المملكة: The failure of children’s vaccinations is a form of harm … and legal determines the punishment

The Public Health Authority “protect” that the child has an authentic right to obtain the necessary health vaccinations, noting that the failure to complete the obligatory vaccinations is one of the forms of abuse or neglect that may expose the child to severe health risks.

As part of its awareness campaign accompanying the International Equipment Week 2025 under the slogan “Together Towards a Safe and Healthy Future”, the authority stressed the importance of parents ’commitment to the national vaccination schedule, because of its main role in protecting children from infectious diseases, which may lead to serious complications that affect their health and safety.

“Prevention” explained that delaying vaccinations or neglecting their completion exposes children to the risk of diseases such as measles, whooping cough, polio, and other diseases that can be prevented by adhering to the deadlines for vaccination.

The commission called for the initiative to vaccinate children without delay, noting that prevention begins with a step of commitment and awareness, and that protecting children today is a real investment in a healthy and safe future for future generations, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision in promoting community health and quality of life.

“Prevention” concluded its call by emphasizing that vaccination is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of the family, society and health authorities, to achieve a society that is healthy and safe.

The default penalty for children’s vaccinations

For his part, the lawyer and legal advisor, Ahmed Al -Maliki, stressed that the parents or those responsible for caring for the child from vaccinating him without a significant medical justification is considered an explicit violation of the child protection system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is classified within the negligence and harm that endangers the child’s safety.

Al -Maliki explained that the system punishes the perpetrator of this imprisonment for a period of up to one year, or a fine of up to fifty thousand riyals, or the two penalties together, based on Article (23) of the Child Protection System.
He pointed out that the criminal lawsuit moves against the neglected to protect the right of the child to health and safety, indicating that the health authorities are committed to informing the competent authorities of any state of harmful abstinence in vaccination in order to preserve the safety of children and ensure that they obtain their health rights guaranteed as a system