Romanian parents could pay high fines for refusing vaccination

The parents who refuse to vaccinate their children after being informed of the risks this entails could be fined up to RON 10,000 (EUR 2,200), according to the Vaccination Law draft quoted by the public television TVR. The parents will first be given a warning, then the fine. The doctors and state institutions not following the Vaccination Law, due to enter into force in 2019, can also be fined. In its turn, the Health Ministry is compelled to ensure the needed vaccines and a backup stock in order to avoid this year’s situation when vaccines could not be found during the measles epidemic. The vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, rubella, mumps and hepatitis B will become compulsory for children entering a community, such as kindergarten or school. When registering their children for crèche, kindergarten or school, parents need to submit a certificate showing whether the kids have been vaccinated or not. In cases where vaccination contraindications exist, parents need to show an exemption released by the County Vaccination Commission. This commission will include doctors, psychologists, and representatives of the Public Health Division in the country and of the School Inspectorate. The members of the commission will be compelled to counsel parents at least once every three months so that they accept vaccination. Those with no medical issues but behind with their vaccines need to show a recovery calendar. In the case of parents who do not bring vaccination certificates, the school management will notify the County Vaccination Commission. If the child is not vaccinated within 18 months from entering a school community, the Child Protection authorities will be notified. Since the start of the measles epidemic in February 2016, Romania confirmed 8,246 such cases and 32 deaths by July 21. The measles mortality rate reported is of four cases per 1,000 children, way above the known one of 1-2 cases per 1,000 children, according to a recent report from the Health Ministry. Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said on Friday, July 28, that compulsory vaccination is needed in Romania given the current situation in the country and taking into account that the local vaccination rates are far from the 95% encountered in Western Europe, News.ro reported. Tudose also said that the Vaccination Law is a priority of his mandate.