Spaun calls the discussion on the general compulsory vaccine “important.”

Outgoing Union Health Minister Jens Spann (CDU) described the debate over the need for a common vaccine in Europe as “important”. In his last meeting with his EU colleagues in Brussels on Tuesday, he said the decision on whether or not to vaccinate was not a personal decision but would help determine when Europe would emerge from the epidemic. In Berlin, Puntestock wanted to discuss the compulsory vaccination of health workers.

“It simply came to our notice then. He is personally skeptical about the need for a common vaccine. “Large numbers of unvaccinated people” will lead to a greater burden on the health system in all EU countries. He therefore argues that 2G rules should be expanded – i.e. access only to vaccinated and recovering persons – for example restaurants or local public transport. “Vaccine bullying has nothing to do with it,” Span stressed.

Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein backed his country’s decision to make the vaccine mandatory: “The vaccine is safe and there is enough vaccine,” he stressed in Brussels. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kryakits called on all member states to “close the immunization gap”.

In Germany, Chancellor-elect Olaf Scholes (SPD) wants Puntestock to vote for a general vaccine. EU Commission President Ursula van der Leyen also spoke in support of exploring the possibility.

The meeting of EU health ministers also deals with the so-called new Omikron variant and booster vaccines. Span said 14.6 million German citizens now have an update on their corona vaccine protection.

AFP