German lawmakers to debate vaccine mandate for health care workers

Germany’s parliament is scheduled to debate a possible vaccine mandate for hospital and nursing home workers on Tuesday. 

The mandate, along with other measures that parliament will discuss, would be intended to combat the country’s recent uptick in COVID-19 infections, according to The Associated Press. 

Parliament’s lower house is set to hold a special session to discuss future vaccination plans performed by dentists and pharmacists in addition to those performed by doctors at vaccine sites and their practices, the AP reported. 

The lower house intends to pass the regulations later this week, with the goal of having Parliament’s upper house, which is representative of Germany’s 16 state governments, approve them on Friday. In addition to the proposed vaccine mandate, the new policies could include other restrictions like restaurant closures. 

The mandate would require staffers at medical facilities like hospitals, nursing homes and doctors’ offices to show proof of vaccination or recovery from a prior COVID-19 infection starting in mid-March. They would also have the option to show proof that they are unable to be vaccinated, the wire service reported. 

The government has set a goal of a minimum 75 percent vaccination rate, and nearly 70 percent of Germans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Officials have suggested that the infection rate is either decreasing or leveling out; however, the country has continued to see more deaths, and infection rates remain high. On Tuesday, Germany’s national disease control reported 36,059 new daily cases, a decrease from 45,753 cases last week, the AP added.

Germany’s new Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly said last month he wants to require COVID-19 vaccines for all Germans in addition to supporting barring unvaccinated Germans from entering nonessential stores.