Germany’s Merkel: Boosters can break 4th wave of coronavirus

BERLIN

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called for a widespread booster campaign to break the country’s fourth wave of the pandemic.

Addressing a gathering of city mayors, Merkel said the country’s coronavirus situation has become dramatic, as new coronavirus infections hit a fresh record this week.

She said Germany can learn from Israel’s experience and break the current wave by offering boosters to the adult population.

“According to all scientific findings – nationally and internationally – the effectiveness of the vaccines significantly decreases six months after the second dose,” Merkel told the meeting.

“Israel has shown us how a country can break the fourth wave by administering booster vaccinations,” she added.

Israel saw a sharp increase in new infections over the summer, but managed to bring down numbers after starting a widespread booster campaign for the entire population.

Lagging jabs

Merkel also called on those who are reluctant to get vaccinated, stressing that doing so is the most effective protection against serious cases of COVID-19.

Germany started administering booster shots to healthcare workers and older people in September, but the slow pace of vaccination sparked concern and criticism.

So far, nearly 4.4 million booster shots have been administered across the country.

Germany’s overall vaccination rate also lags behind other EU member states such as Portugal, Spain and Italy.

As of Wednesday, 56.3 million people, or 67.7% of the country’s population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The government’s goal has been to vaccinate at least 75% of the population to prevent an exponential rise in new infections during the fall and winter months.

Germany’s central government and premiers of federal states are scheduled to hold a videoconference on Thursday to organize a wider vaccination campaign and introduce tougher restrictions, especially for unvaccinated people.