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Health Minister Spahn is confident of the introduction of an immunity card in the fight against the coronavirus. But the criticisms are getting stronger; in fact, the newspaper could divide society.
By Angela Ulrich, ARD Capital Studio
It would be a document that could open or close doors: the Corona immunity card. Health Minister Jens Spahn sees this as an opportunity: “This is mainly about the question of people who want to know for themselves: Am I really immune or not?” He said. ARD capital studio. Just as you can write on your measles vaccination certificate if you are immune, this would also be possible with the coronavirus.
Last Wednesday he went through the cabinet, this week the Bundestag will debate Spahn’s Crown law. It’s about more testing, a premium for nurses, but also this certified proof that you are immune to the corona virus.
Wait for the investigation
It is still unclear whether he was unable to contract the infection a second time, after months or years, for example. The health minister also wants to await the investigation into this. Preventively, Spahn likes the idea of the Immunity Pass. “In health, for example, nurses, doctors, it would be very good to know who already has immunity to this virus,” he says.
But how is it beyond healthcare? Would it be helpful if you could read in black and white who is immune to the crown and who is not, or not yet? Who would no longer have to obey contact prohibitions, could move more freely, visit and travel? And who is not? Would people deliberately become infected and then be considered immune, putting at-risk groups at risk? Would employers even require proof of immunity before starting work?
For Spahn this is unthinkable, health should never be consulted: “Of course it is for certain jobs in the risk area, but that is already the case today. In general, however, this is prohibited and continues to be prohibited.”
Criticism of the law
SPD leader Saskia Esken expressed skepticism about the immunity law on Twitter. Green leader Annalena Baerbock is strictly against an immunity card: “To be honest, I really can’t figure that out. If we really want to cut down on contacts, it’s more than counterproductive to introduce such a card now.”
Criticism also comes from privacy advocates. They don’t want even more personal findings to be noticed in that pass in the future, like HIV infections.
There is also great skepticism between the Left Party and the AfD: the leader of the Left Group, Bartsch, warns Germany’s network of a “state of vigilance”. AfD Vice President Brandner fears mandatory vaccinations and believes fundamental rights are restricted.
Letter to the Ethics Council
Health Minister Spahn has nothing against the discussions, on the contrary. But he wants to listen to experts and has written a letter to the Ethics Council: “I think it is important that there is a social debate on this, so I asked the Ethics Council to take a position on it and weigh the pros and cons” .
Until now, it is unclear how long immunity will last if a corona infection has survived. Virologists warn that positive antibody tests could weigh people with false security. The World Health Organization (WHO) also advises caution.
