Berlin – In the debate about a general compulsory corona vaccination, the FDP politician Andrew Ullmann spoke up with another proposal at the weekend. The member of the Bundestag suggests that unvaccinated people should be advised. Such an obligation to be informed by doctors about the consequences and risks should be introduced instead of an obligation to vaccinate.
The FDP health politician is himself a specialist in internal medicine. He proposes a phased procedure. Only if the obligation to provide advice does not increase the willingness of the unvaccinated to protect themselves with a vaccine, as hoped, can he imagine compulsory vaccination. “The unvaccinated are misguided by half-truths. Therefore, mandatory, personal, professional education is the first step. If we then see that the health system is still in danger, I am open to talk about an age-related vaccination requirement, ”said Ullmann of the Berliner Zeitung. From the age of 50, the number of patients requiring intensive medical care increases. Such a compulsory vaccination should apply accordingly if necessary from 50 or 60 years. Ullmann wants to introduce his proposal in the parliamentary group and then also in the Bundestag.
Ullmann envisions an explanation from doctors. In addition to resident doctors, the public health service and advice stations, similar to the test stations now, could also be considered.
The debate in the Bundestag has not even started, but the media are already exchanging arguments at full speed. There is arguing on all channels. While the tone in the established media mostly remains factual and considerate, social media reflect the emotional potential of this topic.
For example, some opponents of vaccinations on Twitter are already recording any delays with reference to corona demonstrations as a victory of the street. However, the Federal Chancellor and the heads of government of the federal states consider that a general vaccination requirement is still necessary in view of the need to achieve a high vaccination rate. On Friday they reaffirmed the resolutions they had adopted in December 2021. “The federal states are assuming that a schedule for the relevant legislation will soon be available,” according to a statement from the federal government.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach expects noticeable effects
And Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has again spoken out in favor of compulsory vaccinations from the age of 18. In the fight against the pandemic, he expects noticeable effects from the introduction of a general vaccination requirement. “I am convinced that there is a large group of unvaccinated people who we can induce to vaccinate by compulsory vaccination,” Lauterbach said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.
Much seems contradictory at the moment. For example, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) at the weekend spoke out in favor of quick action and detailed opinion-forming. In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Buschmann said: “The Bundestag should decide quickly whether a mandatory vaccination will be introduced. And if so, for whom. ”The MPs would also have to take the time to carefully consider. Buschmann announced that it would be implemented quickly if the MPs gave their approval. Legislative processes usually lasted six to twelve months.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann: There is good legal justification for compulsory vaccination
The Union considers such statements to be daunting and a refusal to work. However, complex legal issues have to be clarified before mandatory vaccination is introduced. However, Buschmann does not believe that compulsory vaccination could fail due to legal objections. “More and more lawyers say that you can justify compulsory vaccination if it helps to prevent an impending collapse of the health system, and other protective measures that interfere deeply with freedom can be dispensed with,” said Buschmann. Due to time constraints, he rejects the introduction of a vaccination register for compulsory vaccination. This could take years.
The Bundestag will vote on mandatory vaccination without any parliamentary group specifications. For technical reasons, however, a quick decision is not to be expected. There will probably be a first debate in January. However, it is apparently only intended to serve as a guide for the time being. The SPD intends to conclude a legislative process in the first quarter. That would mean until the end of March.
The debate could, however, drag on even longer than previously assumed. The Federal Council would have to agree. The establishment of a central vaccination register would further delay the start. Observers are already expecting that a mandatory vaccination will not come into effect before the beginning of May.
Greens parliamentary leader Haßelmann: first discuss
In the Greens parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann slows down expectations of quick decisions. In the parliamentary groups it must first be discussed what ideas exist, said Haßelmann in an interview with the Funke media group.
According to a recent survey by the opinion research institute Insa, 61 percent were in favor of compulsory vaccination, 32 percent were against it, and 7 percent did not answer.
.