Agreement on a joint draft: compromise proposal for compulsory vaccination from the age of 60

Shortly before the vote on a general obligation to vaccinate, two groups of deputies agreed on a compromise: They propose compulsory vaccination from the age of 60. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough for a majority in the Bundestag.

In the dispute over the introduction of a general obligation to vaccinate, two groups of parliamentarians have reached an agreement. The joint draft law provides for a vaccination certificate for all people over 60 years of age. This was announced by the SPD member of the Bundestag Dirk Wiese.

The first priority is advising and convincing the previously unvaccinated people. This consultation should begin “immediately”. At the same time, “a vaccination certificate should be mandatory for all people over the age of 60”, i.e. the population group that is particularly at risk for severe corona courses.

“It must be fulfilled by October,” said Wiese. This obligation should be able to be suspended with a Bundestag resolution in June if the vaccination rate could be increased sufficiently. In the autumn, against the background of the then prevailing knowledge and potential virus variants, the Bundestag is to decide “whether the activation of the obligation to provide proof of vaccination for age groups from 18 years of age should also take effect”.

FDP wanted mandatory advice

The compromise was reached by MPs from the SPD, Greens and FDP, who were split into two groups. Specifically, it is the group around SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese and the Greens health expert Janosch Dahmen, who initially aimed for compulsory vaccination from the age of 18. On Monday she already presented a compromise proposal for a duty from the age of 50 with the option of extending it to all adults.

The second group around the FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann had proposed mandatory advice for everyone over the age of 18 and then a possible vaccination requirement from the age of 50. The initiative, which originally proposed mandatory vaccinations from 18, has so far been supported by 237 MPs. The group for compulsory vaccination from 50 initially supported around 45 parliamentarians.

“We are united by the goal of good prevention through the highest possible basic immunity of all adults for the fall, because in this way we can prevent the health system from being overwhelmed,” commented Wiese.

Union objects

The two groups now want to put this idea to a vote as a joint application on Thursday in the Bundestag. Both groups include MPs from the SPD, Greens and FDP. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough for a majority. The traffic light brings together 416 of the 736 votes in Parliament. However, not all of them are in favor of compulsory vaccination.

The two groups have therefore been campaigning for support from the Union, which has 197 votes in Parliament, but is in favor of a vaccination law instead of immediate vaccination. “We are counting on the responsibility of the Union to join this proposal,” appealed Wiese. The parliamentary manager of the parliamentary group, Thorsten Frei, reiterated the Union’s no. Immediate vaccination is currently unthinkable, he said.