Vaccination progress speeds up, reaching 65.3% – rate of increase slows down
The vaccination pace in Germany has slowed once again, with the figure for first doses standing at just over 95,000 for the fifth consecutive day. According to the latest data reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the nationwide vaccination rate, excluding second doses, is currently 65.3 percent of the population.
The slow pace of initial COVID-19 vaccinations in Germany can be attributed to several factors. After an initial rollout starting December 27, 2020, Germany vaccinated at a slower rate compared to peer countries. Political setbacks regarding vaccine mandates and variable local enforcement have compounded this issue.
A vaccine mandate was imposed only for health workers starting March 15, 2022, but broader mandates (for all adults or those 50+) were proposed but ultimately rejected in the Bundestag after April 2022. Part of the delay and slowing of pace was due to local health authorities allowing latitude in vaccine proof requirements and Bavaria postponing the mandate altogether.
Public opinion showed 60% support for a vaccine mandate, but political divisions prevented further mandates, contributing to slower vaccination rates. Later efforts focused on booster adaptations for new variants rather than the initial vaccination drive.
A photograph of a soldier from the German Armed Forces at a vaccination center was recently released by dts Nachrichtenagentur. As of Wednesday, a total of 54.3 million citizens are fully vaccinated in Germany, with the fully vaccinated rate standing at 60.6 percent.
Despite the challenges, it's important to note that these figures represent a significant milestone in Germany's fight against COVID-19. The vaccination center, as specified in this context, remains unmentioned. The figures provided are based on the total population of Germany.
[1] Bundesgesundheitsministerium (2022). COVID-19-Impfstrategie: Sicherheit und Transparenz. Retrieved from https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus/impfen/impfsicherheit.html
[2] European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (2021). COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the EU/EEA and the UK. Retrieved from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/vaccine-tracker/covid-19-vaccination-coverage-in-the-eu-eea-and-the-uk
[4] Robert Koch Institute (2022). Impfungen gegen COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Impfen/Impfstrategie/Impfstrategie_node.html
Other science has shown that vaccine mandates can increase vaccination rates, yet the health-and-wellness of Germany's population suffered due to the rejection of broader mandates in the Bundestag. The initial COVID-19 vaccination drive in Germany could have benefited from these measures, as political divisions and slower decision-making hindered progress.
