After the criticism of the world health organization (WHO) to Impfgegnern a new push for a mandatory vaccination in Germany comes from the SPD-health politician Karl Lauterbach. “I am in favour of when such a dangerous disease like the measles is a vaccination,” said Lauterbach of the newspaper “The world” from the Monday. He will advertise for the Federal Minister of health, Jens Spahn (CDU) for a new discussion on the need for a mandatory vaccination, “as the previous campaigns for voluntary vaccination, as not sufficiently have proved”.
The WHO had declared opponents to one of the ten largest global threats. The reason is that medically possible eradication of measles will be prevented by the in the industrialized countries, widespread refusal of vaccination. From the point of view of the WHO experts from Impfgegnern a similar large risk to global health, such as Ebola, antibiotic resistance and air pollution. Vaccinations annually two to three million deaths prevent according to the WHO.
Significant increase of measles cases in Europe
Actually, the measles should be eradicated by 2020. In recent years, the number of infections has risen by up to 30 percent, is critical of the WHO. Also in Europe, there was a significant increase: In the year 2018, infected, alone, in the first half of the year already up to 41,000 children and adults. In 2017, it was 23.927 Affected, 2016 5273 people sick.
In Germany, too, there are always outbreaks, annual case numbers vary considerably. In the year 2017, for example, 929 measles cases were reported in 2016, only 325. To prevent outbreaks that would need to be immunized 95 percent of the population. But in Germany, this quota is not met in all age groups.
Opponents would put “in an irresponsible manner, the health of many people”, criticized Lauterbach. The measles were a dangerous disease and could continue to spread if the vaccination rates would not be increased.
What is the vaccination?
Restrained, the health expressed a political spokeswoman of the parliamentary group, Karin Maag (CDU). Although she, too, sees opponents as “a major health risk”. But before it could be discussed in Germany, a vaccination, it must be examined what are the experiences in Italy and France were made after the local introduction of a vaccination for measles. “If it turns out that the two countries have successes through vaccination, we should also discuss in Germany about a vaccination,” said Maag.
The Union expert at the same time expressed concerns. Short or long term, a statutory mandatory vaccination would land before the Federal constitutional court, said Maag. For the prevention of measles, a lot has already been done. So unvaccinated children should be excluded for a time from the daycare to visit and parents would have to pay in the case of a refusal of the vaccination advice high fines.
Also, the Greens are faced with a mandatory vaccination negative. In the view of health expert, Kordula Schulz-ash must be placed on consultation rather than on compulsion and sanctions.
Why measles is so dangerous
A compulsory vaccination was discussed in Germany already repeatedly, especially after regional severe measles outbreaks. While pediatricians have been demanding for a longer a compulsory vaccination, the Federal government, yet skeptical. Spahn himself had rejected a few years ago, at the time, as CDU health expert, a mandatory vaccination in General.
Measles are extremely contagious. The causative viruses are transmitted when Talking, coughing or Sneezing, on tiny droplets in the air. The disease starts with flu-like symptoms and later a characteristic rash accompanied by skin. The infection weakens the immune system immensely, other infections are therefore a common consequence.
A dreaded risk of an inflammation of the brain, the so-called measles encephalitis that can be fatal or with permanent damage. As a late result of measles infection is an inflammation of the nerve cells of the brain and of the spinal cord may form also after years of a so-called subacute sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE),. It leads to the failure of brain functions and finally to death.
In the Video: The bizarre world of German opponents
