Scholz for general compulsory vaccination – vaccination should lose recognition after six months
The likely new Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has spoken out in favor of a general vaccination requirement. In addition, the SPD wants the vaccination status to expire after six months. An obligation to have booster vaccinations is still being discussed, said Scholz.
D.he designated Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has announced a legislative procedure for a general vaccination requirement, which could be initiated this year. The MPs should be able to vote freely according to their conscience, said Scholz on Tuesday in an interview with “Bild” -TV. He justified the project with the necessary protection of the population.
Scholz went on to say that his proposal for compulsory vaccination was aimed at “late February or early March”. In the event of violations, this is likely to result in a threat of punishment. However, there have not yet been any specific stipulations.
The SPD politician justified the procedure with the tense situation. “If we had a higher vaccination rate, we would have a different situation,” he said. One could “not watch heartlessly how the current situation is”. Therefore, there must be more vaccinations.
Mandatory booster vaccinations are still open
In the ARD “Tagesthemen” he defends his view that there should be no parliamentary party compulsory in the vote on a general corona vaccination obligation in the Bundestag. “This is good practice with such fundamental questions,” said Scholz on Tuesday evening. “Almost every German has an opinion on this. I believe that these are precisely the cases that have to be decided in this way. ”Usually, political groups in Parliament vote as one. However, there have also been deviations from this principle in the past, for example on issues such as euthanasia or organ donations. Scholz himself wants to agree to a general compulsory vaccination and expects an introduction in February or March.
Scholz did not want to determine exactly whether the booster vaccinations should also be mandatory in the future. “We are discussing the question of when it will be the case that the old vaccination no longer guarantees complete protection,” he said ZDF- “heute journal”. Scientists are currently of the opinion that after six months it is “urgently necessary” to get a new vaccination.
In the European Union it was discussed that after nine months there was no longer complete vaccination protection. “I think that is something we should hook up.” However, there is then also the obligation of municipalities, districts, federal states and the federal government to enable these booster vaccinations.
The traffic light parties in the federal government are currently working with the Ministry of Health to prepare a draft law for a partial vaccination requirement for staff in certain facilities. This is to be discussed for the first time in the Bundestag next week. Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) had called for this partial vaccination requirement to be implemented by Christmas and the preparation of a general vaccination requirement at the beginning of 2022 immediately before the federal-state consultations. According to participants at the federal-state consultations on Tuesday, Scholz also spoke out in favor of introducing a 2G obligation in retail.
Scholz follows the proposal of the designated Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP). He had a free vote on Monday on the general compulsory vaccination suggested. “The general compulsory vaccination touches many difficult questions, he told the” editorial network Germany “. As an example, he referred to the questions of whether the interference with physical integrity is proportionate, what exceptions there must be and how the obligation is enforced.
“In the past, when it comes to such medical-ethical issues, it has proven useful to make them a question of conscience,” said Buschmann, who is to become Minister of Justice in the future coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP. Parliament then discusses on the basis of group motions. Such a procedure is common for difficult decisions of conscience in Parliament. The last time there was such a vote was on organ donation. There were also cross-party groups on the issue of euthanasia in the last electoral term. However, there was no longer any vote on the subject.
SPD wants to recognize vaccination as protected for only six months
According to reports, Scholz and the SPD-ruled countries also want to recognize evidence of complete corona vaccinations only for a period of six months as proof of vaccination protection. The report “Rheinische Post” (online) and the “Bild” newspaper on Tuesday, citing proposals from the SPD side for the current federal-state deliberations. This is justified with the gradual decrease in vaccination protection.
In addition, the SPD wanted strict contact restrictions for unvaccinated people, it said. Private get-togethers attended by unvaccinated and unrecovered people should be limited to your own household and a maximum of two people from another household. Exceptions are provided for children, however. The 2G rules should therefore apply nationwide to the entire retail sector, with the exception of supermarkets and drug stores.
The intention was therefore also to allow pharmacists to vaccinate. The same should apply to dentists. However, this would have to be regulated by law, it said.
Habeck calls for an immediate change in the course for mandatory impositions
Greens boss Robert Habeck called on Tuesday afternoon to start preparations for a general vaccination requirement immediately. “Of course, a compulsory vaccination would be a far-reaching encroachment on the freedom of the individual. But it protects life and ultimately also the freedom of society, ”said Habeck on Tuesday of the German press agency. “In order to get the upper hand in the future and prevent a fifth wave, we must now prepare for a general vaccination requirement.”
A high vaccination rate is the best chance to prevent the health system from collapsing in the long term, to save human lives and to be able to return to a new normal in the long term, said Habeck, who will be sworn in as Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of the new federal government next week target. “We now have to set the course for this immediately.”