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In his government statement in the Bundestag on Wednesday, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) admitted errors in the vaccination campaign against the corona virus.

“Not every decision in the past few months has been right,” he said.

"We learn from this."

However, a lack of production capacity for the vaccine is the problem, not a lack of contracts.

"That's why we have to prioritize." Spahn admitted: "Some things could have gone faster." And: "Of course, the biggest vaccination campaign in history is jerky." His prognosis: "We will be rewarded for our patience." can make a vaccination offer to every German.

Spahn described the current situation as "one of the most difficult phases of the pandemic".

But with the start of the vaccinations on December 27th - 750,000 Germans have now been vaccinated - the way out began: “The vaccination brings light at the end of the tunnel.” With the vaccination centers, a structure has now been set up that “can and will start up ".

Spahn: "Yes, it is right that we act European"

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He defended the decision to order a common European vaccine.

"Yes, it is right that we act European." One should not only conjure up Europe in Sunday speeches, but also follow these words with deeds. "No country and no government can defeat this virus alone -" it can only work together ".

In addition, this path is in Germany's national interest.

The German economy needs open internal borders and the free movement of goods.

"It is a question of economic reason that we do not vaccinate individual nations, but all of Europe."

Vaccine procurement began very early, in April, and “enough vaccine was ordered for all Germans” via the European route.

There would have been limited vaccination capacities even if they had gone it alone.

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Spahn also emphasized that "if we want to defeat the virus, it will soon be about vaccination readiness".

“We can only really defeat the virus if most citizens are ready to be vaccinated throughout the year.” That is why trust in the safety of the vaccine through an approval process is important.

Opposition: "Shameful" pace at the "stumbled" vaccination start

Following Spahn's speech, the SPD criticized the federal government for its vaccination management.

MEP Bärbel Bas said Germany had "done a lot right" in the task of making a vaccine available in a short period of time.

However, the question must be asked whether one should not have bought significantly more cans.

In terms of production capacities, a lot has now been “pushed in the right direction” - yet there has not been a “vaccination summit” with pharmaceutical companies that could have accelerated vaccination for too long.

There are also shortcomings in practical implementation.

“A lot can be improved” in terms of management.

Corresponding criticism is not only “coming to terms with the past” and, above all, “no insult to majesty” - one rather wants to learn from mistakes.

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Bas tackled Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) harder than Spahn.

He had brought up compulsory vaccination for employees in the care sector because the willingness there was not high enough.

It was "catastrophic" to put nurses under general suspicion, she said.

You have to design a campaign that increases vaccination readiness in general.

FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Lindner spoke of a "stumbled" vaccination start.

Logistics and speed are "shameful".

You have to focus on increasing the pace and capacity.

The AfD especially criticized Spahn - he would see "the syringe" as the only way out of the pandemic.