BERLIN, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany’s lower house of parliament passed a draft law Friday requiring healthcare workers and soldiers to get inoculated against Covid-19, a first step toward possible mandatory jabs for
all adults.
A large majority of Bundestag MPs voted for the measure requiring staff at hospitals, doctors’ offices and care homes to be fully vaccinated.
A few hours later, the new measures were given the green light from the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s newly inaugurated government has made combating the pandemic a priority, as concerns over a new spike in cases grow as the Christmas holidays draw closer.
The changes include measures aimed at getting people vaccinated and speeding up the booster shot campaign — and are initially valid until March 15, 2022.
Medical workers in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, facilities for people with disabilities and other health facilities will now be asked to show proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.
Only health workers who can provide a medical reason for not getting the jab will be exempt from the mandate.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is an epidemiologist, said it was unacceptable that some people at hospitals and care homes are still not vaccinated.
“This vaccine mandate is necessary because it’s completely unacceptable that, after two years of pandemic, people who have entrusted their care to us are dying unnecessarily in institutions because unvaccinated people work there,” he said. “We cannot accept this.”
German lawmakers are set to debate another, likely more contentious bill in the coming weeks on a vaccine mandate that would apply to everyone.
The new measures also expand who is allowed to vaccinate people against COVID — expanding the group to include dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists.
The changes to the infection protection law also make it legally possible once again to close bars, clubs, restaurants, and theaters as well as cultural and sporting events.
Hospitals will also receive more financial assistance to help offset the costs of having to cancel surgeries and other procedures due to an influx of COVID-19 patients.
Just over 69% of people in Germany are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus — short of former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s aim of a minimum 75% vaccination rate, and considerably lower than some other European Union countries.
In recent weeks, Germany has logged record-high numbers of new cases. Numerous cases of the omicron variant have also been recorded.
The number of unvaccinated people has been blamed as a key factor in a surge of new virus cases in recent weeks. — NNN-AGENCIES
