The introduction of facility-related vaccinations was controversial for a long time. In a few weeks, the requirement for employees in the health and care sector will end. More and more countries are in favor of forgoing a possible extension.
Schwerin (dpa/mv) - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is also joining the calls for the institution-related compulsory vaccination in the health and care sector to be phased out at the end of the year. "The corona situation is different now than it was twelve months ago," said Health Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) in Schwerin. The aspect that was originally in the foreground, namely to prevent infection with the corona virus with a vaccination, has receded into the background with the omicron variant. Therefore, the obligation to vaccinate does not have to be extended by the federal government, explained Drese. Saxony, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia, among others, had previously called for an end to compulsory vaccination for healthcare and nursing staff.
According to the current legal situation, the institution-related vaccination obligation expires at the end of the year. However, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) left open whether there would be an extension. This depends on the course of the autumn and winter wave, he said in the Bundestag. At the end of October, the number of new infections registered had fallen again both in the state and nationwide. However, not all suspected cases are checked with tests.
Drese defended the widely criticized introduction of facility-based compulsory vaccination, which has been in force nationwide since mid-March. "It was a sensible and important building block to protect the sick and elderly in the best possible way," she emphasized. The weakest in society, especially those in need of care, people with disabilities or previous illnesses, must be given special care. The Federal Constitutional Court also took up this idea of protection when it classified the institution-related vaccination requirement as constitutional in April.
According to the minister, the majority of employees in the health and care facilities have followed the legal requirements: "We have vaccination rates of 90 to 95 percent among hospital and care staff in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This proves impressively that the vast majority of employees of the healthcare system is aware of their great responsibility. My sincere thanks go to them," said Drese.
The law also included sanctions for nurses who refuse to vaccinate. However, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, no case was known of the responsible health authorities imposing fines or banning employment. According to the ministry, the district council and the town and community council had communicated in a letter in mid-June that any data delivery would be rejected. This was justified with a high workload.
