Minister of Health wants vaccination against measles

Federal government plans prevention law to curb measles

04/13/2015

Since October, more than 1,000 people have been infected with measles in Berlin alone. An end to the wave is not yet in sight. Experts cite the low vaccination rate as the main cause. Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe threatens now with a vaccination against measles. According to the Australian model, parents who do not have their children vaccinated could then be punished with financial means.

Gröhe reprimands parents who do not have their children vaccinated against measles
So far, the legal introduction of compulsory vaccination in Germany was considered the last resort in the fight against infectious diseases such as rubella, mumps and measles. Face of the rising measles cases threatens Minister of Health Gröhe but with a legal Impfzwang. Parents acted irresponsibly if they did not have their children vaccinated, said the CDU politician in an interview with the news agency „dpa“ and the „NDR“. „We also have to face the scare tactics of some vaccination opponents. "For Gröhe it is clear: „Those who refuse vaccination without medical necessity harm not only this child, but also children who are, for example, too small to be vaccinated or children who can not be vaccinated for medical reasons. "

Currently, the recommended immunization coverage of 95 percent, which could prevent the spread of measles, has not been achieved in many regions in this country. The federal government is now planning a prevention law that will include measures such as compulsory counseling before the child is allowed to visit a day care center (day care center) and to query the status of vaccination at each youth or adult examination. The consequences of the refusal of vaccine applicants still need to be discussed with the federal states in order to make it possible to implement the regulations in the kindergarten laws, said Gröhe. „We will debate these issues carefully but consistently in the context of the upcoming parliamentary deliberations on the prevention law and then decide. "

Bavarian Minister of Health welcomes Gröhe's initiative regarding compulsory vaccination
Bavarian State Minister of Health Melanie Hummel (CSU) welcomed Gröhe's initiative. The country focuses its attention on education and advice to convince people of the vaccine, „but if this is not enough, the possibility of compulsory vaccination for measles must not be ruled out. Because it is also about the welfare of the general public ", Hummel continues.

In Australia, vaccine deniers are subject to severe penalties. For example, the government has said that parents who do not have their children vaccinated should not have childcare and tax benefits. Recently, vaccination opponents could still receive child support, if for them religious or philosophical reasons spoke against the vaccination. As „Mirror online“ reported, but brought in the episode tens of thousands of parents such objections. The Australian Government has therefore determined that as of 2016, few exceptions will be accepted on religious or medical grounds justifying a refusal to vaccinate.

Already over 1,000 measles cases in Berlin
The focus of the current measles outbreak is in Berlin. More than 1,000 people have been infected in the capital since October last year. At least 330 children were not allowed to go to the day care center or participate in school lessons because of a suspicion of measles. Experts cite the fact that many adolescents and young adults are currently affected by this wave of illness.

In addition to Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt also has an increased risk of infection with more than 150 reported cases until Easter. In Thuringia, 80 patients and in Bavaria 75 people were affected by measles. Nationwide, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) according registered by the Easter weekend in Germany, a total of 1,465 measles cases. (Ag)