Cantonal inspectors fined 453 parents for not vaccinating their children: They paid the minimum fine of 100 KM

(Patria) - Inspection supervision regarding the omission of mandatory immunization of a child, for which the parent/guardian is responsible, is carried out based on the Law on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases (Official Gazette of FBiH, number 29/05), the Rulebook on the method of implementing mandatory immunization, immunoprophylaxis and chemoprophylaxis against infectious diseases and on persons subject to this obligation (Official Gazette of FBiH, numbers 22/19, 12/21) and the Order on the program of mandatory immunizations of the population against infectious diseases in 2024 (Official Gazette of FBiH, number 8/24), which is adopted annually by the Federal Minister of Health, upon the proposal of the Institute for Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sanitary inspectors of the Inspectorate for Sanitary, Health and Pharmaceutical Inspection and Food Inspection of the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs Sarajevo receive certificates from the Public Health Institution Dom zdravlja KS, which are certified by the signature and facsimile of a pediatrician, and which contain data on the child who has not been vaccinated, as well as data on the parent/guardian who refuses mandatory immunization, even though the child is healthy. Upon receipt of the certificate, an invitation is sent by mail to the parent/guardian to come to the premises of the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs, with the aim of establishing the factual situation. During the inspection procedure, the inspector informs the parent/guardian about the received certificate, as well as the legal obligation of immunization, all with the aim of increasing collective immunity in the Canton of Sarajevo, in accordance with Article 40 of the Law on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases.

In case of refusal to implement the legal provision of mandatory immunization, pursuant to Article 70 of the Law on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases (Official Gazette of FBiH, number 29/05), in connection with Article 40 of the same law, a fine is imposed on the parent or guardian for neglecting due care for a minor, in the amount of 100.00 KM to 2,000.00 KM.

If the parent/guardian accepts the obligation to carry out immunization, they are given a period of two months to perform the immunization, along with submitting a certificate of completion, which inspectors check ex officio. Parents most often cite doubts about the quality of vaccines and fear of potential consequences as reasons for refusing vaccination of their children.

The influx of received certificates from the Public Health Institution Dom zdravlja KS regarding incomplete vaccination status of a child is continuous, but with a difference in the number of certificates, depending on whether systematic examinations or enrollment of children in school/kindergarten are underway.

From January to the end of December 2023, based on submitted certificates of incomplete vaccination status from organizational units of the Public Health Institution Dom zdravlja KS, the sanitary inspectors of the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs ex officio sent a total of 568 invitations to parents/guardians to state the reasons for refusing vaccination. During that period, 459 parents responded to the inspector's invitation, of which 355 parents refused vaccination of their children, and due to omission of this legal obligation, financial sanctions of 100.00 KM were imposed for each of them individually, i.e., a total of 355 misdemeanor orders in the amount of 35,500.00 KM.

Out of the total number of parents/guardians, a smaller number of parents (20) stated that they would vaccinate their child within an additionally approved period of two months and submit a certificate thereof.

In the first half of 2024, the Inspectorate for Sanitary, Health, Pharmaceutical Inspection and Food Inspection, based on certificates of incomplete vaccination status, initiated 228 inspection supervisions under this legal basis, which resulted in the issuance of 98 misdemeanor orders to parents/guardians for omission of the legal obligation of immunization of children, in a total financial amount of 9,800 KM.