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FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann in the Bundestag: "In the long term, we should get into a mode like that of influenza"
Photo: Christian Spicker / imago images / Christian Spicker
In the Bundestag there will be a broad debate on the corona vaccination requirement for the first time on Wednesday.
In an “orientation debate”, MEPs from all parliamentary groups want to discuss how the fight against the pandemic can be pushed forward most effectively.
It should be lively, because it's about a highly emotional, controversial topic.
Under pressure from the FDP in particular, the traffic light coalition had waived its own application for compulsory vaccination.
Instead, there should be cross-party group applications.
It is not yet clear when they will be introduced and when they will be voted on in the spring.
At the moment there is only one specific draft proposal for the FDP Vice and Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki, who is supported by 31 other FDP MPs and two parliamentarians from the CDU.
The group opposes a general obligation to vaccinate and instead relies on increased campaigns for voluntary vaccinations.
At the end of last week, seven MPs from the SPD, Greens and FDP announced that they wanted to submit their own group application - for general vaccination for all citizens over the age of 18.
This letter is signed by the SPD MPs Dirk Wiese, Heike Baehrens and Dagmar Schmidt, the Green MPs Janosch Dahmen and Till Steffen and the FDP MPs Katrin Helling-Plahr and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.
Another group proposal is expected to deal with a graduated vaccination requirement, which could possibly apply to citizens aged 50 and over, as has recently become the practice in Italy.
Doctor and FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann is one of those involved in drafting this application.
In an interview, the 59-year-old talks about the project and the prospects of getting out of the pandemic situation.
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Ullmann, today there is another conference between the prime ministers and the chancellor.
With the currently increasing number of infections due to the highly contagious omicron variant and the resulting possible herd immunity, parts of politics and the public are also concerned with one topic - that of the perspective of the transition from the pandemic to the endemic situation.
When and under what conditions could measures be relaxed?
Ullmann:
As soon as the pandemic situation allows, the measures should be relaxed.
The contact restrictions are only there to prevent the health system from being overloaded.
Personally, I no longer think 3G, 2G or 2G+ is appropriate when the incidence is low.
SPIEGEL:
Is vaccination necessary for a transition to an endemic situation?
Ullmann:
We shouldn't make the mistake for the third time in a row and start next autumn carefree.
We must use the summer of 2022 to prepare for the winter wave.
In my opinion, this is not possible without a significant increase in the vaccination rate.
We must openly discuss in Parliament which measures are necessary and appropriate for this.
DER
SPIEGEL:
Do you think regularly recurring, possibly mandatory, boosters are necessary to manage the exit from the pandemic - or to prevent a relapse from an endemic situation?
Ullmann: In the
long term, we should get into a mode like that of influenza.
Sufficient vaccines for booster vaccinations must be available for each autumn.
Vaccination would then be voluntary and would mainly serve to protect oneself.
Reports make me optimistic that in the near future we will have adapted vaccines that protect against both influenza and the coronavirus.
SPIEGEL:
What do you think the future will look like under the motto "living with the virus"?
Is it still compulsory to wear a mask, are there regular vaccinations?
Ullmann:
I don't think anyone can answer that seriously yet.
Personally, I assume a gradual process of change.
The masks are more likely to disappear in summer and be seen again in winter.
I am optimistic that after a period of transition we will return to our old ways.
I just don't know when that will be exactly.
