BERLIN, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The German government says it is preparing for possible attacks on vaccination centres, vaccine transports or even vaccine makers.
Although there are no concrete indications of such attacks so far, there is an “abstract threat” to the above-mentioned institutions due to “the great media presence as well as the high dynamics and emotionality” of the topic, the German Interior Ministry says.
The comments were made in a government response to a parliamentary question posed by the German Green party.
The paper warns of protests by anti-vaxxers, coronavirus sceptics and conspiracy theorists that could get out of hand, along with property damage, cyber attacks and even physical assaults on staff.
Meanwhile, EU Council chief Charles Michel warned the manufacturers of the Covid-19 vaccines of possible legal consequences after they announced delays in delivering the doses and smaller deliveries due to supply chain issues.
“We expect that the contracts confirmed by the pharmaceutical firms will be fulfilled,” Michel told French broadcaster Europe 1.
Michel warned the European Union could also use “legal means” to ensure the contractual obligations were met.
After the manufacturing partners BioNTech and Pfizer announced delays in deliveries last week, the British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca also said it would initially deliver fewer doses to the EU than agreed.
Although it was understandable there were problems, these needed to be understood fully, Michel said.
He also acknowledged it would be difficult to meet the EU’s goal to vaccinate 70 per cent of its adult population by summer. — NNN-AGENCIES
