Legal responsibility for vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine and other countries
Keywords:
vaccination, COVID-19, legal responsibility, legal rights, Ukraine.
Abstract
This article analyzes the liability that may arise in case of refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot, as well as vaccination-related problems in Ukraine and worldwide. We focused on the international and Ukrainian situation regarding the COVID-19 vaccination process. We also considered the legal framework on this issue. The main task of the study was to determine whether there is a liability, including criminal liability, for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the nuances, and the legal basis of this process. The research methodology includes general scientific and special scientific methods, such as systemic, structural, formal-legal, hermeneutic, and methods of analysis and synthesis. We found that COVID-19 vaccination is currently voluntary but not mandatory in Ukraine. At the same time, according to legal documents, vaccination against several diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, measles, polio, tetanus, and tuberculosis is mandatory. Practically, this means that those who are subject to such preventive vaccinations may be subject to sanctions in the form of dismissal for refusing to vaccinate. Only a few foreign countries currently use mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for the entire adult population. More common is mandatory vaccination of certain categories of workers, including health workers, social workers, essential workers, civil servants, and others who are in close contact with people or whose health and well-being are of particular importance to national security.
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References
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Seniuta, I. (2016). The right to consent and the right to refuse medical care: features and limits of implementation. Entrepreneurship, Economy and Law, 10, 15-19. Recovered from https://bit.ly/3y4uS6x.
Seniuta, I. (2018). Balancing the interests of individual health and public health. Public Health: Problems and Development Priorities, 191-193. Ostroh: Ostroh Academy. Recovered from https://bit.ly/3mvOe2v.
Sharma, O., Sultan, A.A., Ding, H., & Triggle, C.R. (2020). A Review of the Progress and Challenges of Developing a Vaccine for COVID-19. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 2413. Recovered from https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.585354.
Sopilko, I., & Semchuk, N. (2020). On some issues of compulsory vaccination: a historical aspect. Ukrainian Scientific Medical Youth Journal, 3(118), 67-68. Recovered from https://bit.ly/37UGHBF.
Steelfisher, G.K., Blendon, R.J., & Caporello, H. (2021). An uncertain public – encouraging acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(16), 1483-1487. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2100351.
Word and Deed. (July 15, 2021b). Which countries have introduced mandatory coronavirus vaccination. Recovered from https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2021/07/15/infografika/svit/yaki-krayiny-zaprovadyly-obovyazkovu-vakcynacziyu-koronavirusu.
Word and Deed. (July 15, 2021а). Lyashko told whether vaccination against COVID-19 will be mandatory in Ukraine. Recovered from https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2021/07/15/novyna/suspilstvo/lyashko-rozpoviv-chy-bude-ukrayini-obovyazkova-vakcynacziya-covid-19.
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_015#Text.
Cabral, P.O. (2020) Vacunación obligatoria en la República Argentina como política pública de salud. REDEA. Derechos en Accion, 5(17), 659-685. https://redib.org/Record/oai_articulo3012777-vacunaci%C3%B3n-obligatoria-en-la-rep%C3%BAblica-argentina-como-pol%C3%ADtica-p%C3%BAblica-de-salud.
Callaghan, T. et al. (August 5, 2020). Correlates and disparities of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Recovered from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3667971.
Cranfield, T., Gorham, J., & Waldman, D. (December 14, 2020). Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination – the International Employment Landscape. Legal Update. Recovered from https://www.seyfarth.com/news-insights/mandatory-covid-19-vaccination-the-international-employment-landscape.html.
da Silva Lima, J.H. (2021) A vacinação obrigatória na perspectiva do Supremo Tribunal Federal. Cadernos Ibero-Americanos de Direito Sanitário, 10(1), 233-247. https://www.cadernos.prodisa.fiocruz.br/index.php/cadernos/article/view/762/799.
Doménech, J. B. (2020). Régimen jurídico de las vacunas en España: Reflexiones ante la situación creada por el Coronavirus. Actualidad Jurídica Iberoamericana, 12, 118-125. http://www.revista-aji.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/12._Javier_Barcel%C3%B3_pp._118-125.pdf.
ECHR: Ukrainian Aspect. (July 26, 2021). Vaccination against COVID-19: Legal basis for refusal and protection against further discrimination. Recovered from https://www.echr.com.ua/vakcinaciya-vid-covid-19-pravove-ob%D2%91runtuvannya-vidmovi-i-zaxist-vid-podalsho%D1%97-diskriminaci%D1%97/
Gur-Arie, R., Jamrozik, E., & Kingori, P. (2021). No jab, no job? Ethical issues in mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare personnel. BMJ Global Health, 6(2), e004877. Recovered from https://gh.bmj.com/content/bmjgh/6/2/e004877.full.pdf.
Hryb, V. (August 11, 2021). Refusal of vaccination and non-admission to work. Recovered from Protocolo, https://protocol.ua/ua/vidmova_vid_vaktsinatsii_i_nedopusk_do_roboti/.
