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Berlin (dpa) - Finally meeting with friends again without restrictions: As early as Saturday, a piece of normality could return for those who have been completely vaccinated against Corona and for those who have recovered.

But is this preference fair?

It depends, says social psychologist Ulrich Wagner from the University of Marburg.

«As long as the vaccination priority - especially in groups 1 and 2 - is maintained, a" promise of justice "is kept with the vaccination».

So far, among other things, old people, people in need of care and members of certain professional groups have been vaccinated.

But there are already plans to lift this prioritization rule by June at the latest.

Wagner sees this critically.

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What freedoms are we talking about?

First of all, legal equality between those who have been completely vaccinated and those who have recovered with people who have tested negative is planned.

A person is considered fully vaccinated from 14 days after all necessary corona injections.

Vaccinated and convalescent people should then go to shops, zoos or the hairdresser without a prior test.

In addition, the contact restrictions and exit restrictions should also be relaxed or lifted for them.

They do not have to be quarantined after traveling - unless they are coming from a virus variant area.

The obligation to wear a mask in certain places as well as the distance requirement in public spaces should continue to apply to everyone.

Psychologist Eva-Lotta Brakemeier from the University of Greifswald is positive that many people in the first two priority groups will soon be relieved.

Many of these people are at high risk of developing mental illness, so it makes her happy.

But according to the expert, there are also people in the rest of the population who have suffered badly.

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According to Brakemeier, this also includes young people, especially between the ages of 18 and 25. In those groups that are not vaccinated as a priority, the proposed easing measures could be perceived as unfair. Whether young people react with anger, however, depends a lot on how the rules are communicated. There should be no confusion, it must always be clear what is allowed and why, advises Brakemeier.

If the Bundestag and Bundesrat approve the federal government's drafts by Friday, the first private meetings among vaccinated people could take place on the weekend without any particular restrictions.

But what does that mean?

Imagine the old friend who works as a carer inviting you to a small party in her apartment.

As a not vaccinated one would have to decline with thanks, under certain circumstances there is even a night curfew.

Social psychologist Wagner does not consider this to be problematic at first: "People who have had to suffer a particularly large number of restrictions or who have exposed themselves to particular risk are preferred," which is perceived as fair.

However, if the prioritization of vaccinations is given up or if it is no longer clear according to which measure is vaccinated, then a feeling of injustice arises.

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From the point of view of the social psychologist, there is a risk that it will be difficult for the individual to assess which rules a vaccination is based on when the vaccination is carried out by the family doctor.

With the planned vaccination by company doctors, the problem could become even greater.

"Why has the neighbor been vaccinated for no apparent reason, but I haven't?" These nagging questions could weaken support for the restrictions that continue to apply.

Wagner also criticizes that the announced digital vaccination certificate does not yet exist.

Fully vaccinated persons should be able to identify themselves with it.

Wagner wonders how the law enforcement officers can effectively control the new regulations without this vaccination certificate.

There is a risk that vaccinated people without appropriate evidence and unvaccinated people who generally reject the restrictions can no longer be differentiated.

That could also damage the general acceptance of the corona protective measures.

Despite these risks, there is also much to be said for the first relief at this point in time.

Already in November 2020, Eva-Lotta Brakemeier warned that mental disorders have a longer incubation period, i.e. it takes longer before the problem is recognized.

Currently it is already clear that mental illnesses have increased.

The expert referred to surveys of the health insurance companies, according to which there was an increase in requests for psychotherapeutic treatment of 40 percent compared to before the pandemic.

In the case of children and young people, it is even 60 percent.

The director of the Center for Psychological Psychotherapy at the University of Greifswald can confirm this from her own experience: "Before the pandemic, we received up to 2 inquiries per day, now there are up to 6."

However, social psychologist Wagner does not take a critical view of everything: He believes it is right that vaccinated people must continue to wear masks and keep their distance in the foreseeable future.

It is a matter of maintaining a general standard that can also be controlled.

But what if new virus mutations are brought into Germany and Germany has to start containment from scratch? "To imagine how society reacts if there is a general lockdown for everyone again because of new virus mutations is beyond my imagination," Wagner openly admits. In order to master this challenge as a society, trust in the decisions of the governments is very important. "Here we should learn from the undesirable developments of the past few months."

Ernst Dietrich Munz, President of the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists, is of the opinion that the decisions cannot be generally described as good or bad.

“I believe that difficulties can arise if the relaxation also affects vacation plans.

If the vaccinated are treated differently when it comes to traveling abroad », the difference between the possibilities of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated should not become too great.

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Munz also appeals to politicians and epidemiologists to clarify once again that precautionary measures are still necessary and sensible for everyone.

Both Munz and Brakemeier also advocate the principle of hope.

Brakemeier agrees with Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) when he says: "We have to pair confidence with prudence and caution."

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210506-99-486786 / 2