Corona in Ireland: vaccination for going to the pub

Where long queues formed a few weeks ago, there is now a yawning emptiness.

With ID in hand and mask on face, only a few people rush to the entrances of the vaccination center in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

As is currently the case in Germany, the vaccination process is also slowing down in Ireland.

The reasons for this, however, are different.

The quota in Germany is stagnating, although many people are still unvaccinated: According to the Robert Koch Institute, around three quarters of the German population over the age of 18 have full protection.

In Ireland it is 93 percent, according to information from the Irish Health Department.

This means that the country has the highest quota in the European Union.

There is hardly any resistance to vaccination.

Sometimes people gather in downtown Dublin to demonstrate against government measures or vaccination.

There are usually 50-100 participants who peacefully hold signs in the air and start their way home after a few hours.

Information also via social media

Many of those who are now waiting in front of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin accompany their underage children. Because since the beginning of August the 12 to 15 year old Irish can also register for a vaccination. For Anna O'Keeffe there was no question of whether she would be vaccinated. The 14-year-old girl wanted to protect others and herself from the virus. All of her friends get vaccinated too, she says. "I'm glad Anna decided to do this," says her mother Patricia O'Keeffe. “For me it's not a personal decision, but a collective one. The more we stick together and get vaccinated, the better it is for our country in the end, ”she adds.

O'Keeffe's opinion seems to reflect the general attitude of the Irish. According to a recent survey by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, only five percent of residents of Ireland refuse to be immunized against Covid. This means that the reluctance to vaccinate has decreased by 36 percentage points in the past ten months. According to the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, this is due to the cohesion of the population. "Throughout the pandemic, the Irish took a firm stance that we are all stuck on this issue together and that we all want to get out of it together," he says. According to this, people get vaccinated not only for their own health, but also for that of their parents, grandparents and friends.

Byrne also thinks the Irish have a strong faith in science.

Information about the coronavirus and vaccination was provided not by politicians but by public health professionals.

The National Public Health Emergency Team, which is advising the government on Covid-19, provided information not only via the evening news and the radio, but also via social media.

A large part of the population was reached at all times during the pandemic.

In addition, according to Byrne, no political party in Ireland takes an anti-vaccination stance.

That is on in some European countries.

No more restrictions from the end of October

However, there are doubters in Ireland too, people who do not get vaccinated. This includes John, who doesn't want to give his last name. For the 52-year-old Irishman, the high vaccination rate is not due to the great trust the Irish have in the government or medicine. Rather, he recognizes a hidden obligation in the current regulations. The young people only got vaccinated because otherwise they would be excluded from social activities, he says.

After months of strict lockdown, only the outdoor catering opened in summer. Pub and restaurant owners have only been able to operate indoors since July. But only those who have either been vaccinated or have recovered. There is no possibility of being tested for a pint of Guiness. If you want to get an outside seat, you may have to reserve two weeks in advance. With the meanwhile autumnal weather, however, very few feel like having dinner in the cool water. John doesn't mind. "I prefer to drink and eat outside and get a real flu than negative effects from an experimental vaccine," he says.

But from the end of October everything should change anyway. Then all remaining restrictions are lifted. Until then, the government wants to encourage vaccination for 16 to 19 year olds in particular. Because despite the high vaccination rate, more than 1,000 people are still infected with the virus every day. Advertising for the vaccination should be aimed specifically at districts with a low vaccination rate. While a large part of the communication takes place on the radio and in newspapers, younger people in particular are addressed via audio platforms such as Spotify and TuneIn.

Perhaps the prospect of the end of October is also a reason why people like John do not need a vaccination. He himself knows that his attitude is in the minority. He often meets with a lack of understanding and is marginalized, he says. While he waits for all restrictions to be lifted, most people in Ireland are now enjoying their Guinness in the pub again.

This is also the case with Cecilia Susino, who received her second dose in August. The 26-year-old woman is waiting for her boyfriend in front of the vaccination center. For both of them there was no question of whether they would be immunized. Although there were a few people in Susino's circle of friends who were a little anxious, they too finally got vaccinated. “I think it's because of the culture,” she says. “The Irish trust medicine and their doctors. Most of all, they just want to go out again and have fun. After all, that's what they really love. "