RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Childhood Vaccines: Law and Practice

In Romania, a new bill regulating the vaccination of children will be posted for public debate within a month, the Healthcare Minister has announced

Childhood Vaccines: Law and Practice
Childhood Vaccines: Law and Practice

, 10.03.2017, 13:33


Romania is witnessing a disquieting fall in the child vaccination rate, which prompted the authorities to draw up legislation constraining parents to get their children immunised against some of the most dangerous infectious diseases, the head of the Romanian Microbiology Society Alexandru Rafila announced last spring. The statement came amid reports pointing to diphtheria cases in Europe both in 2015 and 2016, some of them even resulting in child deaths, to cases of polio in neighbouring Ukraine and to an epidemic hotbed in Romania itself.



The beginning of the year found Romania struggling with a measles outbreak, with 2,300 cases and 15 deaths reported in January. And the situation is getting worse, partly because of the countrywide shortage of some of the vaccines.



The Healthcare Ministry is now working on a bill making vaccination compulsory. If the bill is signed into law, 9 vaccines will be compulsory: against hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and tuberculosis. These vaccines will be included in a list of requirements for enrollment in kindergartens and schools. Exceptions will only be permitted if families bring medical proof that there are contraindications for a specific vaccine in their case.



The bill will be posted for public debate within a month, said the Healthcare Minister Florian Bodog, and the date when the programme is launched depends on the settlement of the vaccine shortage:


“I cannot force people or assign compulsory tasks to healthcare units in this respect as long as there are no vaccines in the country. So we will solve this situation and in a months time, at the latest, we will have the Vaccination Law under public debate. The specialized parliamentary committees will decide whether the law will include penalties for families who fail to have their children immunized, after they have discussed the issue with patient associations and parent associations and other stakeholders. We will submit a version of the text only when we have at least an estimated date when all vaccines are available.”



Rejecting vaccination may entail penalties. Similarly, the public healthcare units that fail to store vaccines in appropriate conditions and the doctors involved in vaccination programmes who do not comply with the law, risk facing penalties.




Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company