Legal aspects of vaccine prophylaxis

The Law "On Immunoprophylaxis of Infectious Diseases" provides:

• free implementation of vaccinations according to the National Calendar and the Calendar for Epidemiological Indications, in the state and municipal healthcare systems;
• social protection of citizens in case of post-vaccination complications;
• development of federal and regional vaccination programs;
• use of effective and safe MIBP.

The law clearly defines the right of citizens to:

• obtaining complete and objective information from health workers about the need
• vaccinations, the consequences of refusing them and possible complications;
• choice of state, municipal or private forms of healthcare;
• free vaccinations and medical examinations, and, if necessary, treatment in state and municipal healthcare organizations;
• refusal of preventive vaccinations.

A refusal of vaccination is formalized with the signature of the person being vaccinated or his/her guardian, or in case of refusal of signature - with the signature of 2 health workers. This provision is in line with the Helsinki Declaration, but it obliges the doctor to explain the danger of refusing vaccinations, which violates the right to life and health (Vienna Declaration of 1993, Ottawa Declaration adopted by the World Medical Association in 1998). Unreasonable refusal of a child to be vaccinated may be equated to failure to provide the necessary medical care. In the event of citizens refusing preventive vaccinations, the Law provides for certain rights of the state; these include:

• ban on travel to countries that require specific vaccinations;
• temporary refusal of admission to educational and health institutions in the event of mass infectious diseases or the threat of epidemics;
• refusal to allow work to be performed that involves a high risk of contracting infectious diseases;
• the possibility of intervention without the consent of citizens during the implementation of anti-epidemic measures regulated by sanitary legislation.

The law provides social protection for citizens in the event of the following severe and/or persistent health problems as a result of vaccinations:

1. Anaphylactic shock.
2. Severe generalized allergic reactions (recurrent angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Lyell's syndrome, serum sickness).
3. Encephalitis.
4. Vaccine-associated poliomyelitis.
5. CNS lesions with generalized or focal residual manifestations leading to disability: encephalopathy, serous meningitis, neuritis, polyneuritis, including manifestations of convulsive syndrome.
6. Generalized infection, osteitis, osteitis, osteomyelitis caused by BCG.
7. Chronic arthritis caused by rubella vaccine.

In these cases, a one-time state benefit is paid in accordance with the new version of these articles of the Law.

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