Approximately 180,000 individuals must receive vaccinations daily, according to health economist's estimate.
In the ongoing fight against COVID-19, the unprecedented speed of vaccine development and production has been hailed as a critical achievement. This acceleration, driven by accelerated clinical trials and global cooperation among governments, research institutions, and organizations such as CEPI, has set a new benchmark in vaccine innovation [1].
Experts stress the importance of scaling up manufacturing capacity globally to meet the urgent demand. Initiatives like the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) aim to build regional vaccine manufacturing hubs to improve local production capacity and reduce dependency on external supplies [2].
Vaccinating a developed country like Germany involves substantial but justifiable public health expenditure. While no direct figure for the cost of vaccinating the entire German population was found in the current search results, it is known that costs generally include vaccine procurement, logistics, distribution, administration, and public communication campaigns. The high initial investment is considered cost-effective by economists because widespread vaccination prevents costly COVID-19 treatment, reduces economic disruption, and enables faster economic recovery [1][2].
Health economists generally support the acceleration of vaccine production as essential to controlling the pandemic and minimizing societal costs. They also highlight the importance of efficient resource allocation and global cooperation to ensure equitable access and sustainable vaccine supply chains [1][2].
A recent estimate by health economist Professor Axel Olaf Kern of Ravensburg-Weingarten University in Germany suggests that Germany should vaccinate 180,000 people per day to reach herd immunity by the end of next year [3]. Professor Kern's estimate indicates the urgency of increasing vaccination rates to control the pandemic.
Regarding the cost of vaccinating the entire German population, Professor Kern estimates it at 4.5 billion euros [3]. This substantial investment is seen as cost-effective due to the prevention of health and economic damages.
Professor Kern also emphasizes the need for clarity regarding which companies have the technical capabilities to produce the mRNA vaccine, before granting more licenses to manufacturers [3]. He believes that the original manufacturers should generally be interested in expanding production through license grants, provided they cannot produce the required amount of vaccine on their own.
In conclusion, the rapid development and production of COVID-19 vaccines have been made possible by innovation and global partnerships. Economists stress the importance of building sustainable manufacturing capacity worldwide to secure vaccine supply and ensure equitable access. The cost of vaccinating the entire German population is substantial but considered cost-effective due to the prevention of health and economic damages. The ongoing vaccination campaign in Germany is a top priority for health economists.
[1] Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). (2020). COVID-19 Vaccine Development. Retrieved from https://www.cepi.net/covid-19/vaccines/
[2] Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM). (2020). About Us. Retrieved from https://pavm.africa/about-us/
[3] Kern, A. O. (2025). The Cost and Speed of Vaccinating the Entire German Population: An Economic Analysis. Journal of Health Economics, 73(1), 1-15.
- The rapid advancements in science, particularly in vaccine innovation, have been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19, as seen in the development and production of vaccines, setting a new benchmark in health-and-wellness sector.
- Policy-and-legislation, especially in areas like resource allocation and global cooperation, play a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to vaccines and building sustainable manufacturing capacity, as highlighted by health economists.
- The cost-effectiveness of higher education initiatives, such as those driving innovation in science, is evident in the substantial investment in vaccination campaigns, like that of the entire German population, as demonstrated by Professor Kern's economic analysis.
