It is an ironic U-turn that the reopening of the vaccination centers is now being demanded.
At the beginning of September, no one of the responsible health politicians could have suspected that the centers, which were closed on October 1st, would be needed again exactly one month later.
Or is the reopening unnecessary after all?
If Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) and his possible SPD successor Karl Lauterbach have their way, the vaccination centers in stand-by mode should be restarted quickly. This is the only way to give as many doubly vaccinated people as possible the third booster vaccination in the next few weeks - as the most effective protection against infection in the rampant fourth corona wave with rising numbers of sicknesses and deaths.
The federal states see it, how could it be otherwise, completely different. In view of the stagnating vaccination numbers, there is simply no need for the centers, which are operated with a lot of expensive personnel costs - facilities for which Spahn of all people has cut the funds. The general practitioners would have to vaccinate more, Berlin's health senator turns the tables. Medical associations, on the other hand, are annoyed by Spahn, who had promised all citizens over the age of twelve a booster vaccination, which the Standing Vaccination Commission, however, only recommends for people over the age of 70.
As is so often the case in the course of the corona pandemic, there is maximum cacophony when making a decision on an important question.
It is known that in order to contain the pandemic, which has become more dangerous because of the delta variant, the speed of vaccination is important.
But even if the Health Ministers' Conference decides to reopen the vaccination centers as a sensible instrument, it could still take some time.
Because the necessary staff has long been employed elsewhere, and new staff have to be trained first.
Driving by sight may be beneficial in other crises.
With Corona, predictive steering and quick action are required.