Vaccination laws and education must go hand in hand

We need to keep measles inoculation rates up, but steps should also be taken to allay the concerns of parents who believe the unscientific claims of anti-vaxxers

The Minister for Health has recently sought the legal advice of the Attorney General regarding the possible introduction of a mandatory inoculation programme for children attending schools and creches.

This draconian proposal by Simon Harris is somewhat understandable given the stark warning by the director of the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland last Tuesday.

Dr Kevin Kelleher noted that between 30 and 40 cases of measles had already been ...