German military, Bundeswehr, capable of inoculating 18,000 individuals daily against COVID-19
The German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, have taken a significant role in the nation's COVID-19 vaccination campaign, operating numerous vaccination centers and deploying thousands of soldiers to support the effort.
In a notable move, the Bundeswehr has set up around 75 vaccination stations nationwide, contributing to expanding vaccine accessibility across Germany. These stations, staffed by around 20 to 25 soldiers each, have been crucial in the country's vaccination drive.
The Bundeswehr's largest domestic health mission has seen several thousand soldiers involved in vaccination administration and logistics. However, this extensive engagement has negatively impacted the military's readiness due to its scope and duration.
In addition to the vaccination centers, the federal police and Feldjäger (military police) forces have been tasked with security duties around vaccination sites and helping enforce COVID-19 related regulations. This ensures smooth and safe operation of the vaccination campaigns.
Under ideal conditions, the Bundeswehr could potentially vaccinate approximately 18,000 people per day in Germany. However, no new information about the number of vaccines the Bundeswehr would store or guard has been provided.
Doctor Johannes Backus has suggested a combination of federal or state police and fieldjäger forces for the secure storage and guarding of vaccines. The police alone would be responsible for transporting the vaccines to the respective distribution centers of the states.
Photos of Bundeswehr soldiers assisting at COVID-19 testing sites have been shared by dts Nachrichtenagentur, showcasing the military's active role in the nation's fight against the pandemic.
Despite the progress made, no new information about the readiness for deployment of the vaccination campaign, the number of people that could be vaccinated per day, or the start date of the vaccination campaign has been given. The vaccination campaign is planned to be ready for deployment by December 15 and to start vaccinating then.
The Bundeswehr's extensive experience in international missions, while not new information in this context, will undoubtedly prove helpful in organising and conducting the vaccination campaign. This large-scale military engagement in the domestic vaccination campaign is the Bundeswehr’s most extensive mission of its kind during the pandemic.
The Bundeswehr's substantial involvement in the domestic vaccination campaign, beyond vaccination stations, includes the secure storage and guarding of vaccines, a task jointly handled by federal or state police and Feldjäger forces, as suggested by Doctor Johannes Backus. Furthermore, the health and wellness sector benefits from the Bundeswehr's vast experience in medical-conditions management and logistics, as they strive to ensure the success of the nation's COVID-19 vaccination drive.
