pandemic
Pressure for a more precise timetable for corona vaccination is increasing
So far, the SPD has generally promised to aim for the conclusion of a legislative process on compulsory vaccination «in the first quarter». Photo: Frank Hammerschmidt / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
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Is it coming and if so, when and how? At the start of the parliamentary new year, expectations are growing to be specific about the controversial plan for mandatory vaccination – but how urgent should it be?
In the debate about a general compulsory corona vaccination, the pressure on the traffic light coalition to set a more precise timetable is growing. The opposition Union demanded more speed again.
The federal government confirmed that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was clearly in favor of mandatory vaccination. The deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said that he respected the approach of the Bundestag as it wanted to design the schedule. Other variants are also being discussed – including a step-by-step expansion of the already decided vaccination obligation for employees in facilities with corona risk groups, initially to other areas.
The CDU asked the coalition to draw up a bill. In principle, everyone agrees, but it is now a question of implementation, said Secretary General Paul Ziemiak in Berlin. The federal government simply has to deliver now. “Doing nothing is not an option, it makes people feel insecure.” In his party, “the leading people” are in favor of compulsory vaccination, explained Ziemiak. And the CDU is always ready to talk about these important questions. “The session calendar of the Bundestag is not an obstacle.”
In fact, the calendar is now looking more closely. Because a target time, from when a previously long excluded obligation should take effect, Scholz had mentioned early: “beginning of February or beginning of March”. According to the plans of the SPD, FDP and the Greens, the Bundestag should decide on the regulations for this in a free vote without group specifications. And not about a coalition project that would then have to get a coalition majority. The background to this is also clearly visible different positions in the rows of traffic lights – widespread reservations have already been voiced, especially from the FDP.
It is now clear that at the end of January there will be an open “orientation debate” on the ethically sensitive issue. In the last electoral period, there were already new regulations for organ donation or blood tests before birth for a child’s Down syndrome, among other things. In such fundamental debates, many MPs speak out in short speeches, some of which also recently described touching personal impressions and experiences. Concrete legislative proposals do not have to be on the table yet.
So far, the SPD has generally announced that it will aim to conclude a legislative process “in the first quarter” – that is, by the end of March at the latest. How does that fit in with the Chancellor’s target? There was even more turmoil over the weekend over the fact that in the whole of February there was only one week of parliamentary sessions on the calendar for the time being. SPD parliamentary deputy Dirk Wiese said on Monday on the TV broadcaster “Welt”: “But it is also the case that the Bundestag is able to act at any time and a special session can be called if the situation requires it.” The schedule is also feasible without having to come to a conclusion in March in the first quarter.
The Ampel partners are now emphasizing that the issue should be discussed “in peace” – and that it is not about the very acute fight against the crisis. Compulsory vaccination does not help in the Omikron wave, but in the best case protects against further waves in the coming autumn / winter season, said Janosch Dahmen from the Greens on Deutschlandfunk. The health expert now proposed a two-stage procedure: In a next step, the facility-related vaccination obligation that has already been decided should be extended to other areas such as the fire brigade, the police or the penal system – and then the general vaccination obligation should be introduced as soon as possible.
A duty for staff in facilities with vulnerable people such as nursing homes and clinics was sealed in December. Employees now have to prove by mid-March that they have been vaccinated or have recovered. Dahmen said that, as a general duty, it is right to take time to deliberate. “Leadership does not mean Basta politics, but rather taking society with you and overcoming rifts.” The group proposals provided for this enabled “cross-party decision-making, which also contributes to depolarization in society”.
Specifically, there are three possible initiatives behind which supporters can gather. First on the table was an application from a group led by FDP vice-president Wolfgang Kubicki, who clearly speaks out against compulsory vaccination. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is working in his own words “as a member of parliament” on an application for mandatory vaccination for everyone over the age of 18. The FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann suggested an age-dependent regulation like in Italy, where it applies to over-50s. This would be proportionate if the functioning of the health system were at risk. In the Ethics Council, too, there were two positions on the extent of mandatory vaccination in a majority vote: for everyone over the age of 18 or only for older people and those with previous illnesses.