Government Soon come severe vaccination rules

Government wants to tighten vaccination rules due to an increase in measles cases

07/15/2013

After the number of measles cases has increased significantly in recent months, especially in Bavaria, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, the demand for compulsory vaccination in Germany is getting louder and louder. Health Minister Daniel Bahr made the start. Now, the medical president Frank Ulrich Montgomery and the union are in favor of stricter vaccination rules. In the population, the request also seems to find more and more supporters. Recently, a survey commissioned by Krankasse DAK-Gesundheit found that just under 80 percent of those polled said they were required to take vaccinations. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set itself the goal of eradicating measles as soon as possible. However, this is opposed by the current measles outbreak in Germany.

Tightening of the vaccination rules difficult to enforce
The President of the German Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, believes that a tightening of the vaccination rules is necessary. „From a medical-scientific perspective, vaccination is the only meaningful, "said the radiologist the news magazine „Mirror". „Measles is a highly contagious disease with a high risk potential for the non-vaccinated population. Therefore, it would be good if all children were vaccinated. "Montgomery, however, sees sociopolitical difficulties in introducing a vaccination requirement in Germany.

After all, 79 percent of the questions asked a DAK survey for vaccination. How big the popularity for the vaccination in the population really is, the next weeks will show, because the topic remains explosive.

Minister of Health Daniel Bahr (FDP) had initiated the debate on the introduction of a compulsory vaccination, as he had in view of the increasing number of measles cases, the fact that many parents do not let their children vaccinate, as irresponsible. Compared to the „mirror“ The Minister said that other measures to control measles would also be considered, such as the temporary exemption of non-vaccinated pupils from an outbreak of the disease. So far, only sick children can be excluded from the lessons. In addition, the vaccination status of a child should be inquired in the future in the admission in the kindergarten and not only in the school, as currently provided. However, such measures could only be adopted by the Bundestag after the election.

„In principle, only children who are vaccinated should be allowed to visit kindergartens, kindergartens or schools, "said Jens Spahn, health spokesman for the Union faction „Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung "(FAS), otherwise other children for whom vaccination for medical reasons is out of the question would be endangered.

Critics reject compulsory vaccination
Many critics see in the introduction of a compulsory vaccination above all a restriction of the right of self-determination of the parents. Also unwanted side effects of a vaccine prepare some parents worry. However, as reported by Krankasse DAK-Gesundheit, lasting damage to health occurs only in one in every one million children vaccinated against measles. Harmless side effects such as fever, fatigue, headache and local redness at the injection site, pain and swelling can occur as with all vaccines.

However, the serious consequences that measles disease can have are far more common than those that occur as a result of vaccination. The dreaded, always fatal subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is the sequelae of a measles infection, affects one in 10,000 patients and one in 1,000 people with severe brain inflammation. In addition, more serious complications may occur in measles, such as pneumonia, which in the worst case can also lead to death of the patient.

Jan Leidel, director of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nevertheless does not want to be vaccinated. A vaccination would the population - as any compulsion - met with skepticism. Opposite the „FAS“ The expert explained that it makes more sense to use existing options and to better educate them. Jens Ackermann, chairman of the FDP in the health committee, told the newspaper that a vaccination is not enforceable. „Should parents who refuse to vaccinate their children go to jail? "Leidel also asked himself in an interview with the newspaper „Rheinische Post“, what should be the consequences of failure to comply with the vaccination obligation.