In recent years, Saxony's authorities have imposed hundreds of fines on parents for failing to vaccinate schoolchildren against measles. When asked by dpa, the district of Central Saxony reported 185 fines in the past two school years, the district of Görlitz reported 314 fines imposed in 2023 and the city of Leipzig reported 184 administrative offense proceedings initiated in the same year. Since March 2020, children attending institutions such as kindergartens, after-school care centers or schools must be vaccinated against the highly contagious virus. There was a recent outbreak in Vogtland in which twelve children aged between a few months and 13 years fell ill. According to the public health department, they were not sufficiently vaccinated.
While kindergartens and after-school care centers can be banned from entering if children are not vaccinated, the situation is more complicated in schools. "Compulsory schooling is not the same as compulsory vaccination", explained the Ministry of Education on request. Unvaccinated children must therefore also be accepted by schools. However, the schools report this to the health authorities, which can then impose fines on the parents. These can amount to up to 2500 euros, but are usually lower. The Bautzen district office, for example, spoke of amounts between 50 and 200 euros for the more than 300 fines imposed last year, while the Pirna district office spoke of 250 euros (79 fines in 2023). "There is no compulsory attendance at daycare centers," says the ministry. "Therefore, the admission of children without a measles vaccination must be refused."
