The Law Reform Commission reviews Saskatchewan vaccination programs and makes three recommendations: create a compensation fund for vaccine-related injuries, expand vaccination education programs to increase informed consent, and add a statutory requirement to report adverse vaccine effects. The Commission considers but recommends against mandating vaccinations for public school children.
Publications by Key Term: vaccine
Vaccination and the Law: Consultation Paper Sep 2007
Childhood vaccination programs have been described as “a cornerstone of
improving the health of people worldwide, ” Most people in Saskatchewan
take the benefits of vaccination for granted, and the province has a
successful, publicly funded and delivered childhood vaccination
program. However, the Commission has identified emerging issues that
could threaten public confidence in vaccination programs. Some of these
concerns raise legal s well as medical issues:
1. Compensation for vaccine-related injury
2. Mandatory vaccination
3. Informed consent and refusal
4. Reporting adverse effects
The Commission’s consultation paper is intended to provide background
for public discussion and debate of the issues it identifies.