In front of a test center in Hanau, Hessen, people are waiting for their booster vaccinations. In November about 7 million vaccinations were reported to the RKI.
(Photo: dpa)
The end of compulsory testing for people who have been vaccinated three times, which is planned by the federal and state governments, is a huge air number. On the one hand, there is no compulsory test for vaccinated people in many places.
And countries with such a rule – for example Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate – have already exempted people who have been vaccinated three times from the obligation to test. Clinics and nursing homes are of course excluded.
Even the basic assumption that Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) uses to promote the rule is questionable. It’s about making booster vaccinations more attractive.
However, most of them do not need any further incentives – they are convinced by the higher immune and health protection of the booster. What they need is an appointment, because there is a lack of that in some places despite the massive increase in vaccination speed.
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Even in autumn, the end of the free citizen tests did not bring the hoped-for spades incentive. Instead, infections went undetected – just before the sharp rise in the fourth wave. A fatal mistake that will hopefully not be repeated.
The new Omikron variant, considered more contagious, is also spreading in Germany. It is true that comparatively few people are infected with it. But countries like Great Britain show that this can change quickly.
The citizen tests have been free again since November 13th.
(Photo: dpa)
Even the British prime minister and “Freedom Day” inventor Boris Johnson speaks of a “tidal wave” that is forcing the government to take sharper corona measures again.
In such a situation, the end of the obligation to test is the wrong signal. When things go really wrong, most of them only stick to four words: Freedom after the booster!
But there can be no question of that. People who have been vaccinated three times are better protected after a certain distance than those who have been vaccinated twice. You can still get infected or become seriously ill – this is even more likely with the Omikron than with the Delta variant. The booster is also not a free ticket.
More: Booster vaccination for everyone over the age of 18 – the most important questions and answers