Status: 12/22/2021 6:00 a.m.
In view of the Omikron variant, the voices for a general vaccination requirement are louder. The German Ethics Council advocates an expansion of the compulsory vaccination – but only with certain measures.
The majority of the German Ethics Council is in favor of expanding the statutory vaccination requirement. So far, the Bundestag has decided on such a mandatory vaccination only on a facility-related basis – for example, for employees in hospitals, medical practices or nursing homes. Politicians had also asked the Ethics Council for an opinion on a possible general vaccination requirement.
Protection against serious consequences
The Ethics Council had already spoken of a moral obligation to get vaccinated against Corona – to protect others. Now the committee goes one step further: Although compulsory vaccination is a massive encroachment on personal freedoms, numerous legal and ethical arguments also have to be weighed up against each other.
The bottom line is, however, in its declaration – adopted by 20 out of 24 members – that the compulsory vaccination is justified as protection against the serious consequences of future pandemic waves.
Measure “necessary and appropriate”
It is essential that such a measure pursues a legitimate aim and that the measure is “appropriate, necessary and appropriate”. A compulsory vaccination could not break the current fourth corona wave in the short term, but could weaken or prevent future negative consequences. The Ethics Council mentions “a high mortality rate, long-term health impairments of a significant part of the population or a collapse of the health system”.
Freedoms are related
This is also where the ambivalence of the concept of freedom becomes apparent: As important as individual freedom is, the pandemic shows that individual freedom is not unconditional: “A functioning health system that is guaranteed by a solidary society is essential in the event of a serious illness A prerequisite for maintaining or, if necessary, regaining individual freedom, “the statement said.
And further: “The pandemic shows that different freedoms are connected. The freedom to acquire education as an essential good and to fully enjoy culture, leisure time, etc. can only be guaranteed as long as the pandemic is under control.”
General compulsory vaccination or only for those at risk?
When it comes to the question of how compulsory vaccination could be structured, there are different positions in the Ethics Council: 13 of the 24 members advocate a general compulsory vaccination for adults (with a few exceptions for health reasons). Seven members consider compulsory vaccination for particularly vulnerable population groups to be sufficient – for example, the elderly and people with previous illnesses.
Vaccination Register and Fines …
Regardless of the precise design, the Ethics Council recommends accompanying measures to make vaccination compulsory, such as the establishment of a secure national vaccination register as well as continuous evaluation and accompanying research.
There could be fines or penalties to enforce a compulsory vaccination; after all, a statutory vaccination requirement is only worth as much as it can be effectively implemented: “That means that a vaccination requirement is subject to its practical feasibility.”
… but no forced vaccination
However, enforcement using physical violence – keyword compulsory vaccination – must be ruled out. After all, politicians must be careful to avoid positions between vaccinated and unvaccinated people.