"We propose establishing that only vaccinated children allowed into kindergartens, be it state-run or private kindergartens," Radvile Morkunaite-Mikuleniene, representing the HU-LCD and one of the authors of the amendment, told BNS Lithuania.
The amendment to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Humans would only include an exception for children who cannot be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella due to their state of health, for example, allergies.
Adults working with children, staff at healthcare and education establishments and working in closed groups as well as troops should also be told to get mandatory vaccination against measles.
Morkunaite-Mikuleniene said mandatory vaccination before going to an education establishment increases the general level of immunization. She also mentioned several European countries as an example.
"Let's say, in France the number of cases dropped significantly after they introduced mandatory vaccination, linking it to the criteria for kindergarten acceptance, and those numbers dropped in a year. If such a decision were made in Lithuania, it wouldn't be the only country in the European Union, as such rules are in place also in Italy, Hungary and partly in Poland," the MP said.
As the number of measles is growing in Lithuania, social democratic MPs earlier also tried to force parents to ensure that children under 16 are vaccinated against polio, measles and rubella but the Lithuanian Seimas refused to deliberate the issue and didn't put it on its agenda.
Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga, representing the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, and also other representatives of the ruling block are skeptical about mandatory vaccination.
Figures from the Center for Communicable Diseases and AIDS show that almost 500 cases of measles have been registered in Lithuania since the start of this year, compared to only 30 cases over the whole last year.