The debate about a possible corona vaccination is picking up speed.
Representatives from politics, medicine and business in the Freising district take a position on this.
District
- Dr.
Christian Fiedler from the Freising Clinic speaks of the "explosives issue par excellence": the debate about a possible corona vaccination that is gaining momentum.
The Freisinger Tagblatt asked representatives from politics, medicine and business for their opinion and received a lot of clear text in response.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
“Get out of the endless loop” - that's what politicians say
"The situation is really very serious," says
Minister of State Florian Herrmann (CSU)
from Freising.
The head of the state chancellery and corona officer of the Bavarian government fears the health system will be overloaded - "because around four million people in Bavaria are unvaccinated, among whom the virus is more or less unchecked".
Far too many unvaccinated people would become infected, sometimes become seriously ill and occupy beds in the intensive care unit that would then no longer be available for other emergencies or planned operations.
"So the decision not to be vaccinated has a significant impact on others."
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Florian Herrmann, Minister of State (CSU): "When, if not in such an existential situation, is compulsory vaccination justified?"
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For Herrmann it is therefore absolutely clear: “Vaccination is the only way to prevent ever new waves of infection and thus to break the pandemic.
If you have this knowledge and the vaccination rate still does not improve, a general compulsory vaccination is the right way, otherwise we will remain in an endless corona loop.
Nobody can want that. "
Herrmann admits that the compulsory vaccination is a restriction of the constitutional protected physical integrity.
“The Basic Law also says that the freedom of the individual ends where the health of others is in danger.
And that is the case when we keep bringing the health system to the limit of what is affordable due to a vaccination rate that is too low. "
If the vaccination rate does not increase significantly, the Minister of State considers compulsory vaccination to be imperative.
“It's an absurd state of affairs: we have several highly effective vaccines that can protect people from a virus that has ruled our lives for almost two years and end the pandemic threat.
When, if not in such an existential situation as now, is compulsory vaccination justified? "
In individual cases, there could be medical reasons against a vaccination, emphasizes Hermann.
Medical advice can help.
He also understands anyone who might be concerned.
“I can tell them with deep conviction that we have very safe vaccines.
However, as a society we shouldn't let people who indulge in conspiracy theories continue to dance around on the nose. "
District Administrator Helmut Petz (FW)
promotes vaccinations wherever he can.
However, he is skeptical about a general vaccination requirement.
“Before starting a political discussion, we first have to think about the constitutional admissibility,” emphasizes the former judge.
"Restrictions on freedom are only permissible in our constitutional system if they are suitable, necessary and proportionate."
For the time being, Petz does not consider the general compulsory vaccination to be suitable or necessary.
“A measure is suitable if it is even able to further the purpose it pursues,” he explains.
“This is questionable at the moment, because the demand for vaccinations in the vaccination center, but also among doctors in private practice, has increased within a few days due to the 2G and 3G regulations that are now in force, so that we cannot keep up despite the fact that all capacities are exhausted.
What should a general compulsory vaccination still achieve at the moment? "
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Helmut Petz, Freising District Administrator (FW): "What should a general vaccination obligation still achieve at the moment?"
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A measure is necessary if there is no more lenient means that promotes the desired purpose in the same or a similar way. “We are currently using the 2G and 3G regulations as a milder means. They instrumentalize people's self-interest in being able to participate in offers such as in the catering trade, in body-friendly services, in the leisure sector and, more recently, also in visits to authorities without daily testing. "
According to Petz, an even greater incentive for vaccination should be self-protection against a highly dangerous virus and social solidarity. Nevertheless - his conclusion is: "Since the constitutional permissibility of a general vaccination obligation is at least questionable in view of less drastic alternatives, we do not need to think deeply about the political sensibility."
Andreas Mehltretter, a member of the Bundestag for the SPD
, believes that mandatory vaccinations in the fight against Corona are "the sharpest sword we have".
In view of the Bavarian seven-day incidence of 1468.9 among unvaccinated people and the dramatic situation in the hospitals, in his view this is also constitutionally permissible.
"Only with a high vaccination quota can we leave the pandemic behind us and prevent many thousands of deaths," emphasizes Mehltretter.
"Unfortunately, we will only achieve this vaccination quota with mandatory vaccination."
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Andreas Mehltretter, SPD member of the Bundestag: "Only with a high vaccination rate can we prevent many thousands of deaths."
