The history of vaccination that is almost as old as vaccination itself. Already in 1853 the British with the Vaccination Act decided that all children must be vaccinated in their first three months of life against smallpox. The parents refused a penalty was due – which were, however, imposed almost never. So the duty, missed its target, in 1871, died in a smallpox epidemic, more than 23,000 people.
Nevertheless, intensified the resistance against the treatment. Anti-vaccination campaigns transformed. It was only when the threat of smallpox more than 30 years later – thanks to vaccinations – was banned, abolished the duty.
Of the more than 150-year-old case illustrates a problem that is still up to date: vaccines have eradicate the potential for deadly pathogens. Nevertheless, parts of the population of the treatment, mistrust and threatening others in the society. The question is: Can changing a vaccination something about it?
In twelve EU countries is to Vaccinate duty
While in Germany, vaccination is currently the possibility of a compulsory check, have done a lot of EU countries this step a long time ago. In 12 of the 28 member States, parents are required to immunize their children against at least one disease. The number of compulsory vaccinations ranges from a (Belgium) to 14 (Latvia). In many countries of Eastern Europe the approach is based on years of Tradition. Others have extended the duty recently.
Click on a country from the list of compulsory vaccinations of a (Belgium) shows up to 14 (Latvia)
For example, in France until the beginning of 2018, only the three mandatory vaccinations (diphtheria, Tetanus, polio), with the possibility of the easy-to-miss. Who decided, despite the obligation against the vaccinations, had to fear no punishment. Last year, the government has increased the number of pathogens, against which children must be protected, to eleven. Children come into the nursery or in school, parents need to submit proof of vaccination.
A reason for the decision was that only 78 percent of two year olds against measles were vaccinated. In order to eradicate the Virus effectively, would have to be at least 95 percent protected.
Similarly, in Italy, where the government, after a measles outbreak in 2017, the mandatory vaccinations for all children and young persons to ten. In the country there had been already four compulsory vaccinations (Polio, diphtheria, Tetanus, and Hepatitis B), which is followed almost all of them. Until then, voluntary vaccinations, however, were made much less frequently.
Vaccination in EU countries
Source: ECDC
Forced helps better than Information?
The experiences from other countries show that a vaccination may well work – but only if it is associated with harsh penalties. In Hungary, for example, the Ministry of the people has introduced probably as early as 1998, a Impfflicht for several diseases.
Children in nurseries, kindergartens or schools, are obliged by the Doctors to control the vaccination status and the lack of vaccination of catching up to do. Parents refuse to vaccinate your child, you must inform the school doctor, the health authority. In case of doubt, it can lead to fines and exclusion from Schooling.
According to Unicef in 2016 in the country were vaccinated 99 percent of children against diphtheria, Tetanus, whooping cough, Polio, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b – as many as in any other EU country. Other States, such as Luxembourg, the success of similarly high rates, however, without vaccination (99% for diphtheria, Tetanus, whooping cough and Polio).
For comparison: In Germany, 95 percent of the children received injections against diphtheria, Tetanus and whooping cough. The worst section of Austria, which no vaccination exists. There in 2016, only 87 percent of the children were able to have the third Dose of vaccine against diphtheria, Tetanus and whooping cough.
Vaccination strengthens the distrust to Vaccinate
It is clear, however, that a compulsion to Vaccinate mistrust. Even today, the confidence in the safety of vaccines in Europe is lower than in other regions of the world.
In a recent EU-wide survey, citizens from countries in which a vaccination exists, expressed particularly skeptical: In Bulgaria, only 66 percent were vaccinations as safe, followed by citizens of Latvia (68 percent) and France (70 percent). The residents of Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia weighted vaccines, also in the EU as the least important for children.
At the top of the list, however, countries have to collect without vaccination. The greatest trust of the citizens of Portugal. There, 95 percent have declared that vaccines are safe, and 97 percent thought they were effective, and 98 percent were convinced that it is important for children to be vaccinated. In Denmark, 94 per cent of vaccines were for sure, in Spain it was 92 percent.
Germany was all the answers about the average:
Germany: exclusion from school is conceivable
The plans in Germany relate to currently the measles vaccine. It would be conceivable to change the law so that children are allowed to visit without a measles vaccination as in other countries there are no facilities such as daycare centers or schools. Since in Germany education is compulsory, and would threaten the parents with penalties, if the children are not able to perceive the lessons. With would be taken into account that a school’s exclusion of the children are suffering the consequences.
The sanctions would be hard – could work. However, there is the risk that the requirement for a vaccine, the impact on other vaccinations. For example, a German study from the year 2016 suggests that a vaccination for the individual active substances weakens the trust so much so that parents of other is not, only the recommended vaccinations. A further danger is that some parents do not appreciate the other, recommended vaccinations as not so important, because they are mandatory.
Still, it would be possible, even for a middle way. So about all the schools in a Register could hold on to, who is protected from measles. In case of an outbreak would be immediately clear who has to stay home. For the children concerned, the significant consequences, however, as a glance to Hildesheim. Where unvaccinated students are not allowed to enter currently a Gymnasium. Some people fail exams, therefore, the school, the probably most important exams of your school life.
In summary: in Almost every second country of the EU there is a mandatory vaccination, the number of mandatory vaccinations ranges from a (Belgium) to 14 (Latvia). Enforce a mandatory vaccination is only with harsh sanctions such as school exclusion. The compulsion to Vaccinate, however, it can also cause the confidence of the population in vaccines fades.