The vaccination campaign is neither an order nor a substitute for democracy and civil liberties.
It is precisely the result of a social process at the end of which each individual has to make a decision.
No one is forcibly vaccinated, but those who refuse to be vaccinated will face restrictions for a longer period of time.
At the same time, he benefits from the fact that others get vaccinated.
The discussion about whether children should be vaccinated once again makes it clear that vaccination with approved, highly effective and well-tolerated substances is a not inconsiderable intervention. For the elderly and high-risk patients, who are the most corona victims, this intervention is well justified. In the case of children, on the other hand, for whom the vaccine has happily now also been approved, things seem to be different. As a rule, you cannot become seriously ill yourself; vaccinating them would be a means to an end to prevent the pandemic from spreading further. Pediatricians in particular are rather skeptical, also with regard to risks that are still unclear; the Standing Vaccination Commission may not make a recommendation to vaccinate children. The ethics committee sees it differently.
However, one should not pretend that other child vaccinations only aim to protect children from serious illnesses. In other ways, too, vaccination against “childhood diseases”, often given in combination, is part of a consideration and should also save the parents and thus society effort, time and money. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn wants to include the children in the vaccination campaign, but at the same time expressly leaves the decision to the parents with their children and the doctors. Sure, those affected have to decide (anyway). And a hopefully soon return to everyday school life is also an argument. But politics must make the pros and cons as clear as possible and take responsibility for them. She bears responsibility for her campaign - and its consequences.