Thursday, January 06, 2022
Justice Minister in the “early start”
Buschmann: “People are worried about compulsory vaccinations”
The introduction of mandatory vaccinations is on the agenda of the traffic light coalition. But it shouldn’t come quickly. Justice Minister Buschmann points out that various applications are “in the making”. He is skeptical about a vaccination register.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann does not categorically rule out a vaccination register, but is still skeptical. “If you want to set up a vaccination register, it takes a long time. You mustn’t fool yourself,” said the FDP politician in the “ntv early start”. “I don’t want to exclude the register at all – I’m just skeptical. I know from experience that something like this takes a long time and you have to have a very clear debate about what such a register is for.” Especially with a view to data protection, it must be clearly defined what can be entered in such a register, said Buschmann. “I think it would all take too long. The disease is quick and so we have to be quick to respond.”
A vaccination register is also not necessary when it comes to the general compulsory vaccination, says Buschmann. “We also have many other duties to which people are subject without us entering them in a central location.” For example, there could be event-related controls and spot checks to check the vaccination status. “We do the same with 3G in local public transport, for example. We don’t have a register there that everyone has to enter when taking the bus.”
The compulsory vaccination is a very special issue. “Everyone who discusses mandatory vaccination with friends or family realizes that it’s not just any topic. People are worried about mandatory vaccination.” Various applications for mandatory vaccination are already “in the making”, said Buschmann. “There is already a text that positions itself against compulsory vaccinations,” said the Justice Minister, alluding to a request from FDP MPs.
Buschmann pointed out, however, that MPs from other parliamentary groups are already working on an application for a so-called graduated vaccination requirement. An application is also being prepared, which includes a general vaccination requirement for all adults. But when these motions will finally be available and debated in the Bundestag, Buschmann cannot foresee, “because it is a procedure in which Parliament sits in the pilot’s chair”. The FDP politician does not consider a vaccination obligation only for employees in the critical infrastructure to be necessary, because the vaccination rates are very high in these professions.