Male’, Maldives (30 January, 2020) – Any parent refusing vaccination for children would be prosecuted in the Maldives starting next month, said Prosecutor General of the Maldives Hussain Shameem.
In a tweet he sent out following the vaccination of his daughter, he said that prosecution of parents refusing to vaccinate their children would begin within the upcoming 22 days.
Just got vaccinated for measles. First shot. Next one in a month. In 22 days, we will be prosecuting parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. #childrightsact
. #ރައްކާވެތިބިއްޔާދަތުރެވެ pic.twitter.com/n9rhwATlGI
— Hussain Shameem (@HuShameem) January 29, 2020
While the PG has announced this, it is noteworthy that in a recent bill passed by the Parliament on the rights of children, it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children receive vaccinations required to protect their children from diseases.
The law further states that the parents may not be excused should it be found that the required vaccinations were not given to the child. It also mentions that it is a right of the child to receive proper medical attention right from conception until and after birth.
Interestingly, there are still a large number of people who are against vaccination and refuse to vaccinate their children, despite them being vaccinated during their childhood.
This also comes at a time where the Maldives has witnessed an outbreak of measles, after 10 years of not having a reported measles case in the country. It was later discovered that the first measles patient during this breakout was a three year old child who had not been vaccinated.
Since then, more cases of measles are being reported almost every day. Authorities are now identifying children who have not been vaccinated.
