German vaccine seekers are becoming aggressive, doctors say

BERLIN, May 12 (Reuters) – Germans who are desperate to get vaccinated against the coronavirus are becoming more and more aggressive, doctors said on Wednesday, as frustration mounts after a six-month lockdown, although infection rates are now falling.

“The pressure on vaccination centers and medical practices is growing. The people who push for vaccinations are becoming more demanding,” said Anke Richter-Scheer, the deputy chairman of the German Association of General Practitioners, the Funke media group.

As Germany extends the priority for vaccines to more groups, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many people to understand why they have to wait behind others, said Richter-Scheer.

People show up at doctor’s offices trying to get vaccines when it’s not their turn, with moods becoming more aggressive, she said.

Some people also request their second shot early to go on vacation or benefit from perks like shopping without needing a COVID-19 test.

Elderly patients who have been assigned AstraZeneca also request a different vaccine.

After a slow start, Germany has ramped up its vaccination campaign and has now given a third of the population a first dose, with around 10% fully vaccinated.

It started with vaccinating its oldest citizens and gradually expanded vaccinations to younger groups and other priority professions such as teachers, journalists, and those involved in critical infrastructures.

Several federal states, including the capital Berlin, announced plans on Tuesday to relax coronavirus restrictions in the coming days as the number of new infections continues to fall across the country. Continue reading

An additional 14,909 new cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total to 3,548,285, while the death toll rose by 268 to 85,380. However, the seven-day incidence per 100,000 population fell from 115 on Tuesday to 108.

The government should give the citizens clear guidelines by the end of May as to whether and where they can go on vacation, said Finance Minister Olaf Scholz of the Rheinische Post.

Holidays should be possible within Germany and in some other countries because of increasing vaccinations and decreasing infections, he said. The northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which is popular with holidaymakers, will open its tourism sector from June 14th.

The German vaccination commission STIKO, however, dampened expectations of an early approval for vaccination of children and adolescents.

Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Adaptation by Angus MacSwan

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