In light of the measles epidemic in Italy, health minister Beatrice Lorenzin said that compulsory vaccinations will be effective in the country’s schools “by the end of next week”.

Image/TDH
Image/TDH

News source, The Local reports that on Friday morning, Lorenzin confirmed that she had presented the white paper to the Italian cabinet, and that it would be passed by decree within seven days.

However, there are splits within the government on the proposal. Education Minister Valeria Fedeli said Thursday that obligation to vaccinate schoolchildren should not harm the Constitutional right to an education.

Vaccine skepticism and the growing anti-vaccine movement is being blamed for a five-fold increase in measles in April.

As of May 7, Italy had reported 2,224 cases since the beginning of the year, one of the most severely affected countries in Europe.

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