The measles vaccine: Germany catches up with the rest of the world

Last November 15, Germany’s parliament introduced a new law making the measles vaccination obligatory for all children attending crèches or schools

Any parent refusing to vaccinate their child will now run the risk of a fine of 2500 euros, as will any crèche that accepts non-vaccinated children. The vaccination will also be obligatory for hospital personnel and teachers, as well as staff working in social care residences and the asylum seekers or other refugees staying in such centres.

According to the German federal research body The Robert Koch Institute, nearly 500 cases of measles have been declared in Germany since the beginning of 2019. The World Health Organisation has been raising awareness about the growing number of cases in Europe and the rest of the world for a long time now, and Germany is really just catching up to the rest of the world in introducing this law.

Measles is a serious disease that is highly contagious, reported to have a mortality rate of up to 20%, and with this law, the German Minister for Health Jens Spahn hopes above all to protect children from the disease.