Large vaccination obligation for children in France - and soon in Germany?

More mandatory vaccinations for toddlers in France

In France, at the beginning of the year, the vaccination obligation for infants was extended. Now children must be vaccinated in the first two years of life against a total of eleven diseases. A few months ago, Italy had also decided to fully vaccinate children. In this country is set instead to more information.

France is expanding its vaccination coverage

Last May, following a measles epidemic, the Italian government decided to vaccinate children for a total of twelve diseases. At the turn of the year, the obligation for children was extended considerably in France as well. Children born on or after 1 January must be vaccinated against a total of eleven diseases during the first two years of life.

At the turn of the year, the compulsory coverage of children in France was significantly expanded. Infants have to be vaccinated there against a total of eleven diseases. (Image: esben468635 / fotolia.com)

Mandatory vaccinations against eleven diseases

To date, three vaccinations have been mandatory in France: diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Now children must be vaccinated against eight other diseases.

There are also compulsory vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, pneumococci, meningococci, Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B..

The expansion announced last summer was approved by Parliament in early December. From Impfgegnern the decision was sharply criticized, they fear side effects of the vaccinations.

Majority of Germans for vaccination

There is no compulsory vaccination in Germany so far. But especially in the context of measles is discussed again and again, whether such should be introduced.

A majority of Germans would welcome the obligation to vaccinate, but many experts are against it. They rely more on education than vaccination.

Although Federal Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe has announced a tougher approach against vaccination opponents, Germany is far from having an initial situation as in France.

There are many critics and skeptics. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), it is justified "to demand special care in vaccination and to critically discuss controversial issues".

The RKI experts, together with their colleagues from the Paul Ehrlich Institute, explain the "20 most common objections to vaccination".

It is clear: "Vaccinations differ from other medical interventions. On the one hand, they are not only aimed at the benefit of the individual, but also at the protection of the whole population. On the other hand, they are carried out by healthy people. "

Risks are overestimated

Vaccinations are wrongly a controversial topic, says Mag. DDr. Wolfgang Maurer, who is responsible for vaccination at the Vienna University Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

"In general, risks are misjudged," the expert said in an interview. And: "The frequency of vaccine damage is greatly overestimated, often there are other diseases behind it, which occur just after vaccination, but are not the cause, such as many epilepsy."

By vaccination measures you can basically protect not only yourself, but others as well. This can also prevent deaths, as shown repeatedly in measles diseases of infants. (Ad)