Aart Hendriks on mandatory vaccinations
According to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, there are currently no plans to introduce mandatory vaccinations in the Netherlands. In surrounding European countries, however, the situation is very different. Professor of Health Law and deputy judge Aart Hendriks: ‘The idea that freedom rights are more important than the right to public health no longer holds.’
In an interview (in Dutch) in De Jurist, Hendriks says that it is possible for the Dutch government to introduce mandatory vaccinations to fight COVID-19. An infringement of freedom of choice in relation to vaccinations would be justified in this case. Only a limited group of persons would be allowed to refuse vaccination. It is preferable that such an obligation is regulated by an Act of Parliament.