Measles vaccination obligation comes into force
Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for
More posts by Lisa Vogel All content is checked by medical journalists.On March 1st, the legal vaccination against measles came into force. It applies to schools, kindergartens, daycare centers and medical facilities and in communal accommodation. The compulsory vaccination obliges the institutions to refuse unvaccinated persons.
Children and young people, but also educators and teachers, have had to be vaccinated against measles since the beginning of March. Anyone who has already attended a daycare center or school or is already employed there before the deadline should provide evidence of the vaccination by July 31, 2021.
There is a risk of fines
However, unvaccinated schoolchildren cannot be refused access to school. Instead, their parents face a fine of up to 2,500 euros and the school must notify the responsible health department. The regional councils check the vaccination status of newly hired teachers.
A new admission to a day care center or kindergarten, on the other hand, is not possible without adequate vaccination protection. This also applies to people who want to work in community or health services. If the respective responsible management accepts the unvaccinated person, they too face a fine.
In addition, “it is important that parents also check their own vaccination protection,” says Health Minister Melanie Huml. “There are still vaccine gaps in the population”. The vaccination requirement is intended to help increase the vaccination rate in Germany. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a value of 95 percent as a target.
Vaccination certificate required
Proof of a measles vaccination is usually provided with the help of the vaccination card. The yellow children's medical examination booklet or a doctor's certificate can also prove the vaccination against measles.
If the measles vaccination has already been proven in a previously visited facility, this can also confirm the vaccination status.
Vaccination recommendation: Two immunizations in childhood
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection. It can be lengthy and lead to serious complications.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends an initial vaccination against measles as a measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccination (MMR) for children aged eleven to 14 months. The second vaccination is then given at the age of 15 to 23 months.
For adults, the STIKO recommends vaccination against measles if they were born after 1970 and were not vaccinated against measles at all or only once in childhood. Even if the vaccination status is unclear, the STIKO recommends that adults be vaccinated.
Death toll rises again
The death toll from measles has risen again in the past year. According to WHO estimates, more than 142,000 people died of the highly contagious disease in 2018. Most of them were children under the age of five. This meant that there were a total of around 16,000 more fatalities than in 2017.
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