VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19 IN MINORS.
WHO DECIDES IN CASE OF DISAGREEMENT
BETWEEN PARENTS?
In recent days, we have received several inquiries regarding the authorization for COVID-19 vaccination of minors.
At present, minors from the age of 12 can be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Adolescents over the age of 16 are free to decide whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as a result of their “age of majority”.
Between the ages of 12 and 16, the child must be informed, but consent must be given by an adult (father, mother, guardian) for representation.
In any case, it must be borne in mind that the well-being of minors must prevail, and therefore medical recommendations, which currently involve administering the vaccine, should be followed.
However, in the case of minors between 12 and 16 whose parental authority is shared by their two parents and one wants to vaccinate the child and the other does not, the way to solve the problem would be to start a procedure of voluntary jurisdiction in the face of discrepancy in the exercise of parental authority. In this way, it will be up to the judicial authority to decide whether or not to administer the vaccine to the child.