The European Court of Human Rights Judgment in Vavřička v Czechia: the legal value of vaccines

The Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Vavřička and others against the Czech Republic of April 8, 2021 constitutes a legal endorsement of the implementation of public protection measures against weakening of the herd immunity strategy risks. Such measures may even imply an interference with physical integrity and, therefore, affect the right to respect for the private life of those who fail to comply the vaccination of minors established in the corresponding state plans. Such plans are implemented with the legitimate objectives of protecting the health and rights of others, including those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Vaccination has a very consistent endorsement from the relevant medical authorities and represents the response to the urgent social need to protect public and individual health. The ruling emphasizes that in all decisions regarding children, their best interests must come first.