Berlin Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach expects noticeable effects in the fight once morest the corona pandemic through the introduction of a general vaccination requirement. “You have to accept that even with the duty you will never reach everyone,” said the SPD politician of “Welt am Sonntag”. “But I am convinced that there is a large group of unvaccinated people who we can induce to vaccinate by compulsory vaccination.”
Lauterbach emphasized that his hope was that society would be relatively well protected by the mandatory vaccination. “We must no longer find ourselves in a situation in which a summer is deceptively good, but new variants surprise us in autumn – and that without the broad majority of the population having been vaccinated. Because then everything would start all over once more. “
The minister reiterated that the vaccination requirement was necessary despite the lower risk of serious illnesses with the new Omikron variant. “An omicron infection does not necessarily make you immune to the next virus variant. The belief that the omicron variant is the end of the pandemic is naive. “
The Bundestag should vote on mandatory vaccination without group specifications. However, there is unlikely to be a quick decision. The first discussion is an “orientation debate” in January. The SPD is aiming for a legislative process to be concluded “in the first quarter”, ie by the end of March. Lauterbach claims to be working “as a member of parliament” on a proposal for a general vaccination requirement for people over the age of 18.
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The SPD politician expresses concern regarding the possible more severe consequences of new corona mutants and announces a redesign of the vaccination infrastructure. “If we get a variant that is as contagious as Omikron, but significantly more deadly, we should be able to develop and produce a new vaccine in the shortest possible time,” he told Welt am Sonntag.
The federal government is preparing for it with high pressure. “We are currently in the process of creating a structure for it. We need a permanent infrastructure. ”The population must be able to be vaccinated as quickly as possible at any time. “Germany is currently in a vulnerable phase. Another severe outbreak can occur at any time. We must not fall into the naive assumption that it will be over soon. It’s not over.”
Lauterbach worries regarding radical opponents of vaccination
He is concerned regarding the radicalization of a minority in society. “A small group is ready to wipe all scientific knowledge off the table and voluntarily enter a bubble of pseudo-truths,” he tells the “Welt am Sonntag”. This is a new and frightening development. “What might be the argument that I am trying to kill someone just because they publicly suggest that they get vaccinated in their own interest and in the interest of society? The debate between vaccination opponents and corona deniers has lost all measure and aim. “
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach expresses concern regarding the possible more severe consequences of new corona mutants and announces a redesign of the vaccination infrastructure. “If we get a variant that is as contagious as Omikron, but significantly more deadly, we should be able to develop and produce a new vaccine in the shortest possible time,” he told Welt am Sonntag. The federal government is preparing for it with high pressure.
The SPD politician calls for the debate on compulsory vaccination to be conducted in plenary as quickly as possible.
(Foto: imago images/Political-Moments)
“We are currently in the process of creating a structure for it. We need a permanent infrastructure. ”The population must be able to be vaccinated as quickly as possible at any time. “Germany is currently in a vulnerable phase. Another severe outbreak can occur at any time. We must not fall into the naive assumption that it will be over soon. It’s not over.
FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann, on the other hand, suggested an age-related regulation like in Italy, where mandatory vaccination for over 50-year-olds came into force on Saturday. Proposals to increase the vaccination rate in the elderly and vulnerable population group should be discussed “without blinkers”, said Ullmann on Saturday.
In any case, it is important to have professional and personal vaccination information, which might be “sometimes mandatory”. “I also consider compulsory vaccination, like the one introduced in Italy, to be possible. From my point of view, it would be proportionate if the functioning of our health system is at risk, ”emphasized Ullmann.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) warned that the debate on mandatory vaccination should be held in the Bundestag as soon as possible. “Parliament must deal thoroughly with the complex and controversial subject of mandatory vaccination,” said Bas of the “Rheinische Post”. “I would therefore very much appreciate it if the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag might agree on an orientation debate on mandatory vaccination in January 2022.”
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