Minister of Health for Vaccination Obligation in Children

Is the measles vaccine in children mandatory?

02/07/2013

More and more measles diseases. The health authorities in Germany are alarming - the reason: More and more people are suffering from measles. Alone in Munich are according to the „Germany radio“ Currently, there are 220 cases of measles reported, with more than half of the patients already hospitalized. But the increasing number of measles diseases would not have to be - because the dangerous and highly contagious infectious disease could be prevented by a vaccination from the twelfth month of life.

Rising numbers of unvaccinated children
More and more people in this country are suffering from the so-called „childhood disease“ Measles, a highly contagious infectious disease that does not necessarily affect only children, but in many cases adolescents or adults. Nevertheless, experts attribute the currently increased incidence of measles in Germany to the fact that quite a few parents refuse to vaccinate their children or can not have them performed. Accordingly, according to the Federal Minister of Health Daniel Bahr (FDP) now a possible vaccination obligation for children may be necessary - because as the Minister told the BILD newspaper, it was „irresponsible if parents do not have their children vaccinated. Measles are de facto eradicated in Scandinavia and the US, but the vaccination rate is not high enough for us. If that remains the case, the discussion will come up with a vaccination obligation.“

Weakening the immune system especially dangerous in measles
In the case of measles disease, symptoms such as the well-known red rash, but also fever, cough, runny nose and inflammation of the mucous membranes typically occur. However, according to the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, this would not be the biggest problem, because the real danger is a weakening of the immune system, which can last up to six weeks after infection with the measles virus and trigger bacterial infections such as bronchitis or middle ear infections. Especially measles-related encephalitis (measles encephalitis), which, according to the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, occurs in about one in every 1,000 children suffering from measles, often leads to permanent brain damage or even fatal. In even more rare cases, measles disease can also lead to some form of late complication, the so-called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which occurs creeping months or even years after infection and ultimately leads to death after disorders and deficits in the nervous system.

Measles in developing one of the most common infectious diseases
Measles virus occurs worldwide, but the incidence of the disease varies widely and is particularly high in developing countries, where recurrent measles measles epidemics are common and measles is one of the most common infectious diseases. In Germany, the incidence of measles has declined significantly due to the possibility of vaccination, which has existed for some 40 years, but local outbreaks, such as in 2006, occur in North Rhine-Westphalia, as in North Rhine-Westphalia about 1100 people in measles within ten weeks and 160 of them had to be hospitalized.

Expert from the professional association of paediatricians warns against belittlement
Accordingly, there is no alternative with respect to a vaccination for the pediatrician Ulrich Fegeler from the professional association of paediatricians „Measles are in fact not a harmless child disease, not a disease with a bit of fever and spots. Measles are one of the most serious childhood diseases we know, and these measles do not usually go completely harmless in most cases“, said the doctor in an interview with the radio station „Germany radio“. Accordingly, there would be, according to Fegeler „[...] although different numbers on how many of these measles have serious complications such as a brain infection or even death“, Nevertheless, it could be assumed that „a serious infection of the child with just brain inflammation and permanent [...] damage occurs every 500 to a thousand measles infections. So we have a serious illness.“

Increase in allergies through vaccination?
But while experts such as Fegeler clearly advocate for comprehensive vaccination in children, critical voices such as „Interest Group Parents for Vaccination Education (EFI)“ among other things, with an unforeseeable risk of side effects, since there is no statutory reporting obligation for vaccine damage and side effects after vaccines. When „questionable“ In addition, the additional and residual substances from vaccine production are considered, „[...] especially as they are injected directly bypassing the natural defense mechanisms (remnants of egg white, phenolic compounds, antibiotics, etc.). The increase in allergies (including asthma) in vaccinated children is likely to be due to this, "continued Angelika Kögel-Schauz of EFI. (Nr)

Picture credits: Andreas Morlok