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Joshua Kimmich has been under contract with FC Bayern Munich since the 2015/2016 season
Photo: Matthias Koch / imago images / Matthias Koch
Joshua Kimmich, one of the best and most popular German national soccer players, is not vaccinated against the corona virus.
Now even the federal government has commented on the subject.
All questions about the vaccinations are of course justified, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert.
However, there are "clear and convincing answers" from national and international experts on aspects such as the type and effect of the vaccines or possible consequences of the vaccine.
He therefore hopes "that Joshua Kimmich lets all this information work on him again and then maybe can decide in favor of the vaccination," said Seibert.
"Because as someone who millions look at, he would then be even more of a role model."
Kimmich had confirmed on Saturday that he was still unvaccinated.
There are "a few concerns - especially when it comes to the lack of long-term studies," said the national player.
At the same time, he did not rule out vaccination in principle.
It is "very possible that I will be vaccinated in the future."
"Surprising statement" from Kimmich
Seibert said that it is certainly no different for a national soccer player than for any other because it is a very personal decision to get vaccinated. Nevertheless, there are answers to the questions that Kimmich clearly has. With a view to his general Corona commitment, Seibert spoke of a "surprising statement". When the pandemic hit Germany, Kimmich and his teammate Leon Goretzka took the initiative and raised millions for charitable purposes with the “We kick Corona” campaign. He himself donated a seven-figure contribution.
Seibert emphasized in principle that the number of people vaccinated depends crucially on how coexistence can be organized in the pandemic. The Ministry of Health explained that after many vaccinations, rare side effects have been researched much better than with other vaccines. The Ministry of the Interior, responsible for sport, emphasized the basic position that vaccinations are the only sustainable way out of the pandemic. Ultimately, however, it remains that everyone has to decide for themselves.
Kimmich has to live with being instrumentalized by anti-vaccination opponents or politicians and agitators as a symbolic figure, even if he probably does not have their ideas in him.
He received support for his vaccination skepticism on Monday from AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel.
The decision of the Bayern professional is his private matter and must be respected, explained Weidel.
"The fact that Mr. Kimmich is now constantly being forced to justify his personal decision is excessive and reveals a dubious spread of conformist paternalistic thinking."
svs / lau / dpa