Mandatory BCG vaccination for newborns

16.12.2025 12:11 • Question

I saw news that from 2026, BCG tuberculosis vaccinations will be administered in maternity hospitals within the first 24 hours after birth. Please advise, do parents have the right to refuse such vaccination for their child, and if so, will there be any legal problems later (for example, with enrollment in kindergarten or school)?

1 Answers

Lorina Fedan

Answer provided 18.12.2025 11:54

The state has the right to introduce preventive vaccinations as mandatory. More details on this can be found in: judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Vavřička and Others v. the Czech Republic dated 08.04.2021 (application No. 47621/13); resolution of the Supreme Court dated 20.03.2018 in case No. 337/3087/17; resolution of the Supreme Court dated 17.04.2019 in case No. 682/1692/17. Undeniable are both the right of parents to refuse vaccination for their child, and the legal consequences of such refusal (non-admission to a childcare facility).

The answer is informational and does not replace a full legal consultation. For a detailed analysis of your situation, contact a lawyer directly.