Germany hits target for 30 million new vaccine shots

Frankfurt, Germany: Germany has reached its target of 30 million additional vaccinations against COVID-19 by the end of the year, aimed at reactivating a backward vaccination campaign and combating a resurgence in COVID-19 infections. To do.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the 30 million mark had been passed on Sunday, the DPA news agency reported.
“We have reached an important milestone,” Lauterbach was quoted as saying. “We can be proud of that.”
Of the shots added, 25 million were boosters and 5 million were first or second-time vaccinations.
The target was set on 18 November – before the new Chancellor Olaf Scholz was sworn in on 8 December – to counter the increase in the number of daily cases caused by the delta variant after the pace of vaccination had slowed since the summer. For. The target gained more urgency after the highly contagious Omicron variant was reported and became widespread across Europe.
The number of daily cases in Germany has declined recently, but officials have warned that Omicron could quickly top them.
Germany’s vaccination effort has had its ups and downs. There weren’t enough vaccine shots in the early months of 2021, which well overtook vaccination efforts in the US and UK.
Demand for a booster against Omicron and government restrictions on non-vaccinated people currently entering shops, restaurants and transportation has seen momentum again, hitting a daily record of 1.6 million on December 15.
Still, the German government has had to postpone another goal, that of vaccinating 80 percent of its population, until the end of January. From 7 January. Currently 58.9 million people are fully vaccinated, or 70.8 percent of the population, according to the DPA. The federal disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, said the actual number of people vaccinated could be as high as 5 percent because of gaps in reporting.
Germany recommends vaccination for all 12 to 17 year olds and 5-11 year olds for pre-existing health problems. Children ages 5 to 11 without pre-existing conditions can be vaccinated if their parents wish.