Germany worried about COVID-19 vaccination 'no shows'

FILE PHOTO: Cabins at a vaccination centre set up in the Erika-Hess ice stadium to fight the coronavirus disease in Berlin, Germany, January 14, 2021. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - A rising number of Germans are not showing up for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, prompting calls for fines to be imposed as Germany races to get shots in arms to counter the rapid spread of the more infectious Delta variant.

Mario Czaja, head of the Berlin Red Cross, said 5%-10% of people were skipping appointments at the city's vaccination centres - with second doses particularly affected - up from a no-show rate of less than 0.5% at the start of the year.