Jail for parents who refuse to vaccinate children

Parents/Guardians in Kuwait who refuse to vaccinate their children to protect them from diseases will be fined and jailed, Al Rai daily reported today.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has indicated that criminal penalties including imprisonment and fines will be imposed on parents who refuse to vaccinate their children to protect them from diseases.

Head of the Child Rights Protection Office at the ministry - Dr Mona Al Khawari stressed the importance of vaccinating children and immunizing them during the specified dates, affirming that this duty rests with their parents or those under whose custody the children are in.

in accordance with the regulations and instructions issued by the competent medical authorities, the offenders shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, and/or a fine not exceeding KD 1,000.

She stressed that ensuring children receive their vaccinations on the specified dates is a very important matter, adding, “The legislation has highlighted its special importance in terms of protecting and preserving the rights of children and their health and safety”.