Resolving child vaccination disagreements between parents

Many experts are calling for children over the age of 12 to be vaccinated against Covid-19 ‘as soon as possible’. That’s in order to achieve herd immunity against the Delta variant.

And while this may be an important step in protecting the population and keeping youngsters in school, it will raise strong feelings and concerns for many families.

Opposing views between parents on child vaccination

One potential problem is where parents have opposing views about whether or not their child should be vaccinated. This isn’t a new issue; some families will have wrestled with this when it’s come to inoculations like the MMR.

Add to that the difficulties that come when parents are no longer together and the situation may become more complex and potentially even harder to resolve. Given that parental consent is needed for a child’s vaccination, what should families do when one parent is fixed on a particular course of action and the other on another?

Establish parental responsibility

The first thing to establish is who has parental responsibility for the child. This is the legal term for the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities that a child’s parent has in relation to him or her.

Parental responsibility enables decisions to be made about day-to-day things like how the child should be disciplined, as well as about the school he or she should attend, and medical treatment that should be given (and much more).

It’s effectively about the way a child is brought up and taken care of, and so it would include decisions about vaccinations.

While both parents tend to act as though they have parental responsibility, they may not. A mother automatically has parental responsibility. A father has it if: (a) he’s named on the birth certificate; or (b) he was married to the mother when the child was born, or went on to marry her.

A father can also apply to the court for parental responsibility. (And the court can remove parental responsibility if that would be in the interests of the child’s welfare.)

Where only the child’s mother has parental responsibility, then technically, it’s her decision that counts (although, ideally, parents would agree on the way forward).

Reach an agreement with your partner

Where both parents are entitled to a say in whether or not their child should be vaccinated against Covid-19, opposing views can make for a difficult conversation. But that has to be the starting point.

Whether you and your partner are married, cohabiting, separated or divorced, talking with each other about your thoughts, fears and concerns is so important. Helping the other parent understand your point of view, and being prepared to see things from their perspective too, can sometimes lead to an agreed way forward.

Engage in family law mediation to resolve parental disagreements

Where there are tensions in a relationship, and particularly where separated parents are on difficult terms, a calm conversation that offers each of you a fair chance to have your say may seem impossible. That is where the help of an independent third party can be invaluable.

Mediation can offer a really sound way of parties arriving at a solution they’re happy with, without the acrimony that often rises to the surface when former partners attempt to reach agreement by themselves.

Ultimately, the focus must always be on what is in the best interests of the child. While parents may hold strong opinions on vaccinations, including the Covid-19 vaccine, it’s crucial to remember that this decision is for the child’s well-being.

A frank discussion, facilitated by a mediator, can provide clarity, helping parents explore what truly serves their child’s best interests.

Let us help guide you through this challenging time, offering support to reach a resolution that works for both parents and protects your child’s welfare.