Helsinki Committee: Conditions attached to 1st grade enrollment for vaccines are justified

From the constitutional provisions, it is clear and indisputable that in the case of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, not only are they endangering the health of their own children, but also the health of others who, due to medical contraindications, are not vaccinated, and in that way are denying them the right to a healthy life. This is the attitude of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights regarding the Government’s latest decision to accept school applications for enrollment for children who have not been vaccinated, but not to allow them to attend until a certificate for vaccination is shown.

“Legislation in the Republic of North Macedonia requires mandatory vaccination against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, reddening, mumps, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and viral hepatitis B for all persons of a certain age. Article 67, paragraph 6 of the Law on the Protection of the Population stipulates that a fine of 300 to 650 Euros or in a Denar equivalent will be imposed for a misdemeanor of a natural person who refuses vaccination for these diseases or protection with a specific immunoglobulin and drugs. In accordance with Article 46 paragraph 2 of the Law on Primary Education, when registering a child in the first grade, the parent is obliged to submit a certificate for received mandatory vaccines for the child issued by a competent healthcare institution”, reminds Helsinki.

Hence, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights adds, the Government came to the conclusion that all schools can only accept children who have been vaccinated, and only with the appropriate certificate.