The CDU/CSU parliamentary group and a group of deputies from the traffic light coalition have presented proposals on how to proceed with compulsory vaccination.

While a group of deputies from the traffic light coalition presented a proposal for general vaccination from the age of 18, the unanimous proposal of the Union does not initially provide for any vaccination at all, but rather the introduction of a national vaccination register.

Peter Carstens

Political correspondent in Berlin

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The Union faction discussed and decided on their proposal in a special session on Friday.

Instead of enshrining the obligation to vaccinate in law, a national vaccination register should first be set up, which records the vaccination status for everyone in Germany.

Only later would it be possible to introduce compulsory vaccination on this basis, if necessary.

The health policy spokesman Tino Sorge (CDU) said that what the traffic light missed, "the Union is now delivering: a compromise proposal with the potential to pacify the social debate".

It is "a concept that reconciles".

The Union's proposal is aimed, so Sorge, "at all those who are in favor of a policy of sound judgment".

According to the Union, the register should be used to intensify efforts to convince unvaccinated people to be vaccinated, including by addressing them directly.

According to the Berlin CDU MP Thomas Heilmann, this is expected to result in a significant increase in the vaccination rate.

However, no one knows the type and spread of the next wave, and it is not yet possible to say whether and which vaccinations would be possible or necessary.

It is therefore too early to make vaccination compulsory now.

It is questionable whether the constitutional court considers such an encroachment on fundamental rights to be justified at all without a precise risk assessment.

Heilmann said that for the "Vaccination Prevention Act" all data on the existing vaccinations should first be recorded,

in his opinion, they should not be collected via the health insurance companies, but initially via the financial authorities.

The vaccination register should be available by the summer.

Should there then be a new dangerous wave in the autumn and the health system once again be in danger of being overloaded, it will then be possible to implement compulsory vaccination quickly and in accordance with fundamental rights on the basis of the register.

“We want a way out of the endless restriction spiral”

Several MPs from the SPD, Greens and FDP presented a draft law on compulsory vaccination on Friday.

This is to be presented as a so-called group motion for voting.

Other applications from the ranks of the traffic light coalition are either against compulsory vaccination or only want to provide for such a requirement for people aged 50 and over.

The proposal of the group around the SPD politician Dirk Wiese stipulates that by May 15, 2022, the health insurance companies should inform citizens about the dangers of Covid-19 disease and provide them with advice, information about vaccination options, the approved vaccines and the legal obligation to to be vaccinated by autumn.

Anyone who has been vaccinated three times in total can then prove this digitally, for example via their smartphone, or analogously, for example in the pharmacy.

In doing so, they fulfilled their duty.

If a fourth vaccination were necessary, the Bundestag would have to decide again.

The FDP MP Katrin Helling-Plahr said: "We want to find the way out of the endless spiral of restrictions." There is "no reason to believe that the situation will change for the fall, on the contrary, restrictions are to be expected again".

These can only be limited with a general vaccination requirement.

The deputy and former Hamburg Senator for Justice Till Steffen (Greens) said that the vaccination certificates would have to be shown to the health insurance companies.

Anyone who does not comply by autumn must expect a fine.

According to the MEPs, people who have not yet been vaccinated still have “a reasonable amount of time to obtain information, advice and finally to be vaccinated”.

People who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons or women who are at the beginning of their pregnancy could prove this and do not need to be vaccinated.

Vaccination will then be compulsory from October 1st.

This can also be checked in public spaces.

If people do not take advantage of a vaccination offer, the responsible regulatory authorities would be informed and fine procedures would be initiated.

The amount of the fine should be up to 2500 euros, as with other mandatory vaccinations.

However, the exact amount is a matter of discretion, including income.

As a rule, according to Steffen, it will be less than 250 euros.

The law should be limited to December 31, 2023.

Until then, the law will be reviewed for effectiveness every three months.

The agreement within the Union allows the faction leaders to rally MEPs behind their own motion and prevent them from joining group motions of the traffic light coalition.

If the widely differing positions on vaccination within the governing coalition are not unified in a compromise, the coalition would probably find it difficult to get a majority in parliament.

Wiese said that "underhand" there was also support for the traffic light draft from the ranks of the Union.

Whether the vote on the group and parliamentary group motions can take place in the coming week of the session remained unclear on Friday.