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Germany is making measles immunization compulsory for all children in a new bill that will come into force in March next year.
The Measles Protection Act, pbaded on July 17, will allow parents to prove that their children have been vaccinated before entering school or day care.
Those who do not provide this information before July 2021 could be fined up to 2,500 euros ($ 2,800) and forbid their children to go to school.
The rule will apply not only to children, but also to teachers, caregivers, doctors and other adults working in community or medical settings. These adults will have to prove that they have received the vaccines needed to gain immunity against measles.
In addition to this, the bill will also require asylum seekers and refugees to prove their vaccination status after settling in community housing.
Jens Spahn, German Minister of Health, said in a statement:
Whether it's kindergarten, nanny or school, we want to protect all children against measles.
This news comes after the discovery that 203 cases of measles had been reported in Germany during the first ten weeks of 2019, more than double those of the same period last year.
In addition, according to the German Federal Ministry of Health, 429 cases of measles had been reported in mid-June, for the year 2019. Last year, the total number of reported cases was 544.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by high fever, a characteristic red rash and bloodshot eyes, among other symptoms. Routine childhood immunization is essential for reducing the number of deaths from measles, but with less and less confidence in vaccination, many do not vaccinate their children.
It is hoped that this action from Germany will serve to prevent the spread of the disease while protecting the people likely to catch it.
To fully implement the law, all doctors can in the future perform vaccinations, excluding dentists. Specialists will also be able to perform vaccinations regardless of the limitations imposed on the practice of medicine.
In addition, the public health service will carry out voluntary vaccinations in schools. Health insurers will have to make arrangements to reimburse the cost of these vaccinations.
The new regulation will accompany additional information from the Federal Center for Health Education, with funds amounting to 2 million euros per year.
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Graduated from a master's degree in audiovisual journalism, she then worked at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy covered news reports while writing reports on the mental health, awareness of cervical cancer screening and Little Mix (for whom she is obsessed flawlessly).
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