Germany presses US$2,750 fine on parents who fail to immunize their children

By Angella Semu

Following 501 cases of measles that Germany has registered between January and mid-October 2019, parliament has voted to make measles vaccinations compulsory for children, with parents who fail to immunize their children facing fines of €2,500 (US$2,750).

The highly infectious viral illness that can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes requires two doses of the vaccine to protect one against it.

The new act requires all parents to provide evidence that their child has received two measles vaccinations before they are enrolled in school or kindergarten.

In a statement written by CNN, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health stated that medical staff, daycare workers, teachers and workers at community facilities must also be vaccinated under the act, which is due to come into effect in March 2020.

The Ministry said Daycare centers that admit unvaccinated children will also be charged, and children who are not vaccinated can be excluded from school.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.