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They fight for air in an intensive care unit in Giurgiu, Romania.
Mostly unvaccinated corona patients.
Since autumn, the country in the south-east of the EU has been experiencing its worst corona wave since the pandemic began.
No other country in the world currently has a higher death rate per inhabitant.
Many patients here now regret the decision not to be vaccinated.
Constantina Nedelus, patient
»I should have done this a long time ago, but I always said: I'll do it tomorrow.
And look where I am now.
I could have had the family doctor vaccinate me, but I just didn't.
Out of negligence, what can I say. "
Florea Traznea, patient
»My children have been vaccinated, I have two grandchildren.
My wife and I, we didn't get vaccinated because we thought we were smarter.
But we were so stupid.
See what I've been going through since I got sick. "
Elena Boziru, patient
»I want to be honest.
I barely left the house, I'm old.
I thought I had no problem so I didn't get the vaccine. "
The problem: The health system is in a poor condition, thousands of Romanian doctors have migrated abroad, where they earn more.
In addition, many citizens distrust the state and denounce corruption.
That depresses the willingness to vaccinate.
Only around 30 percent of the population are fully immunized.
Valeriu Gheorghita, head of the vaccination program
»People want to stay where they have lived all their lives, some are alone because relatives have gone to work in the city or abroad.
That makes it difficult to vaccinate the elderly.
And they don't trust the vaccination, they are very reluctant, often for religious reasons. "
In order to break the wave of infections, the government again imposed restrictions at the end of October.
Larger celebrations are prohibited.
There is again a mask requirement.
Additional vaccination offers at the weekend are intended to prevent the situation in the clinics from worsening even further.
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