FLN oppose mandatory vaccination in amendment bill

By Francis Lubega

3^rd March 2022

Family Life Network, a Non Government Organization (NGO) which was formed in January 2002, to work towards the restoration of family values and morals has called for protection of children against mandatory vaccination saying parents need to have the provision to accept or decline vaccination of their children.

The Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021, states that a local government council shall require any person in the local government to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated and shall require the parent or guardian of any child, to have the child vaccinated or re-vaccinated.

The team led by the network Executive Director Stephen Langa, made their submission during their appearance before the Parliamentary Health Committee Chaired by the Koboko Municipality MP Charles Ayume.

Langa says that this provision that mandates schools to vaccinate children without parental consent or knowledge directly violates rights of parents which are enshrined in the constitution article 31[4] stating that it is the right and duty of parents to care for and bring up their children.

Langa says this is a very serious breach of parental rights that can even have life threatening consequences such as vaccination to be administered to a child without the knowledge and consent of parents.

He wants the amendments on this particular clause to provide the rights for the parents to give clearance or reject child vaccination.

Betty Byanyima, a member of the Family Life Network -FLN says the provision limits the rights and also can turn into discrimination of children from attaining education.

She also recommend that all provisions that discriminate against children and the non-vaccinated, denying them access to education and other services should be removed from the Bill.

Byanyima has also protested the punitive measures in the law saying that legislation should be realistic with potential for practical implementation rather than giving a parent six months in jail or a fine of four million shillings or both if found guilty under this bill.

The Rukungiri Municipality MP Elisa Rutahigwa said as a parent she would feel comfortable allowing her vaccinated kid associating with unvaccinated children at either school or the community.