Germany’s plans to introduce a national COVID-19 vaccination mandate this spring are faltering, as a growing number of politicians question if it will find a majority in parliament.
The Bundestag was originally due to debate motions in favor and against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations this week, after the new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, indicated such a step was necessary to cope with a possible resurgence of the virus in the next few months.
National and state leaders are set to discuss the opening-up plan on Wednesday (Feb. 16), as Germany’s disease control agency reported the second consecutive day of declining infection rates.
As of Monday (Feb. 14), almost 75% of Germany’s population had received at least two shots of COVID-19 vaccines, while 55% had also received a booster shot.
A change of heart on behalf of the conservative Christian Democratic Union looks set to further stymie any law making COVID-19 jabs mandatory in the immediate future.