PRESS RELEASE NO. 34/2021 Joint Appeal: “Get vaccinated. That’s the only way we can return to normalcy.”

About 55 percent of Germans are now fully vaccinated, and over 60 percent have received at least their first dose. Currently, an average of about 350,000 doses are still being administered per day. Germany is thus still far from the important target of herd immunity—which, according to scientific consensus, requires at least 85 percent of the population to be vaccinated. At the same time, people are repeatedly failing to show up for their second doses—even as incidence rates have recently begun to rise significantly again. The social partners in the metal and electrical industries agree that only a high vaccination rate can enable a return to normalcy.

That is why Dr. Stefan Wolf, President of Gesamtmetall, and Jörg Hofmann, First Chairman of IG Metall, are jointly appealing to employees in the metal and electrical industries: “Accept the vaccination offers—no matter where. Whether at vaccination centers, your family doctor’s office, or at work—every vaccination counts! Only if we quickly achieve a high vaccination rate can we prevent a looming fourth wave and significantly accelerate the return to normalcy. Of course, getting vaccinated is a personal decision. But it’s also about how we live together as a society. Everyone has a share of the responsibility here. Getting vaccinated is also an act of solidarity.

Companies in the M E-Industry are also standing up to their responsibility and, where possible and necessary, offering comprehensive vaccination and testing programs. We know that not all companies can provide these services, partly due to the significant organizational and financial burdens involved. But where available, this opportunity should be taken advantage of. The goal must be to make it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated. In doing so, we must also find and utilize creative and innovative solutions.”