You may disagree with the other parent when deciding on vaccinating your child against coronavirus (Covid-19), which can create stress and tension.
How to resolve parental disagreements amicably
Always discuss the matter with the other parent first to try to establish the reasons for their objection. This can be helpful to you both and can alleviate any concerns or reveal new perspectives on the issue, or even lead to a compromise.
This can be quicker, more cost efficient and less stressful than involving the court, and it is positive for your child to see their parents working together.
The court’s position
Unfortunately disagreements may end up in court if you can’t reach a compromise. The welfare of the child will be the court’s paramount consideration.
In M v H (2020), the court required the parties’ children to be given routine childhood vaccinations on the NHS vaccination schedule as it was in the children’s best interests.
The court found:
Scientific evidence favoured vaccination.
There were no credible scientific developments against vaccination during the dispute.
The vaccinations did not constitute a disproportionate interference with the children’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Vaccinating your children against coronavirus
The court also confirmed in passing that, provided the Covid-19 vaccination is approved for use in children, it is likely to consider such vaccination in a child’s best interests.
Current Government guidance is that children need not be vaccinated against Covid-19 - only those children at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes should consider vaccination.
If the Covid-19 vaccination is added to the NHS vaccination schedule it is very likely that, barring exceptional circumstances, the court would find that it is in the child’s best interest to be vaccinated.
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