Icon: enlarge
Lung patient bear:
"What choice did I have?"
Photo:
Christian A. Werner / DER SPIEGEL
One day before New Year's Eve, Holger Bär had hope for the first time in months.
He dialed 116 117. Appointments for the corona vaccination are given on the number.
Bear is 53 years old.
Since childhood he has suffered from Williams-Campbell syndrome, a congenital malformation of the lungs.
He has been unable to work since he was 19 and has only 20 percent of the usual lung volume.
An oxygen device helps him breathe.
If he were to contract Corona and become seriously ill, his chances of survival would be minimal.
He told all of this to the hotline employee he spoke to on the phone that day.
He wanted to try to get a protection against Corona.
“What choice did I have?” He asks.
The employee found a free appointment at the Wolfen vaccination center, Saxony-Anhalt, a few kilometers from Bär's apartment.
January 11, 10:20 a.m.
Shortly afterwards, Bär received a confirmation by email.
On January 11th, Bär was brought to the vaccination center by his brother-in-law. It is located in a former film factory.
Bear got out of the car, sat in his wheelchair, plugged in his oxygen device, and drove inside.
Inside he presented his identity card.
After a few minutes a medical officer came.
He said Bear is not part of the top priority group.
He couldn't vaccinate Bear.
Read more with Spiegel Plus
More perspectives, more understanding.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +
Icon: Check
SPIEGEL as a magazine
as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader
Icon: Check
All articles on SPIEGEL.de
Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers
Icon: Check
Try one month for free
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
One month for € 0.00
Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right
Already have a digital subscription? Register here
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.
24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.
You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.
In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you have to link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.
With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.