Vaccination against Covid-19 aimed at minors is no longer mandatory as of today in its resolution 2023-120377.
The contentious-administrative court accepted the precautionary measure filed by Arcelio Hernández.
The process for this obligation to be eliminated for all minors was gradual, since on December 8 of the previous year the Court of Appeals accepted the precautionary measure and suspended the obligation for minors between 0 and 12 years of age.
With this new precautionary measure, it was extended to minors from 12 to 17 years of age.
What does this mean for parents?
From now on, no one will be able to force or threaten a parent because they decide not to vaccinate their children against Covid-19.
In addition, some type of benefit cannot be conditioned on not having the vaccine, for example, some type of social benefit, such as the IMAS.
As Mr. Hernández explained, the measure taken at the time by the National Vaccination Commission was hasty.
They made the vaccine mandatory without a health registry, which is required in Costa Rica, Hernández explained.
On the other hand, with the measure, the lawyer explained that constitutional principles were violated. Likewise, he stressed the constitutional obligation of the Ministry of Health in ensuring the life and health of the inhabitants, especially when it comes to minors.
On the other hand, it is important to note that the Pfizer vaccine still does not have the endorsement by the FDA to be placed in children under 12 years of age, which continues to represent a risk to the health of children.
With this resolution, parents will be able to decide and even assess with a doctor the particular case of vaccination in their children.
