In a few weeks, the facility-related vaccination requirement will come into force. But because of problems, demands for postponement and extension of the deadline are increasing.
- In Germany, a facility-related compulsory vaccination* was decided, but many questions about the exact implementation remain unanswered (see first report).
- The new CDU leader Friedrich Merz outlined the Union’s plans for a possible vaccination requirement (see update from February 1, 9.30 a.m.).
- Meanwhile, patient advocates accused Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach* of failure in the facility-related compulsory vaccination (see update from February 1st, 5.30 p.m.).
- This news ticker is continuously updated.
Update from February 1, 5:30 p.m.: The German Foundation for Patient Protection has accused Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) of failure to vaccinate in health and care facilities. The new regulation would “ignore the enforcement problems of health authorities, regulatory authorities and employers,” said foundation board member Eugen Brysch of the AFP news agency on Tuesday. “Even more devastating is that Karl Lauterbach is jeopardizing the care of up to 200,000 people in need of care and the sick. A Basta policy will fail,” said Brysch.
Anyone who works in a health or care facility must prove by March 15 that they have recovered or have been vaccinated. If he does not do this, the respective employer must report this to the responsible health authority. The Federal Ministry of Health pointed out on Tuesday that the health authorities would have to decide on how to proceed in each individual case. The statements by the ministry are “by no means reassuring,” said Brysch. In any case, the law does not say “that all unvaccinated people must be released on March 16th”.
The Union asked Lauterbach to clarify the open questions. The federal government should “not duck away and leave employers alone with the problem,” said parliamentary secretary Thorsten Frei (CDU). New Osnabrück newspaper. “It turns out that a number of difficult questions arise in connection with the area-specific compulsory vaccination.” The federal government must finally clarify these, Frei demanded.
Update from February 1st, 9.30 a.m.: The new CDU leader Friedrich Merz has outlined the Union’s plans for a possible compulsory vaccination. He could imagine a staggered vaccination requirement from the age of 50, Merz told the TV station Welt on Monday evening. However, this should only apply to a possible new wave of infections and, if necessary, be activated with another Bundestag resolution. Merz wants to present a key issues paper on the union proposal in the next week of the Bundestag session. This will take place from February 14th to 18th.
“We are not talking about compulsory vaccination, which we will introduce tomorrow to break the current wave,” said Merz. Rather, it is about compulsory vaccination “for which the conditions are created”. The aim is a legal basis on the basis of which compulsory vaccination can then be introduced if necessary. It is about saying “perhaps in August, September, October”, “those over 50, over 60, over 70 now have an obligation in this situation (…) to get vaccinated “, explained Merz. From his point of view, this variant is “the best way to get out of this dilemma”. Merz thought it was probably necessary to introduce a vaccination register for implementation.
Compulsory vaccinations in the healthcare sector: unvaccinated people out soon? Traffic light postpones concern
First report from February 1st, 8.30 a.m.:
Berlin – There is a lot of controversy about a possible vaccination requirement. So far, only the facility-related compulsory vaccination has been decided – but its design is still quite imprecise. Doubts about the feasibility have existed for weeks. The concern about increased staff shortages in critical areas remains.
Now the traffic light government says: People who have not been vaccinated can continue to work in their hospitals and care facilities after the official entry into force of the facility-related vaccination requirement on March 16th until a decision has been made by the authorities. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health said Business Insider on Monday: “Until the health department has made the decision on a ban on entry or activity, the employees concerned may continue to be employed.”
Facility-related compulsory vaccination not consistently implemented? “circumstances of the individual case”
The responsible health authority decides on the corona vaccination obligation “on the further procedure and the measures to be taken within the scope of its discretion”. All “circumstances of the individual case” would be taken into account. Actually, from March 16, all employees in nursing and medical professions must either have recovered or be fully vaccinated. The only exception: medical reasons speak against vaccination.
Facility-related compulsory vaccination: burden for health authorities in Germany
The deputy chairwoman of the Federal Association of Doctors in the Public Health Service (BVÖGD), Elke Bruns-Philipps, explained in the Rheinische Postthat the health authorities are currently assuming that on average five to ten percent of the employees have no clear proof of vaccination or recovery and that the health authorities will be notified.
According to the medical officer representative, this means “a considerable burden with the examination of each individual case”. The health authorities could “not cope in a timely manner,” she warned. The procedure up to a ban on employment can also drag on: If there is no proof, the health department will first set a deadline for the submission of vaccination documents, and then a hearing will be scheduled, Bruns-Philipps told the newspaper.
Compulsory vaccinations: essential questions for the health sector still unresolved
In view of the problems, the chairman of the board of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gass, proposed extending the deadlines for facility-related compulsory vaccination. “We support facility-related vaccination,” he said Rheinische Post. However, “essential questions of further implementation are still unresolved and it may therefore be necessary to adjust deadlines in the process”.
If the health department issues a ban on entering the workplace for an unvaccinated employee, the person concerned will be released from work, of course without continued payment of wages, Gass said. “If the initial vaccination is already available for individuals, the further vaccinations can be made up for quickly,” he told the newspaper. “In these cases, we can imagine pragmatic solutions, such as an extension of the deadline, in order to keep the employees.”
Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek also called in conversation with the Munich Mercury the Federal Government is already calling on the deadline for the introduction of facility-related compulsory vaccination to “reconsider critically if necessary”.
Vaccination “mammoth work” to be lifted by mid-March? “Delay is urgently needed”
Warnings and demands also come from the patient protection foundation in this regard: “The compulsory vaccination for medical and nursing professions must not be introduced with a crowbar,” said the board member, Eugen Brysch, the German Press Agency. “Health authorities, regulatory authorities and employers do not see themselves in a position to implement the mammoth work by March 15 without serious upheavals,” said Brysch. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach * must know that the care of up to 200,000 people in need of care and the sick is in danger. “A delay is urgently needed.” (AFP / dpa / cibo) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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