- Germany has scrapped the requirement since late 2021 for military personnel to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The order was lifted following advice from the military’s chief medical officer and the military’s medical advisory board.
- Members of the German military are required to be vaccinated against diseases such as measles, mumps and influenza.
The German government announced on Wednesday that it was abolishing the requirement for military personnel to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which had been in place since late 2021.
People serving in the German armed forces are required to be vaccinated against a range of diseases, including measles, mumps and influenza, unless they have special health issues.
COVID-19 was added to the list in November 2021, meaning that people who refuse to get vaccinated could face disciplinary action.
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Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has lifted the requirement for the Bundeswehr to be vaccinated against COVID-19 following a recommendation from the Bundeswehr’s chief medical officer and the Armed Forces Medical Advisory Committee, defence ministry spokesman Mitko Müller said. The obligation has been replaced with a strong recommendation to get vaccinated.
A German soldier stands inside a vaccination center before the opening of the center at the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany, March 8, 2021. The German government announced on Wednesday that it has abolished the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement for military personnel that had been in place since late 2021. (Tobias Schwartz/via The Associated Press, File)
News of the decision comes as Germany’s Federal Administrative Court is considering an appeal by a naval non-commissioned officer against the continuation of the vaccination obligation.
Germany had been considering making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all adults in the country in late 2021 or early 2022, but some government lawmakers and most opposition parties opposed the idea.
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In April 2022, lawmakers rejected a more limited bill that would have required everyone over 60 to get the vaccine.
