AstraZeneca's vaccine just can't get out of the negative headlines: Several EU countries have announced an at least temporary stop. The main reasons for this were deaths and the formation of blood clots. Whether this can be traced back to the said vaccine has yet to be scientifically analyzed.

The European Union has ordered a particularly large amount of vaccine from AstraZeneca, explaining that it is easier to store than mRNA vaccines. However, many medical professionals secretly said that the comparatively cheap price could have tipped the balance. The fact is, however, that AstraZeneca's controversial vaccine forms the backbone of the EU's vaccination strategy.

In view of the fact that it is already becoming apparent that people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will receive easier travel, the now public administration stops in various countries could also have an impact on this. The fact is, every day that is wasted leads to fewer people being able to be vaccinated by the end of June 2021. Thus, the criticism that the “Green Pass” promoted by Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) could become a kind of senior citizen's pass is entirely justified. Disregarding younger people, who absolutely justifiably have priority over the general population, because they are helping other people on the foremost "Corona front" or maintaining everyday life at a constant risk of infection, it could become really scarce for the "normal people".

Kurz's ketchup bottle is late

It is logical that those people who help those who contract Covid-19 because of their jobs simply have to have priority. Another approach would otherwise be to saw on your own chair leg. It is also justified that those people who are particularly at risk have to answer earlier in the interests of solidarity. There is actually broad agreement on these two points.

The problem is, however, that the general population wants to know when one can expect about the possibility of vaccination. Politicians in Germany and Austria do not adequately answer these questions. The ketchup bottle comparison by Austria's Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz sounded more like a perseverance, but that simply doesn't answer a simple question: When can a normal citizen who has no previous illnesses register for a vaccination appointment. A perspective would be helpful if it is said that, for example, from May 1, 2021, the dates for June 1, 2021 can be booked. That would help a lot.

Full vaccination protection before summer will be damn short

But the uncertainty definitely has an impact on possible summer vacations. Apart from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is approved but not yet inoculated, two doses must be inoculated. With the mRNA vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna, the interval is about three weeks. As a result, at least in theory, the full protection required for the “Green Pass” can be expanded within one calendar month.

With the AstraZeneca remedy, there are at least three months between the two stitches. A very simple calculation example shows that this will simply not work out for the normal population before the summer vacation. Suppose Mr or Ms X receives their first dose of the AstraZeneca vector vaccine on April 10, 2021. Then he / she would receive the second trick for full protection around July 10, 2021. So it doesn't work out that you can fly on vacation with the Green Pass on July 1, 2021. And April 10th was mentioned in this context as an extremely optimistic “house number example”.

Since AstraZeneca has ordered an extremely large number of vaccines and Austria will only have 2,5 million vaccine doses from Johnson & Johnson available, it can be assumed that the general population will be vaccinated with AstraZeneca. If you look at the current situation, doubts that the “Green Pass” will really make travel easier for almost everyone in summer are really justified.

Does politics forget about the children?

There is also another aspect: What about the children? Most vaccines are only approved for adolescents and adults aged 16 and over, and some even only for those aged 18 and over. Young people can also get Covid-19, but there is currently no vaccination for them. Suppose the parents are vaccinated, but their 12-year-old son, for example, is not. This could then lead to problems at the holiday destination, because the young person cannot show any vaccination protection.

The result: vacation planning is particularly difficult for families with children, because in the absence of any prospects that things will go like this in summer, many are faced with a great mystery. That's why the optimism that airlines and organizers are spreading at ITB Now is almost a little schizophrenic. Airlines and tour operators need not be surprised that the population continues to hold back with bookings in view of the massive delay in reimbursements for canceled flights and holidays in the previous year. Nobody knows whether you will even meet the requirements to be allowed to enter Greece, for example. Here politicians are finally asked to communicate clear rules that are understandable for everyone. Then you also know whether expensive PCR test results have to be made for a beach holiday or whether the free antigen test from the pharmacy is sufficient.

If politicians care anything about the tourism and aviation sectors, then vaccinations should be accelerated and, in particular, companies and the population should be communicated with clear travel rules for the summer of 2021. Otherwise everything will steer straight into chaos.