Covid-19 vaccination rate in Germany reaches 2.6%

Berlin, March 3 : More than two months after the start of the coronavirus vaccination program in Germany, almost 2.16 million people received the second jab, bringing the country’s vaccination rate to 2.6 per cent, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced.
People over 80 years of age and employees in medical professions were among the first to receive a vaccination, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.
The immunization campaign in Germany was showing “first successes,” said Minister of Health Jens Spahn at a press conference Friday. The risk of getting Covid-19 had been “significantly reduced for our most elderly citizens.” Vaccination capacities across the country were being continually expanded, according to Spahn. Doctors’ practices would soon be included in the vaccination campaign on a regular basis.
Germany remains in a Covid-19 lockdown which will last until at least March 7. Strict contact restrictions apply and non-essential shops, restaurants and leisure facilities are closed. However, there have been first opening steps as hairdressers were allowed to open on Monday.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the minister presidents of the federal states are scheduled to meet to discuss the next steps in the country’s Covid-19 response.