Bundestag backs law that will fine parents up to € 2, 500 if children are not inoculated
Germany’s parliament has voted to make measles vaccinations compulsory for children, in response to a global rise in cases of the disease.
Parents who refuse to get their children inoculated face fines of up to € 2, (£ 2, 140) and a likely ban from Nursery or School.
The measles protection act will come into force next March, and its introduction is likely to be watched closely by advocates of mandatory immunization in other countries, including Britain.
The UK health secretary, Matt Hancock,said in Septemberthe government was “looking very seriously” at making vaccinations compulsory for state school pupils.
The Bundestag approved the law on Thursday after months of debate, with doctors speaking out both in favor of and against the legislation.
The health ministry, led by Jens Spahn, described the law as “child protection” and said those who backed it were expressing a responsibility towards the whole of society.
“A measles infection is an unnecessary threat in 2019, ”he said, amid growing evidence that decisions to not have children vaccinated, in part fueled by an influential anti-vaccination movement, have led toa steady risein cases of the illness, which kills an estimated 2.6 million people globally every year. Incidents of the disease increased by 350% last year in Europe.
The WorldHealthOrganization has said a vaccination coverage of 95% of the population is necessary to prevent a mass outbreak.
The German law was widely supported from bill stage onwards by the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and their junior partners in government, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD). The Green party has been among the fiercest critics, widely supporting the vaccination process but arguing it should be backed up with an education campaign rather than forced on people by law. But health professionals have said legislation was the most efficient and effective way to try to reduce the risk of an epidemic.
Under the law, both children and staff in childcare facilities including kindergartens, hospitals, asylum-seeker homes and holiday camps must be vaccinated and show proof of the fact.
Before the introduction of a measles vaccination 56 years ago, major epidemics of the illness occurred every few years.
In (Germany) *********************************** (there were) cases of the disease last year, and this year there have so far been a reported 400 cases. In Europe, incidents rose from about 5, 270 cases in 2016 to almost 24, 000 the following year.
Those who are inoculated against measles will also be protected against mumps and rubella, because of the availability of the vaccine as a triple shot, or sometimes as a quadruple shot including chicken pox.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings