“Because the protection of the vaccination decreases significantly over time, vaccination status will lose its recognition as complete protection after six months,” a written proposal from the incoming government says. 

Mr Scholz has yet to indicate when his new policy will come into force, and many are hoping there will be some form of transition period. 

If it were to come into force immediately, it would send millions of Germans scrambling to get booster shots even as regions across the country complain they are already facing shortages. 

A high profile “Vaccination Express” train that offered jabs on wheels in Frankfurt had to be stopped after just one day because it ran out of vaccines. 

“A delivery disaster, pure chaos,” said Peter Feldmann, the mayor of Frankfurt, who laid responsibility at the feet of Jens Spahn, the outgoing health minister, who has been accused of failing to order enough vaccines.