Impfstoffmärkte, COVID-19 und gesundheitspolitische Maßnahmen in Deutschland: Ordnungsökonomische Anmerkungen

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the dominant topic for the past 18 months. According to scientific knowledge, vaccination against COVID-19 is to be seen as the way out. The article makes it clear that the vaccination strategy associated with COVID-19 must be divided into three phases, each with different scarcity situations. Regarding the first phase (shortage of vaccines), no real deficit can be identified from an economic perspective. In the development, approval and production of COVID-19 vaccines, the incentives for everyone involved are set in such a way that as much safer vaccine as possible is available in the shortest possible time. Politics also provided monetary support to these steps to a considerable extent. A significantly faster build-up of capacities and a significantly higher amount of vaccine is not to be expected in the period under review, even through other forms of organization, such as a kind of "war economy". So the vaccine market works; there is no evidence of market failure. A similar assessment can be made with regard to phases II (shortage of vaccination capacity) and III (shortage of willingness to vaccinate). The creation of additional vaccination capacities can basically only be achieved through an obligation to vaccinate all doctors and hospitals with COVID-19 vaccines. However, it is questionable whether this is or will be necessary. The biggest problem for achieving herd immunity as quickly as possible is the inability to vaccinate. One possibility in this context would be positive incentives for people who have not yet been vaccinated, such as a vaccination bonus. Ultimately, however, herd immunity may only be achieved through a general or selective vaccination requirement.