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Italy vaccination against ten diseases decided - and in Germany?
In Italy, the government decided to vaccinate children after a measles epidemic. This applies to a total of ten diseases. Parents who do not abide by it face severe penalties. In Germany too, a possible measles vaccination obligation has long been considered.
Act on mandatory vaccinations issued
Health experts reported months ago that measles eradication has been slowed down and there are more sufferers. To win the fight against the viruses, according to experts, more people would need to be vaccinated. Therefore, it is also discussed again and again about measles vaccination. In Germany, there is no such one, in Italy, the government has now passed a law on mandatory vaccinations for children.
In Italy, a law on compulsory vaccinations for children was issued. The vaccination requirement applies to a total of ten diseases, including measles and mumps. (Image: Konstantin Yuganov / fotolia.com) Protection from ten diseases
In Italy, after a measles outbreak, compulsory vaccinations were approved for all children and adolescents under the age of 17 years. According to a news agency dpa, the parliament voted in Rome on Friday with 296 to 92 votes in favor.
Before the resolution, thousands of vaccination opponents across the country had demonstrated against the law.
According to the information, parents now have their children vaccinated against ten diseases, in addition to measles, including mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, whooping cough and chickenpox.
If parents refuse, they are no longer allowed to bring their children to kindergarten and may be fined 500 to 1,000 euros.
It is said that the vaccinations may only be postponed or omitted for medical reasons - and only if a doctor attests to them.
Measles epidemic claims three deaths
The measles epidemic in Italy has already led to three deaths since the beginning of the year. According to official data, 3,672 people were infected by mid-July. Only 87 percent of Italians are vaccinated against measles.
According to experts, however, a vaccination rate of 95 percent is needed to effectively prevent the spread of highly infectious agents.
Before the decision, thousands of vaccination opponents across the country had demonstrated against mandatory vaccination, as they feared, among other side effects of vaccination.
The populist five-star movement - Italy's now largest opposition party - made the criticism partly their own.
No vaccination in Germany
In Germany, there is no compulsory vaccination against measles - and not against other diseases. Although a majority of Germans would welcome this, many experts are against it. They rely more on education than vaccination.
There are many critics and skeptics. "It is justified to demand special care in vaccination and also to dispute controversial issues critically - not least because vaccinations are among the most common medical measures at all," writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website.
The RKI experts, together with their colleagues from the Paul Ehrlich Institute, explain the "20 most frequent 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)