Jab protest parents denied

Judge declines group’s move to halt vaccination rollout for children aged five to 11

AHigh Court judge has declined a group of parents’ bid to suspend the vaccine rollout for children. Justice Rebecca Ellis said even if she had accepted the group’s position or the case had serious merit, the adverse repercussions of pushing pause on the rollout for five to-11-yearolds count against a ruling in their favour.

Ellis referenced a large number of repercussions that had been outlined by director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. These include denying families who wish to have their children vaccinated the chance to do so, disruption to the lives of children who have received their first dose, and the flow-on disruption to the everyday lives of children.

Justice Ellis also said halting the rollout would impede on the Crown’s efforts to meet its obligations to Mā ori under the Treaty of Waitangi.

“They confirm my already clear view that the application for interim orders should be declined.”

The eight parents — whose names are currently suppressed — say despite the judge’s ruling, they are “committed to continuing their fight”.

A spokesperson from the Hood NZ, a group in support of the parents, said they were disappointed but not surprised at today’s decision.

At the High Court in Wellington last week, the group’s lawyers sought a judicial review on the basis that the provisional consent process for the children’s vaccine was flawed and illegal. The group wanted that consent to be revoked but today’s decision means children will continue to be vaccinated, regardless of the upcoming hearing.

The Crown argued that the impact of children contracting Covid-19 had far more repercussions than the effects of the vaccine itself.

Crown prosecutor Kate Wevers said significant numbers of parents want to vaccinate their children and there was no good reason to deprive families of that right.

More than 169,000 children aged 5-11 have received their first dose in total to date.