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Covid: Germany fears thousands got saline, not vaccine from nurse | Covid: Germany fears thousands got saline, not vaccine from nurse |
(3 months later) | |
Many of those given the harmless salt solution were in their 70s | Many of those given the harmless salt solution were in their 70s |
Authorities in north Germany have asked more than 8,000 people to get repeat Covid vaccinations because a nurse is suspected of having injected saline instead of vaccine in many cases. | Authorities in north Germany have asked more than 8,000 people to get repeat Covid vaccinations because a nurse is suspected of having injected saline instead of vaccine in many cases. |
Police are investigating the nurse's actions at a vaccination centre in Friesland, near the North Sea coast. | Police are investigating the nurse's actions at a vaccination centre in Friesland, near the North Sea coast. |
Initially just six people were believed to have received the harmless salt solution there in March and April. | Initially just six people were believed to have received the harmless salt solution there in March and April. |
Many of those affected were aged over 70 - a high-risk group in the pandemic. | Many of those affected were aged over 70 - a high-risk group in the pandemic. |
Inspector Peter Beer, quoted by Süddeutsche Zeitung, said the 40-year-old woman had been sharing "corona-critical information" on social media, criticising the government's restrictions aimed at curbing the virus's spread. | Inspector Peter Beer, quoted by Süddeutsche Zeitung, said the 40-year-old woman had been sharing "corona-critical information" on social media, criticising the government's restrictions aimed at curbing the virus's spread. |
Regional broadcaster NDR says 8,557 people have been asked to go back for repeat vaccinations, and so far about 3,600 new appointments have been confirmed. | Regional broadcaster NDR says 8,557 people have been asked to go back for repeat vaccinations, and so far about 3,600 new appointments have been confirmed. |
In April the nurse had admitted giving saline to six people to cover up the fact that she had dropped a vaccine vial on the floor. | In April the nurse had admitted giving saline to six people to cover up the fact that she had dropped a vaccine vial on the floor. |
But as the police investigation unfolded it became clear that many more people had been given saline instead of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. | But as the police investigation unfolded it became clear that many more people had been given saline instead of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. |
Police are not ruling out that a political motive could have prompted the nurse's action, though her lawyers have rejected that and they also dispute the reported scale of the saline swap. | Police are not ruling out that a political motive could have prompted the nurse's action, though her lawyers have rejected that and they also dispute the reported scale of the saline swap. |
More witnesses are being questioned and so far no charges have been reported in the case. | More witnesses are being questioned and so far no charges have been reported in the case. |
Germany has seen many anti-vaccination protests. | Germany has seen many anti-vaccination protests. |
Far-right groups are among those who reject the official data and conclusions about the spread of Covid. | Far-right groups are among those who reject the official data and conclusions about the spread of Covid. |
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Inside the BioNTech vaccine factory in the German town of Marburg (Video from March 2021) | Inside the BioNTech vaccine factory in the German town of Marburg (Video from March 2021) |
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