You could have known, and so did he.

According to a corresponding modeling by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Thomas Mertens was already clear in July which huge new corona wave would roll on Germany.

On ZDF, the chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission STIKO said that the reasons for the current tense situation could already be read back then: namely that the infection curve could only be flattened with a high vaccination rate in the “mobile generation” of eighteen to fifty-nine year olds.

"And that just didn't work out."

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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The seventy-one-year-old sees no responsibility for this on his committee, probably rightly, because the federal and state governments are responsible for the vaccination campaign.

Last but not least, Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), with whom Mertens spoke on the phone a maximum of ten times during the entire pandemic, but wants to have sent himself messages more often.

From today's perspective, Spahn should perhaps have been warned louder, says Mertens self-critically, on the other hand, the minister knew the RKI data himself.

Decision strictly based on the data

The virologist often experienced tensions between science, politics and the public during the Corona period. Not infrequently he shook his head at the lack of insight on the part of laypeople and the lack of understanding of what the STIKO can and cannot do. The vaccination recommendations, for example, are based on researcher data, and if these are missing or contradict each other, then the eighteen volunteers hold back, sometimes revising previous opinions. For example with the question of which age groups the vector vaccines are suitable for. Mertens and his expert council later attracted disapproval because they were late in making general immunization recommendations for children. This is repeated now, because STIKO has also taken its time with the refreshments. After all, Mertens announced on Wednesdaysoon to make a recommendation for everyone over the age of 18.

Even if STIKO critics like the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) want faster decisions: The committee decides on the basis of the data that needs to be carefully considered, not on the basis of political necessity.

The latter is the responsibility of the federal and state governments when their heads of government meet for the Prime Minister's Conference this Thursday.

Mertens is not upset by the hustle and bustle of Berlin.

Born in Freiburg, who initially studied mathematics, his main job has long been retired.

Until 2018 he was full professor for virology at the University of Ulm and medical director at the university hospital there.