Corona pandemic: Ethics Council member calls for mandatory vaccinations for teachers and daycare staff

The human geneticist and medical ethicist Wolfram Henn, member of the German Ethics Council, has called for mandatory vaccination for staff in daycare centers and schools. “Anyone who joins a group of vulnerable people from their free choice of profession bears a special job-related responsibility,” said the doctor of the Monday edition of the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”. “We need a compulsory vaccination for the staff in daycare centers and schools.”

Children and adolescents under the age of twelve who are currently not allowed to be vaccinated against the coronavirus need special protection, emphasized the professor of human genetics at Saarland University. Although children themselves have a low risk of getting seriously ill with Covid-19, “you have to continue to expect that they will carry the virus into their families,” said Henn.

Medical ethicist rejects general vaccination requirements

He referred to people from risk groups such as cancer patients who could not be vaccinated due to acute therapies. This group should be protected by compulsory vaccination for certain professional groups. The member of the ethics council rejected a general vaccination requirement.

So far, almost 82 million vaccine doses against the coronavirus have been administered in Germany. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 58.5 percent of the population have received at least one vaccination. 42.6 percent are considered fully vaccinated.

After great advances in the vaccination campaign in recent months, a somewhat slower vaccination rate has recently become apparent. The start of the holiday season as well as the fact that many people who have actively tried to make an appointment have already been vaccinated are considered possible reasons. The plan is now to further facilitate access to vaccinations – for example, things are currently being considered