At some point, Hesse's Minister of Health Kai Klose (Die Grünen) stopped showing understanding for those who, out of conviction, do not want to be vaccinated.

The fact that numerous vaccine skeptics and so-called lateral thinkers are expected in Frankfurt this Saturday makes him almost speechless for a brief moment.

“Everyone is free to demonstrate.

But I really can't understand it, ”he says.

Marie Lisa Kehler

Deputy head of the regional section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

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He advises people who still do not believe in the danger of the virus to talk to those who fight every day in Hesse's clinics for the survival of seriously ill corona patients.

Klose has had many such conversations over the past few months.

With doctors and nurses who suffer from constant stress.

“The situation costs everyone a lot of strength.

To then have to listen to conspiracy theories is awesome. "

Fear of the fifth corona wave

The Minister of Health was one of the first in Hessen to speak out in favor of examining a general vaccination requirement. “That must be properly prepared in parliamentary terms and well justified,” he says. In addition, the ethics council must be involved. “But I have come to believe that the too high number of unvaccinated people can keep us in the situation that a wave repeats itself,” he says.

Because information campaigns and urgent appeals in the past few months have not led to a significant increase in the vaccination rate, severe restrictions for unvaccinated people are the only logical consequence for him. "The proportion of those who can be convinced has been too low so far." There is "not much left" than to act like this, says Klose. However, the restrictions started to have an effect. After all, in the week of November 22nd, for example, of the approximately 280,000 vaccinations distributed by general practitioners and company doctors, mobile teams, vaccination centers and public health workers, almost 50,000 were first vaccinations.

Around a quarter of the population in Hesse is still considered to be unvaccinated. Only people who are older than twelve and for whom a vaccination recommendation is available are counted here. The state of Hesse wants to offer its citizens 400,000 vaccinations per week by Christmas - the booster vaccinations already make up the largest proportion. To cope with this is "a huge achievement of our vaccination alliance".

That of all things in a phase in which the vaccination campaign should pick up speed again, the vaccine became scarce in Hessen in the past week, was a bitter setback, says Klose.

"Because everyone suddenly ordered a lot more Biontech, but the total cake didn't get any bigger, everyone got a smaller portion," he says.

In addition, the Biontech cans that were not delivered were not automatically replaced by Moderna.

According to Klose, the country has no influence on vaccine orders and deliveries - that is in the hands of the federal government.

Increase acceptance of Moderna

What the Hessian Ministry of Health could and want to influence, however, is to do everything in its power to increase the acceptance of Moderna as the main vaccine - through clear communication and clarification expect, ”says Klose.

It is therefore important to prepare people early on so that vaccination with Moderna is more likely for anyone over the age of 30.

“Moderna is at least as good and effective as Biontech.

It's a super vaccine, ”the minister makes clear.

The more comprehensively people are informed in advance, the better the vaccination process can be accelerated in the practices.

Last week it became clear that deviations from the plan always affect the vaccination rate.

Many general practitioners would have had to change the vaccine "at full gallop" - this resulted in more consultations and persuasion talks and led to uncertainty.

Contact restrictions by regulation

Klose considers the nationwide Corona resolutions, which were announced on Thursday after the Prime Minister's Conference, to be urgently necessary. “I think it's right that unvaccinated people have to accept more severe restrictions because they are a particular burden on hospitals.” For example, limiting contacts. But he also appeals to those who have already been vaccinated. Contact restrictions are only possible by means of an ordinance. "But everyone should touch their own nose and think about whom they absolutely have to meet in person."

Because the risk of infection is significantly reduced by careful behavior, such as wearing a mask in everyday situations.

"Communicatively, nationwide measures are helpful because they make it easier for people to find their way around and increase acceptance of what has been decided." Nevertheless, it is necessary that the state can also make adjustments and issue stricter rules if the restrictions do not lead to the clinics relieve.