Anti-vaccine NGOs heading to court over decision to vaccinate children

A group of anti-vaccine NGOs advocating for children’s rights is heading to the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The group is seeking a court date to have its matter heard after filing an urgent application to interdict government from vaccinating their children.

The group recently joined the African Christian Democratic Party in its application to stop government from administering COVID-19 vaccines to children.

The Hope for Humanity NGO’s Gerald Hardy says, “It’s a court case actually stopping SAHPRA from jabbing children. I mean they did that at schools without the consent of the parents. They keep bringing the age down despite WHO saying it’s 99.96% recovery and unhealthy to (put) it into the kids. So what’s so strange is that Section 27 are actually there as the friends of the court, and is very interesting, but as various parental and political groups we are resisting and we are saying it is enough.”

Urgent court application to halt vaccination of children postponed: November 10, 2021

The Health Department is adamant that its decision to vaccinate children aged between 12 and 17 is within the law, saying it’s concerned that members of the public are blowing their fears out of proportion.

According to the Children’s Act, those who are older than 12 can get medical attention and treatment without the consent of a guardian.

Government has extended its vaccine roll-out programme to children in this group. But the issue of consent has stimulated fierce public debate.