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Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD)
Photo: HANNIBAL HANSCHKE / AFP
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach does not propose a general vaccination requirement.
He told SPIEGEL that he would join a proposal drawn up by the Bundestag, but "not lead the way".
Lauterbach justified the restraint with the necessary neutrality as health minister.
"I will support proposals that convince me just as much as other proposals." This "neutrality" is important "in order to be able to offer the help of the Federal Ministry of Health to all members of parliament", according to Lauterbach.
The SPD politician had also confirmed to the news portal “The Pioneer” that it would not formulate any proposals of his own.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced in December that everyone would be vaccinated, but without a fixed schedule.
In the Bundestag, members of the Bundestag should submit their own motions without being forced to participate in parliamentary groups; after a detailed debate, the law should then be passed in a free vote.
On Wednesday, Scholz had reaffirmed the plan in his first government statement.
"Omikron infection" does not replace compulsory vaccination
Lauterbach now also emphasized that compulsory vaccination is not about speed, but about care.
In view of the current wave of omicrons, compulsory vaccination would be too late anyway.
The Minister of Health wants vaccination as a protection in the future.
"We want to prevent us from facing another corona wave in autumn," said Lauterbach.
A possible “contamination with Omikron” could not replace compulsory vaccination: “On the one hand, that would be too dangerous.
And we also expect other variants. "
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of new corona infections in Germany has peaked for the second day in a row.
The RKI reports 81,417 cases in 24 hours, on Wednesday the number had exceeded the threshold of 80,000 for the first time.
The RKI gave the seven-day incidence as 427.7.
For comparison: the previous day the value was 407.5.
A week ago the nationwide incidence was 285.9.
mrc / cos
