On Thursday has decided to the Parliament of Brandenburg, that children want to visit in Brandenburg, a nursery, need to be vaccinated against measles. The Health psychologist Cornelia Betsch, who has been conducting research for years to Impfakzeptanz explains whether this step is reasonable.
TIME ONLINE: The German ethics Council provides advice on a vaccination, even in the Ministry of health will be discussed. Now the Parliament of Brandenburg requires that children attending kindergarten must be vaccinated against measles. What do you think of this step?
Cornelia Betsch is trained as a psychologist and conducting research, among other things, to risk perception and Risk communication on the example of the vaccination decision-making. Since 2017 she has held a Heisenberg professorship for health communication at the University of Erfurt. © Marco Borggreve
Cornelia Betsch: It is, of course, and gratifying that a Federal state is because the vaccination coverage for the second measles vaccination are still low. But against the Background of the debates of the ethics Council and the Federal government, I think it is more likely for a gefühligen quick shot that Brandenburg vorprescht. Especially as the scientific evidence point in a different direction.
TIME ONLINE: In what?
Beata: There are, for example, data of the Federal centre for health education, to explain why people do not vaccinate. They show that the confidence in the vaccination is not sufficient – it needs a better education. The data also show that Vaccination is simply not enough. The addressing of active and practical barriers would be better than a compulsion. Both the request of the Brandenburg state shall designate tags, at least as a future activity.
TIME ONLINE: Now, provinces and regional health authorities have the task to guarantee public safety. Germany recorded but in the last year, more than 500 measles cases and is far from extinction. Is forced, therefore, not legitimate?
Beata: I can only support that there is a lot of debate about vaccinations and vaccination rates. But to vaccinate in a single state mandatory against a single disease is an Experiment that can have negative consequences.
TIME ONLINE: What exactly can be the consequences?
Beata: You have to look at the total package. Studies show that the vaccination rates for the vaccine to rise to the introduction of a vaccination. But we also see: If you make a vaccination mandatory, while others remain voluntary, the latter rare. Especially from people who are vaccinations to something more critical. Currently, the majority of people in Germany get a combination vaccine for measles, Mumps and rubella. Now, more parents should let their children against measles vaccination and the vaccination coverage for rubella decrease, therefore, would be dramatic. As can rubella is when a Pregnant woman infects, for the unborn child will be very dangerous.
vaccinations – why they are important vaccinations save lives
vaccinations are one of the biggest Successes in the history of medicine. Whole course could sometimes be deadly, eradicated diseases such as smallpox. Vaccinations save lives each year worldwide, about six million people (Ehreth, 2003). The number of infectious diseases against which there are vaccinations, has been reduced dramatically (Bloom et al, 2005). Vaccinations are extremely effective, only the access to clean drinking water is a global yet effective (Andre et al, 2008) in the fight against widespread infections.
