Left and green against measles vaccination

Measles: Government considers compulsory vaccination - opposition is against

02/23/2015

The current measles outbreak in Berlin ensures that politicians of the federal government again for a statutory vaccination obligation. Opposition politicians of the Left and Greens, however, oppose such a compulsion. The debate has been fierce for years.

Opposition is against vaccination
The black-red coalition is considering as a reaction to the measles outbreak in Berlin a statutory vaccination obligation, reports the news agency AFP. The CDU health politician Jens Spahn said that „World on Sunday“: „If we can not manage to increase vaccination coverage sooner with increased education and counseling, we should think about compulsory vaccination in kindergartens and schools.“ The coalition partner SPD also makes this claim, but criticizes the opposition.

Measles outbreak in Berlin
„We now need a concerted action from health policy makers from all parties and from the medical associations to get a big vaccination wave going“, the deputy SPD parliamentary leader Karl Lauterbach told the newspaper. If it does not succeed to increase the Impfbereitschaft, then „A vaccination obligation for infants must be the next step“. According to the report, 447 cases of measles have been reported in Berlin this year, more than nationwide in the past year. Therefore, children's and youth doctors have recently been strongly in favor of vaccination.

Federal Health Minister criticizes vaccine opponents
Vaccination opponents were sharply criticized by Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU). „The irrational fear of some vaccine opponents is irresponsible“, said the minister to the paper. „Anyone who refuses vaccination to their child not only endangers their own child, but also others - this can lead to serious damage to health.“ However, the opposition rejects the idea of ​​compulsory vaccination. „Vaccination can not be the right answer“, said the health spokeswoman for the Greens, Kordula Schulz-ash, in the „Saarbrücken newspaper“ from Monday.

Many Germans for a compulsory vaccination
Instead, transparency and education would lead to good vaccination rates. The Green politician said that if „open and honest“ informing about the benefits and risks of vaccinations, then a greater willingness in the population is to be expected. The health expert of the left-wing fraction, Harald Weinberg, also rejected a legal Impfzwang. Opposite the „Saarbrücken newspaper“ He said that "the right of self-determination of parents must continue to apply". However, the majority of the German population is obviously in favor of vaccination. This was shown by a survey by the Forsa Institute, which was commissioned by the magazine last year „star“ 67 per cent of Germans were „for a general duty to vaccinate“ pronounced.

Disease can be fatal
The debate is not new. For years measly vaccination pros and cons arguments have been exchanged. Vaccination opponents point out, for example, possible side effects of immunization such as redness, swelling, fever or slight itchy rash. Proponents, however, believe that these are not compared to the effects of measles disease. The highly contagious viral infection should by no means be dismissed as a harmless childhood disease. When the disease comes first to flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis. Then comes the typical rash. The weakened immune system can also cause complications such as otitis media or diarrhea. And in some cases, life-threatening complications such as lung or brain inflammation can even occur. (Ad)