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On the day of the federal and state vaccination summit, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) was at WELT for a TV interview.
The conversation with Tatjana Ohm dealt with the currently most important questions in relation to prioritization when vaccinating, ending restrictions on fundamental rights for vaccinated people and the situation of young people.
Here are the most important excerpts from the conversation.
Vaccination prioritization
“First of all, we saved lives by prioritizing. Because we first vaccinated the over 80 year olds who were residents of the nursing home, the number of deaths and the most severe cases have decreased significantly here. Every second death in Germany that we have to complain about is someone over 80 from Covid-19. So, from my point of view, it was absolutely right to vaccinate the particularly vulnerable first ... The next group, the so-called priority group 3, ... the over 60s, the supermarket salesmen and women, the bus drivers, the judicial officers , these are the teachers in secondary schools.
These are all people, professional groups, they cannot work from home.
And they have been waiting for four or five months to finally be vaccinated to protect themselves.
And I want us to first make these groups an offer in May in all federal states.
The next step is then the task of prioritization in general.
I said yes, in June - if it can be done earlier, because more vaccine is coming, sooner too, but I think that first of all the sales people and bus drivers should also get their promised vaccination.
Restrictions on fundamental rights
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“On the one hand, we want to equate those who have been vaccinated and those currently tested negative very quickly.
For example, when entering the country you need a test.
Then in the future ... the complete vaccination will be enough ... This is about basic rights, and there is nothing to put into perspective or to delay, to procrastinate.
It has to be well formulated, it has to be agreed how it should be in the federal government, and that will happen in the next few weeks ... Such a regulation takes two, three, four weeks.
But that's also quick in view of what's going on. "
Contagion from vaccinated people
“The vaccination protects - but not 100 percent, against infection.
What it protects against, almost 100 percent, is against a severe course.
So, even in the homes for the elderly, where this virus really raged, hit very hard, there were many deaths to complain about: the vaccination makes a real difference.
Even if the virus gets in again, we have significantly less severe and fatal courses.
So it protects. "
Evidence of vaccination
“We also want to have a digital certificate, which is coordinated in the EU, so that you can also use it when you are in Spain or the Netherlands or Poland, wherever in the EU.
For this, interfaces had to be defined.
These have now been largely defined, and we are currently implementing them with companies that have won a tender.
The goal is to have that too by summer. "
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Vaccination protection for younger people
“There are studies that have already started for those under 16 years of age. Pfizer / Biontech, or in Germany better Biontech / Pfizer, has already applied for approval for twelve to 16 year olds in the USA. They have told us that they want to do that for Europe in May as well. That means, if that goes well, we will have a vaccine for over twelve-year-olds towards the summer. But we also need studies with children. Why do you need it? Children are not little adults when it comes to medicines. You have to see what does the dose do in a smaller, growing body?
And when you then have study results, I am very confident that there will also be vaccines for children ... At the moment we have to make do by vaccinating and protecting the environment as well as possible until we then also the children and vaccinate adolescents.
Now if you ask me when?
I can't tell you exactly when.
The studies are ongoing. "
Vaccination protection for himself
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“I haven't been vaccinated yet, at my 40th birthday, because I haven't yet been prioritized.
And I think that first of all vaccinating those who are particularly at risk for a severe course or who simply have much greater risks due to their everyday work, such as the policeman, the saleswoman, the bus driver.
They can't choose who sometimes behaves and how and whom they meet.
I can, and that's why I think it's okay that they are vaccinated first. "
Vaccine skepticism among migrants
“It is like that, I said there are certain groups.
We also know this from other vaccinations, where we have to advertise very strongly for a vaccination.
And that applies above all to certain cultural backgrounds.
If vaccination is not so popular in the homeland or the country where the family is from, sometimes it is here too.
And that's what we try to address through information.
Incidentally, as we did during the entire pandemic in over 20 languages, which we give by being on site with low thresholds.
It's not just about the cultural background, but also about the social situation.
It also makes a difference that we reach those who we would otherwise find difficult to reach with prevention offers when it comes to health. "
Criticism of #allesdichtmachen
“First of all, of course, I'll talk to everyone who has their perspective on this pandemic.
And someone who works in the intensive care unit and simply sees what this virus is causing, sees things differently when in doubt than someone who has not been able to do his job for twelve months and is understandably simply frustrated and also has economic worries.
What I find important as a society is that we actually keep talking to one another.
These different perspectives - stay in conversation with each other.
And (that) not everyone is in their WhatsApp group and echo chamber on Facebook. "