Germany – Ethics Council: ‘Yes’ to compulsory vaccination

In Germany, voices in favor of compulsory vaccination of the general population are on the rise. The Ethics Council voted in favor by a majority.

Christmas is approaching and at the same time the Germans are rushing to the vaccination centers to get vaccinated before the “invasion” of the Omicron mutation. According to the Robert Koch Epidemiological Institute, more than one million doses of vaccine were administered yesterday alone, of which 850,000 were boosters.

At the same time, the position of the German Ethics Council (Deutscher Ethikrat), which has an advisory role on social, legal, medical and bioethical issues and which is now in favor of extending compulsory vaccination to the general population, is of great interest. not just for health and care workers.

The Ethics Council had previously spoken of a “moral obligation to vaccinate against coronavirus”. Now it goes a step further: Although there are a number of legal and ethical issues surrounding the general issue of compulsory vaccination, however, given the seriousness of the pandemic, freedoms must be “weighed”. By a majority of 20 out of 24 members, the Council considered that in particular compulsory coronavirus vaccination serves a legitimate, legitimate purpose and is a measure necessary and appropriate to protect the population from serious, future effects of the pandemic (eg high mortality rate). long-term damage to a significant part of the population or the collapse of the health system “.

“Individual freedom is not without limits “

The Ethics Council also considers that even individual freedom can be restricted within a society of solidarity, in which many freedoms, which sometimes clash with each other, must be defended at the same time. It should be noted, however, that even in the majority position of the Ethics Council, there are some differences: Thirteen members support a general vaccination obligation for the adult population, with the exception of those related to health problems. Seven members of the Committee also consider that compulsory vaccination is sufficient only for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly.

The Ethics Council also emphasizes that a vaccination obligation should be accompanied by a free choice of vaccine and personal vaccination appointments. It also suggests that additional measures be taken, such as the establishment of a national vaccination registry, continuous assessment of the situation and support for research. The rejection of coercive vaccination by force is also clear, and the Council also recommends that politicians not use positions that exacerbate social segregation.

Finally, more and more politicians are also in favor of compulsory vaccination. The Christian Democrat prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous German state, Hendrik Wist, has said that Germany “will not avoid compulsory vaccination”. Social Democrat co-chair Lars Klingbail also said it was wrong to exclude compulsory vaccination from the beginning of the vaccination campaign.

Dimitra Kyranoudi (daily News.from, DLF, ΒR)

Source: Deutsche Welle