The panel has undergone a change in terms of vaccination requirements.
(Photo: imago images / Jürgen Heinrich)
Berlin The German Ethics Council advocates expanding the recently decided corona vaccination obligation for staff in sensitive facilities to “significant parts of the population”. However, this must be flanked by a number of measures, according to a recommendation by the advisory body, which was adopted by a majority.
In addition to nationwide vaccination offers and sufficient vaccines, the vaccine should be freely chosen as far as possible. Direct invitations with personalized appointments, a secure national vaccination register and understandable information are also recommended.
However, the Ethics Council differed in terms of the scope and the precise structure of an extended vaccination requirement. 13 of the 20 members advocated an expansion to all adults living in Germany who could be vaccinated. This is necessary in order to achieve the goal of a sustainable, permanently viable and fair control of the pandemic.
Seven members again spoke out in favor of restricting the compulsory vaccination to adults who are particularly vulnerable with regard to Covid-19 – such as the elderly or those with previous illnesses. A “risk-differentiated” approach is the milder means.
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“High vaccination rates are crucial”
The ethics council had been asked by the federal and state governments for an assessment. The background to this is that the Bundestag will probably vote at the beginning of next year without parliamentary group specifications on a general vaccination requirement – among other things, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had spoken out in favor of this.
The Vice President of the Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, also urges the rapid introduction of a general corona vaccination requirement. “The Bundestag should quickly introduce a general compulsory vaccination in the new year,” said the Green politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group. You don’t decide lightly about compulsory vaccination, “but you shouldn’t just reject it from the start with superficial and supposed arguments for freedom, as some colleagues from the FDP are currently planning.”
A first limited corona vaccination was already decided in mid-December. Employees in facilities with vulnerable people such as clinics and nursing homes must present evidence of vaccination or recovery by March 15, 2022.
The Ethics Council explained that high vaccination rates are crucial in order to get into a controlled situation. An obligation to vaccinate always represents a significant impairment of legally and morally protected goods.
An expansion can only be justified if it can mitigate or prevent the serious negative consequences of possible future pandemic waves – such as high mortality, long-term health problems for large parts of the population or an impending collapse of the health system.
More: “Justified as a last resort”: Is it really necessary to have a vaccination?