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Right now, however, the main thing is to break the wave, emphasized the SPD MP.
“That is why last week in the Bundestag we actually decided on a lockdown for unvaccinated people and other quick-acting measures.
It is also important to protect those who cannot be vaccinated or who are at increased risk. "
“Nobody can get by there” - that's what doctors say
Dr. Christian Fiedler, pandemic officer at the Freising Clinic
, has difficulties with compulsory vaccinations. Not because of legal concerns. After all, compulsory vaccination is nothing new, there are already corresponding requirements for various diseases, such as measles. “But the topic is now so emotionally charged that you can hardly say anything without being pelted with eggs.” He believes that compulsory vaccination can only work if there is enough public acceptance for it. But those who have already been vaccinated would be in favor of this. “How do you intend to force a vaccine opponent to do so? Drag him to the vaccination appointment with the police? "
For Fiedler it is clear: "If we were all vaccinated, the fourth wave would not exist." So will the pandemic never end if the vaccination rate does not increase significantly?
Yes, says Fiedler.
The way out of the pandemic leads through his very special definition of 3G - "vaccinated, recovered, died".
The doctor emphasizes: “In this fourth wave, each of us will come into contact with Corona.
Nobody can get by there, ”he emphasizes.
Anyone who has better immune systems - also thanks to vaccination - can get through symptom-free or only get slightly ill.
Everyone else would have to reckon with serious illness and worse.
"At the end of the wave everyone will have some kind of protection."
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Dr.
Christian Fiedler, Freising Clinic: “How do you intend to force a vaccine opponent to do so?
Drag him to the vaccination appointment with the police? "
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The level of the vaccination quota will determine how long this wave lasts - and how drastic it will be for the health system. It remains: "The risk of long-term consequences from Corona is many times higher than the risk of a vaccination with vaccines that have undergone such a mass test like no other drugs - with extremely rare and easily manageable side effects."
Hubert Böck, Vice-Head of the Freising Vaccination Center
, has long thought about the pros and cons of mandatory vaccination.
Result: "I am in favor of compulsory vaccination because otherwise we will not get out of the pandemic." For him, however, it is also clear that compulsory vaccination should not be limited to certain professional groups that are already particularly exposed to Corona, but for the general public should apply.
For example, it is not enough if nurses in retirement homes are vaccinated, but relatives are not.
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Hubert Böck, Vaccination Center Freising: "I am in favor of compulsory vaccination because otherwise we will not get out of the pandemic."
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Böck also emphasizes that compulsory vaccination no longer leads to the current mess.
“That should have happened weeks ago.
In order to break the fourth wave, other measures are now needed, above all a further reduction in contacts. ”However, a higher vaccination rate would help against further waves,
“Moral and social duty” - that's what business representatives say
Otto Heinz, chairman of the IHK regional committee Erding-Freising,
calls for a “general staff-like vaccination and booster offensive”
.
"Without a high vaccination rate, as in Portugal, for example, there is no planning security for our companies, only uncertainty and shocks about restrictions and closings," he says.
"We now have to do everything we can to avoid a general lockdown."
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Otto Heinz, IHK Chairman: "We must now do everything we can to avoid a general lockdown."
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If appeals would not achieve their goal to get a higher vaccination quota, as it exists in Portugal, for example, a general compulsory vaccination should no longer be a taboo.
"The damage to society and the economy would be significantly greater if there were renewed restrictions, closings and lockdowns than if everyone were to be vaccinated," emphasizes Heinz.
"So vaccinating is a moral and social duty in the interest of the common good."
For
Martin Reiter
,
master craftsman
, the compulsory vaccination is a sensitive issue due to the interference with personal rights.
“But it can't go on like this.” That's why he expects that the vaccination will be compulsory.
“I still hope that common sense will return to the unvaccinated,” says Reiter.
But the hope is not great.
“I don't argue with any vaccine opponents either, because that doesn't help.
That only gives rise to arguments and is personal. "
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Martin Reiter, master craftsman in the district: "I no longer argue with any opponents of vaccinations."
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Reiter is particularly angry with Hubert Aiwanger, head of the free electorate.
“He doesn't need to be praised for having himself vaccinated,” emphasizes Reiter.
“If he had already done that in the summer, then maybe more others would have gone to vaccinate.
Then we wouldn't have a huge traffic jam.
The Minister of Economic Affairs, of all people, has done the economy a huge disservice. "