Religious Beliefs and Vaccination Law

Religious Beliefs and Vaccination Law

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases. However, some people have religious beliefs that prevent them from vaccinating their children. In the UK, there is a tension between the right of parents to make decisions about their children’s healthcare and the duty of the state to protect public health.

The law

The law in the UK requires children to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). However, there is a religious exemption to this requirement. Parents who object to vaccination on religious grounds can apply to the local authority for an exemption. The local authority will only grant an exemption if they are satisfied that the parent’s religious beliefs are genuine and that the child will not be at risk of serious harm if they are not vaccinated.

The arguments for and against religious exemptions

Arguments for religious exemptions

Proponents of religious exemptions argue that parents have a right to make decisions about their children’s healthcare, including whether or not to vaccinate them. They also argue that religious freedom is a fundamental right and that the state should not interfere with people’s religious beliefs.

Arguments against religious exemptions

Opponents of religious exemptions argue that they put the public health at risk. They point out that unvaccinated children are more likely to contract infectious diseases and spread them to others. They also argue that the state has a duty to protect children from harm and that this duty outweighs the right of parents to make decisions about their children’s healthcare.

The current situation

In the UK, the number of religious exemptions to vaccination has been increasing in recent years. This has led to concerns about the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases. In 2019, the government announced that it would be reviewing the law on religious exemptions to vaccination.

Conclusion

The issue of religious beliefs and vaccination law is complex and there are strong arguments on both sides. It is important to weigh the right of parents to make decisions about their children’s healthcare against the duty of the state to protect public health. Ultimately, it is up to the government to decide whether or not to continue to allow religious exemptions to vaccination.

Article by Oliver Conway, Solicitor. 

To get in touch with the writer please email: fld@oliverfisher.co.uk.