The measles vaccination requirement for preschool and school children introduced in Germany about two and a half years ago remains in effect. The German Federal Constitutional Court has now dismissed several lawsuits from affected families. The violations of fundamental rights are not minor, but are currently reasonable, the statement said.
In particular, since 1 March 2020, German kindergartens are only allowed to accept children from one year old if they have been vaccinated against measles or have had the disease. The same rules apply to childminders. Anyone who had already had their child cared for in an institution had until July 31, 2022 to provide proof. No child will be expelled from school unless they have been vaccinated against measles. However, parents risk fines of up to 2500 euros.
lawsuits dismissed
Four parents who have an unvaccinated toddler then filed a lawsuit alleging that they saw the vaccination requirement as a disproportionate violation of the fundamental right to physical integrity and their right to raise children. The German Federal Constitutional Court has since rejected several lawsuits, the judges in Karlsruhe announced on Thursday.
“Without violating constitutional law, the legislature has prioritized the protection of people at risk of measles infection over the best interests of the complaining children and parents,” it said. Mandatory vaccination should help to eradicate measles completely one day. That would require at least 95 percent of the population to be vaccinated, experts say. This percentage was not achieved in Germany.
According to the experts, measles is not a harmless childhood disease. Complications could arise and the immune system would remain weak for a long time. A rare late consequence is encephalitis, which is almost always fatal.
Vaccination also mandatory for teaching staff
In Germany, the measles vaccination obligation also applies to employees in childcare and schools, for employees in hospitals and medical practices, and in other facilities where many people gather, such as refugee shelters. Excluded are those born before 1971, as they are believed to have had measles at some point.
Since March, there has also been a corona vaccination obligation for health and nursing staff, which the Constitutional Court reviewed and approved in the spring.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
