Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) has caused confusion with statements about mandatory childhood vaccinations. In an interview, he spoke out in favor of embedding additional vaccinations in the parent-child passport. When asked if he wanted to make them mandatory for social benefits, he replied “Exactly, exactly”. The Health Ministry then rowed back Wednesday morning.
“I think any incentive for vaccinations – especially childhood vaccination programs – makes sense,” Rauch said in the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten”: “We are currently working on digitizing the parent-child passport and have a few more. services included. And my goal would then be to meet the extra childhood vaccinations.” When asked about a link to social benefits, he answered in the affirmative: “But it should be part of the parent-child passport and not as an isolated sanction measure. I reject that.”
Rather create incentives
On Wednesday morning, Rauch’s department then went in the opposite direction. A “clarification” stated: “A ‘vaccination obligation’ is in no way contemplated, nor is it linked to the payment of existing benefits.” To be able to use these services, the threshold must be low. Creating incentives is “an important task for the future”. The parent-child card is an ideal means of implementation.
When asked by the APA, a spokesperson for the minister stressed that there are no plans to make vaccinations mandatory. They also do not want to make it a condition for receiving full childcare allowance, as is currently the case for examinations during pregnancy and up to the child’s 14th month of life.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
