Angela Merkel
Photographer: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz / Bloomberg
Photographer: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz / Bloomberg
Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her first shot of the AstraZeneca Plc Covid-19 vaccine Friday as Germany’s immunization process continues to accelerate after a slow start.
“I am delighted that I received the first vaccination with AstraZeneca today,” Merkel said in a statement released by a spokeswoman. “I thank everyone involved in the vaccination campaign – and everyone who is vaccinated.”
Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz had earlier announced that he would also receive the AstraZeneca shot on Friday, while both opted for the company’s vaccine, despite possible links with rare blood clots that led to its use in some countries, including Germany, are limited.
Germany has now applied more than 20 million Covid shots since vaccination began at the end of last year. About 18.5% of the population had at least one dose, and the government promised to offer at least one initial survey to everyone by the end of the summer.
More than 848 million shots fired: Bloomberg Covid-19 Tracker
“It’s going very, very fast,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said Friday, adding that the start of vaccinations in doctors’ offices, rather than just in large centers, has made a “decisive difference.” One-third of Germans will be able to get their first dose by the end of May, he said.
Large companies in Germany are also starting to vaccinate employees who use their medical staff, in line with existing priority categories, Spahn said.
Broader vaccination will start at the end of the second quarter at German companies, a possible boost for the country’s campaign.
Merkel earlier Friday defended her attempt to take greater control over Germany’s coronavirus restrictions to break a ‘very serious’ wave of infections. In the Bundestag, she pushed back against opposition to a law that would give the federal government the authority to impose local restrictions such as nightclub rules.
“Vaccination is the key to overcoming the pandemic,” she said in the tweet.
– With assistance by Naomi Kresge and Arne Delfs