Vaccination about to pick up pace in Germany - health minister

BERLIN, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Germany expects to receive 10 million doses of coronavirus vaccines by the end of next week, meaning the pace of vaccination is set to pick up significantly, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday.

Spahn added that it was important to remain cautious about loosening lockdown rules, since while case numbers continued to decline, more infectious mutants continued to gain ground in Germany, with the British variant now making up 22% of cases.

While vaccination was entirely voluntary, Spahn urged the public to take up on the offer of a jab.

"If you wait, you risk serious illness," he said.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Thomas Seythal)

((thomas.escritt@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2201 33579 ;))