Parental Consent for Vaccination - Delhi High Court Order
iasparliament
January 18, 2019
What is the issue?
Delhi High Court recently put on hold the Delhi government’s plan for a measles rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in schools.
The court said the decision did not have the consent of parents, introducing the question of consent in vaccination.
What is the MR vaccine?
Recently, the measles rubella (MR) vaccine was introduced in the universal immunisation programme.
It has to be administered to all children between ages 9 months and 15 years.
But those who did not get it earlier are also vaccinated and before they reach the reproductive age group.
The vaccine being given in the MR campaign is produced in India and is WHO prequalified.
MR vaccine is safe and effective, and in use for over 40 years across 150 countries.
It is being given in the routine immunisation programme of India and in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar.
Private practitioners in India have been giving measles-rubella (MR) or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to children for many years.
Why is it crucial?
India had around 56,000 confirmed measles cases and 1,066 confirmed rubella cases in 2018.
Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease that can cause debilitating or fatal complications.
These include encephalitis, severe diarrhoea and dehydration, pneumonia, ear infections and permanent vision loss.
The disease is preventable through two doses of vaccine.
Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) is an important cause of severe birth defects.
A woman infected with the rubella virus early in pregnancy has a 90% chance of passing the virus to her foetus.
This can cause the death of the foetus or CRS.
Why is the court's order a welcome move?
Obtaining parental consent prior to vaccination is the standard practice around the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises oral, written, and implied consent for vaccination.
A WHO survey in 2012 in 34 countries on consent procedures for vaccination in 6-17-year-olds found approximately half the countries using written consent.
WHO insists that countries are encouraged to adopt procedures that ensure that parents have been informed and agreed to the vaccination.
Vaccination is always a voluntary process, and there is never compulsion involved.
Vaccines should be administered after people are sensitised about the disease and vaccine.
What is the contention here?
Schools were consciously chosen rather than health centres or hospitals as nowhere else can such large numbers of children in the relevant age group be targeted.
In most US states, it is compulsory to provide vaccination records before seeking admission into school, so that the child is not a danger to others.
Also, the consent of parents is not sought during routine immunisation programmes as it is implied, where the parents or members of the family bring the child.
For such a public good and for a vaccine that is tried and tested, there is ample evidence on safety and efficacy.
Also, for something which is already a part of the universal immunisation programme, written consent should not be essential.
