Germany continues to record record numbers of infections. Many German citizens are of the opinion that compulsory vaccination should be introduced.
In Germany, infection rates are at record levels. On Friday, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced that 48,640 infections had been registered, while a day earlier a record number of 50,196 people had been infected with the Corona virus. The seven-day incidence in the country has also reached another record level of over 249 infected per 100,000 inhabitants.
As a result of the dramatic deterioration of the situation, the German Ethics Council recommends that the possibility of vaccinating people working in certain professions be reviewed. “Given the current situation, the Council now recommends, without any votes against and with three abstentions, a speedy review and a decision on mandatory vaccination for persons working with groups at risk of the Corona virus,” the commission said. is also an adviser to the German government.
Dramatic change of mood
Both the outgoing government coalition and the possible coalition of Social Democrats, environmentalists and liberals have so far rejected the possibility of introducing compulsory vaccination. But in the people can be seen the change of mood. In a YouGov Institute poll, conducted at the request of the German news agency DPA, a large majority of respondents are in favor of compulsory vaccination. 44 percent of respondents think that compulsory vaccination should be introduced for everyone in Germany, with the aim of immunizing against this dangerous virus. Another 24 percent think that compulsory vaccination should be introduced for certain groups of people working in certain occupations, such as those who care for the elderly or those who work in hospitals. While only 27 percent are against compulsory vaccination in general.
This also proves that the mood has changed a lot in Germany. A few days after the first vaccinations in late December 2020, 56 percent of YouGov respondents were against compulsory vaccination, while only 33 percent were in favor. But at that time the opinion of the respondents on the vaccination of certain groups was not sought.
Policy problems
The apparent deterioration of the situation and the continuing records of Corona virus infections have increased the pressure on politicians as well. In the wake of negotiations to form a new governing coalition, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the Liberals (FDP) have been forced to review and amend the Infection Protection Act.
The Bundestag is now also dealing with this issue. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also expected to make a statement on this issue. Scholz and potential partners in the next governing coalition have been accused by representatives of the CDU / CSU parties of inadequate reactions to the increasingly difficult situation with the Corona virus.
The leader of the Liberal parliamentary group, Marco Buschmann, says: “We are anchoring measures in the new package that have not existed at all so far.” which runs counter to the will of incumbent Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), as well as many other Union politicians.Representatives of the new possible coalition want to introduce 3G regulation in the country (ie that only vaccinated persons, cured in the last six months or tested can go to the workplace.) They want to introduce the obligation of testing for persons working in nursing homes as well as the return of free tests for citizens./VOA
