Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) called on the population to get vaccinated at a joint press conference with Lothar Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

"Every single vaccination decision decides how we get through autumn and winter," said Spahn.

Anna Schiller

Volunteer.

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Vaccination is a personal, free decision - and it will remain so. But the decision for or against vaccination also affects others: one's own family, work colleagues and, ultimately, society. "It is now a pandemic of the unvaccinated," said Spahn. 90 to 95 percent of Covid 19 patients in intensive care units are not vaccinated. At the moment, the number of unvaccinated people is too high to ensure that the health care system is not overloaded again in winter, given the simultaneous spread of the delta variant.

There is now vaccine for everyone, said Spahn. A large part of it was developed and produced in Germany. For information on vaccination, Spahn referred to the ministry's campaigns. A joint vaccination campaign by the federal, state and local governments will also start next Monday. You can find out about vaccination offers on social media under the hashtag #hierwirdgeimpft. There should also be a website for the campaign. "Take the chance, get vaccinated," said Spahn.

Wieler predicted for the further course of the pandemic: "If we do not increase the vaccination rates now, the fourth wave will take a brilliant course in autumn and winter." The number of intensively treated patients has doubled compared to the previous week.

Covid 19 patients are getting younger and younger.

Most of them are between 35 and 59 years old, said Wieler.

"Vaccinations are the most powerful tool we have against Covid-19," said Wieler.

The risk of getting to the hospital is ten times lower than that of those who are not vaccinated.

Those who do not get vaccinated will become infected for the foreseeable future - and as a result may become seriously ill, suffer long-term consequences or even die, said Wieler.

"The fourth wave has already begun, it is up to us how it will develop," warned the RKI President.

The sooner people get vaccinated, the sooner the pandemic will end.

Spahn had previously praised the vaccination campaigns in Bremen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the rate of initial vaccinations there is over 70 percent.

"If we achieve vaccination rates like in these countries all over Germany, it will be a safe winter for all of us," tweeted Spahn in the morning.

Stefan Genth, general manager of the trade association, rejected a nationwide uniform 2G or 3G model for the retail trade.

"This is not the way to go shopping right now," said Genth.

With around 40 million contacts in retail every day, such requirements cannot be monitored.

In addition, the hygiene concepts in the shops are good.

On Tuesday the Bundestag decided to change the Infection Protection Act.

It takes into account that more people are now vaccinated.

In the future, the federal states should largely be able to determine the threshold values ​​above which stricter everyday restrictions are necessary.

The most important yardstick for pandemic measures should be the number of corona patients admitted to the clinics per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days.

However, other indicators should also be taken into account: the previously relevant number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, available intensive capacities in hospitals and the number of people vaccinated. The previous orientation on the number of infections was no longer meaningful due to the large number of vaccinated people. In addition, employees in daycare centers, schools and nursing homes should be able to be asked by the employer whether they are vaccinated during the crisis. With the information on the vaccination status of the workforce, companies could adapt their corona measures, said Spahn.

Spahn rejected a general compulsory vaccination. He observed that the question of "vaccinated or not vaccinated" is currently leading to tensions in families and also in society. He said these tensions should not lead to social division.