Joshua Kimmich does not have a vaccination against Corona – and thus causes a stir. What are the consequences of this decision for Kimmich and his club FC Bayern? SPOX and Goal examine the case from four perspectives.
1. Joshua Kimmich: The consequences for his image
Joshua Kimmich is an absolute leader at Bayern Munich. And as such, he goes ahead on the pitch. Just last week, BVB coach Marco Rose Kimmich named as a positive example in dealing with setbacks and praised his body language. But now Kimmich’s image as a model professional is getting a scratch.
His negative attitude towards a corona vaccination is for him personally his right, after all, there is no mandatory vaccination in Germany. But Kimmich also has a role model function as a public figure. His charitable commitment, in particular the “WeKickCorona” initiative launched by him and Leon Goretzka, is counteracted by Kimmich with his negative attitude towards vaccination.
“Because health is paramount, solidarity, both on a small and large scale, is now necessary. Everyone can help,” said Kimmich on the initiative’s official website. But his behavior is anything but solidarity, but rather selfish.
Even if Kimmich’s decision was “understandable on a human level” according to team-mate Thomas Müller, the self-proclaimed “vaccination friend” also spoke indirectly to his conscience: He hoped “that the players who have not yet been vaccinated will change their minds and take heart “.
Lauterbach: “Kimmich has maneuvered himself into a difficult position”
“What Joshua does is very responsible. He first wants to wait for things like the long-term effects and he is tested every other day,” said former Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge BildTV – but also stated: “As a role model, it would still be better if he were vaccinated.”
For SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach, Kimmich “maneuvered himself into a very difficult situation. He does a lot to fight corona, donates money, serves as a role model, but in other respects that is incompatible with not being vaccinated. He has.” from my point of view not sufficiently considered, “said Lauterbach Mercury.
To put pressure on Kimmich is not advisable in his opinion, at the same time Lauterbach offered the Bayern star a personal interview. “From a scientific point of view, there is more reason to worry about long-term damage from an infection with corona than from a vaccination,” said Lauterbach. “I think I am very familiar with the long-term effects of vaccination. I am a vaccination doctor myself and have had many of these conversations. Also with athletes.
