CHILDHOOD VACCINATION: A GROWING ISSUE TURNING TO MEDIATION

Consider the case of divorced parents sharing joint custody of a child entering school for the first time.

One parent accepts medical consensus supporting vaccine safety and believes they’re necessary for the child’s safety in school. The other parent distrusts pharmaceutical companies and is worried about vaccination side effects. Both parents are genuinely concerned about their child’s health, but have contradictory views.

Cases such as this are going to litigation and while state laws vary, generally courts have given priority to public health over personal beliefs.

In mediation, parents have the opportunity to share their concerns, affirm their shared objectives, review a variety of sources of medical information, consider alternative schools and modified vaccination schedules, and reaffirm a shared commitment to their child.