The new
Lorenzin law came amid a surge in measles cases. Italian officials say vaccination
rates have improved since it was introduced. The mandatory shots include
chickenpox, polio and MMR.
Parents risk
being fined up to €500 (US$560) if they send their children to school without
vaccine documentation. Unvaccinated children under six will be excluded from
nursery and kindergarten. Students aged 6-16 cannot be banned from attending
school, but their parents face fines if they do not complete the mandatory
course of immunizations.
The deadline
for certification was due to be 10 March. In Bologna, the local authority has
sent letters of suspension to the parents of some 300 children. In other areas
there have been no reported cases, while still others have been given an
extended period beyond the deadline.
The new law
was passed to raise Italy's vaccination rates from below 80% to the WHO's 95%
target - the point at which "herd immunity" kicks in - when enough of
the population is vaccinated for the spread of the disease to become unlikely,
thereby protecting those who are immunocompromised.
Comments
Post a Comment