When a co-parent is anti-vaccine

Seattle: As if co-parenting during a pandemic wasn’t complicated enough, a lot of parents have a new worry to add to their plates: a widely controversial COVID-19 vaccine. When divorced parents disagree, tensions can escalate even faster. Your parenting plan should include a clause regarding some form of alternative dispute resolution. The goal is to resolve this kind of dispute on your own, but if you become stuck, mediation can help.

In binding mediation, the agreement will be enforceable in a court. If you and your ex still cannot agree after mediation, you can ask a judge to decide. If you are the parent who does not want your child inoculated, you will likely have to show that your child qualifies for an exemption either because of religious beliefs or a medical reason.

As it stands now, if you cannot show the court that there is a religious or medical exemption and the school requires vaccination, the court will likely rule that your child must receive the vaccine, favoring the public health benefit. If at that point you fail to abide by the court’s ruling, the court can hold you in contempt, and you can face dire consequences, including loss of custody or arrest.

Start the conversation now. We are all in uncharted waters. It is tough to predict what will be. Engage in micro discussions and take a breather when they become too heated. Your most important goal should be to keep everyone, particularly your child, healthy — physically, mentally and emotionally.