German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer urged Bayern footballer Joshua Kimmich on Wednesday to get vaccinated against the coronavirus because that would also encourage others to receive that same treatment.
Kimmich recently revealed that he has not yet been vaccinated, citing some concerns about possible long-term effects, although he did not rule out doing so in the future. His position has been criticized even by the German government.
Seehofer, whose ministry is also responsible for German sports, recalled that vaccination is the most effective weapon against the pandemic. “Think again and get vaccinated! You are a personality and a role model. If you get vaccinated, other people will say ‘I will too'”, the politician pointed out in statements to Bild-TV.,
Vaccination is not mandatory in Germany, but the Bundesliga and clubs, including Bayern, are encouraging players to do so. According to recent official records, around 66 percent of Germans are fully vaccinated and authorities are targeting a vaccination rate of 85 percent for the age group 12 to 59 years and 90 percent for those over 60. .