Germany to fine parents £2,000 if they fail to vaccinate children for measles

  • The new rules will force parents to prove younger children have been vaccinated
  • Parents who do not vaccinate school-age children face fines of over £2,000 
  • German parliament passed the law but experts in Britain oppose a similar move

By Ben Spencer Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Measles vaccinations will be made compulsory for German schoolchildren from next year.

The Bundestag – Germany's parliament – yesterday passed a law that means parents who do not vaccinate school-age children face fines of up to €2,500 (£2,140).

The new rules – which come into force in March – will also force parents to prove younger children have been vaccinated before they can attend nurseries or pre-schools. Visits to medical facilities, community centres and holiday camps will also require proof of immunisation.

The Bundestag yesterday passed a law that means parents in Germany who do not vaccinate school-age children face fines of up to ¿2,500 (£2,140)

The Bundestag yesterday passed a law that means parents in Germany who do not vaccinate school-age children face fines of up to €2,500 (£2,140)

German health minister Jens Spahn described the law as 'child protection' and said: 'A measles infection is an unnecessary threat in 2019.'

Experts in Britain oppose a similar move – but Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is a 'strong argument' for compulsory vaccinations.

Last month the Daily Mail launched a major campaign to improve the uptake of childhood immunisations amid rising cases of measles and mumps.

Experts in Britain oppose a similar move ¿ but Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is a 'strong argument' for compulsory vaccinations

Experts in Britain oppose a similar move – but Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is a 'strong argument' for compulsory vaccinations

For vaccinations to be truly effective, 95 per cent coverage is needed to achieve 'herd immunity' – which means circulating viruses and infections cannot find a new 'host', so die out.

In Germany 93 per cent of children starting school have received both measles jabs. In England the uptake is much lower – at 86 per cent.

Yet British experts say compulsory vaccinations are a knee-jerk reaction, and could undermine trust in vaccines and the medical profession.

Germany

Most watched News videos

Comments 223

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.