Kharytonov, E., Kharytonova, O., Tkalych, M., Bolokan, I., Samilo, H., & Tolmachevska, Y. (2021). Intellectual property law in the field of sports: specifics of manifestations and features of legal regulation. Cuestiones Políticas, 39(69), 530-546. https://doi.org/10.46398/cuestpol.3969.33
Kim, Y.C., Dema, B. & Reyes-Sandoval, A. (2020). COVID-19 Vaccines: Breaking Record Times to First-in-Human Trials. NPJ Vaccines, 5, 34. Recovered from https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-020-0188-3.
Kolomiets, V. (August 15, 2021). Hungarian authorities are introducing compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 for health workers. Hromadske International, Recovered from https://hromadske.ua/posts/vlada-ugorshina-vvodit-obovyazkovu-vakcinaciyu-proti-covid-19-dlya-medpracivnikiv.
Konstantinova, N. (August 3, 2021). Does the introduction of restrictions on the unvaccinated violate human rights? Radio Liberty. Recovered from https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/chy-porushuyut-prava-ludyny-obmezhennya-dla-nevaksynovanyh/31391717.html.
Krasser A. (June 3, 2021). Compulsory Vaccination in a Fundamental Rights Perspective: Lessons from the ECtHR. Vienna Journal on International Constitutional Law, 15(2), 207-233. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/icl-2021-0010/html.
Law No. 1645-III, On protection of the population against infectious diseases. Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 6, 2000. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1645-14#Text.
Law No. 2801-XII, Fundamentals of Ukrainian legislation on health care. Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, November 19, 1992. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2801-12#Text.
Law No. 322-VIII, Labor Code of Ukraine. Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, December 10, 1971. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/322- 08/conv#n17.
Mind. (June 29, 2021). Countries of the world where the authorities have introduced compulsory vaccination. Recovered from https://mind.ua/news/20227972-krayini-svitu-v-yakih-vlada-zaprovadila-obovyazkovu-vakcinaciyu.
Ministry of Health. (January 24, 2018). How vaccination issues are regulated in different countries of the world. Recovered from https://moz.gov.ua/article/health/jak-reguljujut-pitannja-vakcinacii-u-riznih-krainah-svitu.
Order No. 213, On amendments to the Roadmap for the introduction of the vaccine against acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and mass vaccination in response to the pandemic of coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Ukraine in 2021-2022. Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, February 9, 2021. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/v0213282-21#Text.
Order No. 595, On the procedure for preventive vaccinations in Ukraine and quality control and circulation of medical immunobiological drugs. Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, September 16, 2011. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z1159-11#Text.
Position No. 09-03/2021-1, according to the protocol decision of NTGEI dated March 9, 2021 No. 6. National Technical Group of Experts on Immunoprophylaxis (NТGЕІ), Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2021а. Recovered from https://www.phc.org.ua/sites/default/files/users/user90/2021.03.16_Pozytsia_NTGEI_09.03.2021.pdf.
Position No. 30-06/2021-1, according to the protocol decision of NTGEI dated June 30, 2021, No. 11. National Technical Group of Experts on Immunoprophylaxis (NТGЕІ), Kyiv, Ukraine, June 30, 2021b. Recovered from https://phc.org.ua/sites/default/files/users/user90/2021.07.09_Pozytsia_NTGEI_30.06.2021.pdf.
Seniuta, I. (2016). The right to consent and the right to refuse medical care: features and limits of implementation. Entrepreneurship, Economy and Law, 10, 15-19. Recovered from https://bit.ly/3y4uS6x.
Seniuta, I. (2018). Balancing the interests of individual health and public health. Public Health: Problems and Development Priorities, 191-193. Ostroh: Ostroh Academy. Recovered from https://bit.ly/3mvOe2v.
Sharma, O., Sultan, A.A., Ding, H., & Triggle, C.R. (2020). A Review of the Progress and Challenges of Developing a Vaccine for COVID-19. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 2413. Recovered from https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.585354.
Sopilko, I., & Semchuk, N. (2020). On some issues of compulsory vaccination: a historical aspect. Ukrainian Scientific Medical Youth Journal, 3(118), 67-68. Recovered from https://bit.ly/37UGHBF.
Steelfisher, G.K., Blendon, R.J., & Caporello, H. (2021). An uncertain public – encouraging acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(16), 1483-1487. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2100351.
Word and Deed. (July 15, 2021b). Which countries have introduced mandatory coronavirus vaccination. Recovered from https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2021/07/15/infografika/svit/yaki-krayiny-zaprovadyly-obovyazkovu-vakcynacziyu-koronavirusu.
Word and Deed. (July 15, 2021а). Lyashko told whether vaccination against COVID-19 will be mandatory in Ukraine. Recovered from https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2021/07/15/novyna/suspilstvo/lyashko-rozpoviv-chy-bude-ukrayini-obovyazkova-vakcynacziya-covid-19.
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Recovered from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_015#Text.
Published
2021-08-31
How to Cite
Hromovenko, K., Minchenko, R., Sarybaieva, G., Batan, Y., & Minchenko, D. (2021). Legal responsibility for vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine and other countries. Amazonia Investiga, 10(43), 264-271. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2021.43.07.26
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