[Compulsory vaccination in health care facilities according to § 20a Infection Protection Act: Administrative, medical and ethical considerations of its implementation in Hamburg Eimsbüttel].

Publication date: Jul 21, 2025

Between March 16th and December 31st 2022, compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 in medical and care facilities was legislated through > 20a of the Infection Protection Act. Until March 15th 2022, employees in medical and care facilities had to provide proof of completed vaccination against COVID-19, proof of recovery, or a medical certificate indicating that vaccination was not feasible. In case the deadline was not met, the facility management was obliged to report immediately to the local health authority, who proceeded with a discretionary decision. There was controversy about the law among politicians, health care workers, employees in public administration as well as in the media landscape and civil society. Federal states and local authorities implemented the law to varying degrees. This study describes the implementation of compulsory vaccination in medical and care facilities in detail for the district Hamburg EimsbcFCttel and presents administrative, medical and ethical challenges of the law in its implementation.

Semantics

Original Article