Germany to stop compensating unvaccinated workers that quarantine

Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn announced on Wednesday that the country would no longer compensate unvaccinated workers who are forced to quarantine after COVID-19 exposure.

Spahn said it was unfair to ask taxpayers to pay for people who refuse to get vaccinated, Deutsche Welle reported.

“Why should others pay for the fact that someone has decided not to be vaccinated?” Spahn said, stressing that German citizens have the right to not get vaccinated.

“It is not about pressure, it is about fairness,” he added.

Critics of this measure have said it essentially amounts to a vaccine mandate as many workers cannot afford to go without compensation if they are forced to quarantine. Detractors have also stated that this measure could result in people not quarantining because they would rather be earning money.

According to Deutsche Welle, Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek said exceptions would be made for those who cannot be vaccinated.

“Anyone who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons is allowed a medical certificate to prove this,” said Holetschek. “In addition, compensation will be available for citizens for whom no public vaccination recommendation has yet been given.”

The measure comes shortly before free rapid coronavirus tests in Germany will no longer be made available, according to the news outlet.

Beginning on Oct. 1, only people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons will be provided with free COVID-19 testing. People who are eligible for vaccination and are not presenting symptoms will have to pay for a COVID-19 test.

According to Our World in Data, around 67 percent of Germany’s population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 63 percent fully vaccinated.