in May, it will be the turn of priority group 3 (those over 60 and people with certain pathologies) for vaccinations,” said Jens Spahn, adding that “many professional groups” would also have access to vaccines from next month.
Criticized at the beginning of the year for the timid beginnings of the injection campaign
More than 17.9 million people in Germany had received at least one dose on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Health. Some 5.7 million people received two, or 6.9% of the total population.
The minister, criticized at the beginning of the year for the timid beginnings of the injection campaign in Germany, in particular praised the rate of vaccination of the elderly, in particular in nursing homes. Currently, only 3% of new infections are recorded in retirement homes, against 50% before the start of the vaccination campaign, according to Jens Spahn.