German Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 26 said Germany could conduct a Covid-19 vaccination for priority target groups just before Christmas this year, but warned that the restrictive measures in Germany will last for many months.
Speaking to the German Federal Parliament on November 26, Angela Merkel said the first batch of vaccines could be approved for use right before Christmas this year and then the German government will immediately administer vaccination to health workers working in hospitals and nursing homes, the number 1 priority target.
Among the countries in Europe, Germany and Spain are the ones that have completed the earliest nationwide the Covid-19 vaccination plan to quickly end the pandemic. It is expected that, after vaccinating health workers, the German government will vaccinate the next priority people such as the elderly or those with chronic diseases.
According to Chancellor Angela Merkel, there are currently 27 million people and Germany cannot propose coercive measures to isolate these people from society, so vaccines are the optimal solution.
“Our goal is that all people with Covid-19 infection, as well as those who need treatment for other diseases, will be treated. The German health system is very strong and so far has been able to withstand the pandemic. We need to make sure that continues ”.
Although confident in Germany’s medical prowess, Chancellor Angela Merkel also warned that difficult days for this country are still going to end this winter, in the context of Germany is still experiencing new infections every day and very high deaths. In particular, with an average of about 20,000 cases and 400 deaths per day, Germany is considered to be coping with the second wave of Covid-19 less effective than the first and compared with some of its neighboring European countries, even showing signs of losing control in some areas.
Before this development, on November 25, the German government and leaders of 16 states in this country agreed to extend the current blockade orders to at least January 20. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the German government will monitor the current developments until Christmas is close to decide whether to loosen the restrictions to facilitate the celebration of Christmas and the New Year or not.
In addition, Germany is also lobbying other European countries such as Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy to agree to close ski locations until January 2021 to prevent people from flocking in the upcoming holidays.