By Grimsby judge rules child in care can be given vaccine despite mum’s objection
A Grimsby judge has ruled that a 12-year-old boy in council care can be given Covid-19 and flu jabs despite his mother having concerns.
The boy wanted to be given the jabs as did his father and the council, but his mother wanted “compelling evidence” that the covid vaccine was safe.
The judgement was given during a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in Grimsby.
Mr Justice Poole indicated in his ruling that this was the first case of its kind with the covid and flu vaccines.
He said that the Court of Appeal judges had ruled that a council with a care order could “arrange and consent” to a child in its care being vaccinated, if it were in the best interests of the child.
The precedent from the Court of Appeal was also notwithstanding any objections from the parents, for which this case had one parent with objections.
He said he was “quite satisfied” the law allowed councils to vaccinate children in their care, despite any objections from parents.
The judge was following UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance which has said that the vaccine would provide young people with “good protection” against severe illness.
The guidance also says that people in this age group having the vaccine would reduce the time off school isolating and would reduce the spread of the disease in schools.
The judge added that he would’ve ruled it were in the boy’s best interests to get both the Covid-19 and flu vaccines, had he not decided that the council can decide on his behalf.
