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Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) expects that the first corona vaccinations can be started at the turn of the year.

The first priority would be the elderly, people with previous illnesses, those employed in care and in hospitals and people who maintain public order, said Spahn on Tuesday in Düsseldorf.

The minister had attended a meeting of the North Rhine-Westphalian cabinet in a corona vaccination center.

The 40-year-old from Münster is also a team partner of NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet in the application for the CDU federal chairmanship.

Nationwide, between five and eight million vaccine doses are expected to be available at the beginning of the year - about one million of them for the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said Spahn.

The countries could go different ways with the offers.

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NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) announced in the cabinet that it would write to groups in particular need of protection.

There will be an appointment management "where you can check in for vaccination".

At the same time, mobile teams should swarm out to visit people in facilities who could not come to the vaccination centers.

It was "an offer", stressed Spahn.

"This vaccination campaign is a mammoth project."

Laschet said they were "still in the final phase of information" when it comes to giving citizens specific details about their vaccination options.

"It is done together with the statutory health insurance associations in North Rhine-Westphalia," he said on WDR television.

"They then have the opportunity to provide information immediately."

Laschet spoke of a "medical and logistical challenge of historical dimension".

More than 7000 retired doctors, nurses and other volunteers in North Rhine-Westphalia alone have already declared their willingness to help with the vaccination campaign - with a steadily growing trend.

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Spahn also reported that in this “situation of the century” for many, it was an incentive to work on a solution.

"One thing is very clear: there is only a way out of this pandemic if we are prepared to vaccinate."

The vaccines that have now been applied for for approval offer the prospect of "finally slowing down the pandemic" and of going into the new year with great hope, said Laschet.

However, it is still indispensable to adhere to the hygiene rules and contact restrictions in a disciplined manner.

Spahn also emphasized: "We have had a tough November behind us".

The month was marked by "a lot of renunciation".

“I wish I could tell you now that December will be a whole lot better.

I can't, because the number of infections is still too high. "

Laschet (CDU) appealed to citizens to deal responsibly with the announced corona easing at Christmas.

One does not have to «exhaust all that».

The head of government emphasized that parties would not be tolerated.

Spahn said: "Celebrating Christmas in the immediate family is part of this Christian day."

But he knows it from the Münsterland region: the whole family always comes on Boxing Day - cousins, uncles and aunts.

It quickly became 40 or 50 people.

"That won't work this year."

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There are still around 400 deaths nationwide every day.

"These people won't live to see Christmas anymore," said Spahn.

Their families are in mourning on the holidays.

Health protection must have a strong weight in the fight against the pandemic.

Therefore, restrictions in everyday life are still necessary.

"The good news, however, is that this time is finite foreseeable."

Germany has secured more than 60 million rapid corona tests every month.

This was guaranteed by “guarantee contracts” with large producers and suppliers.

The question of how much immunity an already overcome corona infection offers cannot yet be answered.

At the same time, Spahn dampened the hope that the rapid tests would be available in all retirement and nursing homes by Christmas.

«Can I promise that every nursing home will open on December 24th.

which has?

No, ”he said on WDR.

He wants to be honest about that.

Tests are already available, but not enough everywhere.

But that will improve step by step.

A quick test could mean "additional security" for visiting relatives.

The other corona rules are not repealed.