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Germany pushes to boost Covid vaccine uptake after rollout loses steam

14 September 2021 19:27 (UTC +04:00)

Germany has begun what it has called a vaccination “action week” as the government seeks to reverse a slowdown in its Covid-19 immunization drive, APA reports citing CNBC.

With around 62% of the German population now fully vaccinated, the country’s rollout is now lagging those of its European neighbors.

In a bid to remedy that, this week will see mobile vaccination centers being set up on public transport, fire stations, places of worship and sports venues to allow for easy access to a vaccine.

Chancellor Angela Merkel implored unvaccinated Germans to get the shot in her weekly podcast on Sunday, telling them that “never was it simpler to get a vaccination.

Never has it been quicker.” She added people could from Monday get a dose without an appointment in the mobile vaccination centers being set up around the country.

While it was “fantastic” that more than 55 million people in Germany have taken up the offer of a vaccine and that 50 million of those were fully vaccinated, Merkel said, “unfortunately the infection rate and the number of Covid-19 patients have risen again in recent weeks,” she added, with the vast majority of those needing intensive care treatment being unvaccinated.

“To get through autumn and winter, we must convince more people to get vaccinated,” she said. “I ask you: protect yourself and other people. Get vaccinated.”