The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the government that those children who have not been fully immunised should not be given admissions in schools, colleges or professional colleges.
SHRC chairperson J, B, Koshy, in his order, said that denying children immunisation was a crime and that such parents should be liable for punishment. The government should immediately consider the suggestion that immunisation card was a must for every child before granting school admission. Steps should be taken to examine if the current school-going children are fully immunised and if not, ensure that they were given vaccinations immediately.
The SHRC gave the order in a complaint filed before it by T.M. Ananthakeshavan, a medical professional.
The government should also consider taking action against those spreading malicious propaganda against immunisation and penalise parents who refused to vaccinate their children because they were putting the community at risk. If the government did not act tough, it would be nipping children’s right to life in the bud itself, Mr. Koshy said.
