In Hungary, more than 100 lawsuits have been initiated by parents aiming to challenge the country’s mandatory vaccination system, according to reports from Népszava.

The publication describes this wave of litigation as a form of industrial activity against vaccination mandates, with many of the legal filings reportedly based on pre-prepared templates.

The increase in such lawsuits has been notable since the COVID-19 pandemic, with parents typically seeking exemptions for their children from compulsory vaccinations.

Lawsuits have included civil claims alleging that doctors failed to provide the necessary expert opinions that could have allowed them to avoid vaccinations.

Notably, two lawyers from Nagykanizsa, Ágnes Pál-Szántó and Angelika Mihalik, represent many of the complainants.

At the end of last year, they called on the Hungarian Minister of the Interior to take measures aimed at abolishing the compulsory vaccination system.

In January, the Association of Pediatricians in Hungary (HGYE) held a professional webinar addressing these issues.

Speakers noted that no lawsuits filed by anti-vaccination advocates have been reported as successful, even at the first level of the judicial process.

Conversely, doctors have won several cases at first instance, and at least one administrative case has been filed before the Veszprém District Court, which resulted in a final ruling.

During the webinar, Agnes Galgóczi from the National Public Health Center explained that Hungary's compulsory vaccination framework is governed by multiple legal sources, including the Fundamental Law, health regulations, and ministerial decrees for epidemic prevention, along with decisions issued by the Constitutional Court.

She emphasized that parental consent is not required for mandatory vaccinations, but parents do have the right to be informed.

This means that public health nurses provide parents with an information sheet containing essential details about the vaccines.

Parents can request additional information about the vaccines, but they are only required to sign a document acknowledging receipt of the initial information provided.

If a vaccination is missed due to illness or other reasons, health nurses are responsible for recording these instances.

Once the reason for the postponement ceases, the vaccination must be administered.

If a delay extends beyond three months, it must be reported to public health authorities.

Should a child miss mandatory vaccinations due to a chronic illness, an exemption may be considered, but this process requires an official review of all medical documentation.

Additionally, if parents deliberately neglect mandatory vaccinations and refuse to cooperate, health nurses are obligated to report this to the authorities, which may result in child services temporarily removing the child from the household until the vaccination is administered.

In December of last year, Népszava inquired about the government’s stance on mandatory vaccinations, but did not receive a substantive response.