German lawmakers reject vaccine mandate for people over 60
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Loading... - Badria Hadid
- 07 Apr 2022
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Germany's Bundestag rejected a proposal to impose a vaccine mandate on those older than 60, which was supported by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.
The plan, however, had been opposed by members of Scholz's own governing coalition, the smaller neoliberal FDP.
A simple majority was required for the bill's passage. Of 674 Bundestag MPs, some 378 voted against the vaccine mandate, while 296 supported it.
Already, a vaccine mandate is in place for health care workers. But further expansion has sparked a wider debate in German society.
Some 76% of Germans have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while roughly 59% have received a booster.
A recent opinion poll revealed that 60% of Germans support a vaccine mandate; although fewer believe this can actually be achieved.
The vote in the Bundestag comes as Germany has now lifted most of its major coronavirus restrictions, after the legislature voted to end them and allow states to make their own decisions on the matter.
Lauterbach: 'We move on'
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach reacted to the failure of his prefered policy choice with concern.
"It is a very important important decision, because now the fight against corona in Autumn become much more difficult. Laying political blame does not help. We move on," Lauterbach wrote on his twitter account. Read More...
