New Zealand health officials have launched a custody battle for a baby who was barred from “life or death” surgery by parents who said they did not want covid-vaccinated blood donors involved in the procedure.
The government has ordered the Auckland High Court for immediate detention in a case that sparked local protests and cited the level of misinformation about the vaccine.
The mother said the four-month-old, whose name was not disclosed in court documents, needed “urgent surgery” to fix a heart condition known as pulmonary valve stenosis.
Surgery was delayed because the family did not want the child to receive blood from donors with the messenger RNA vaccine.
Health officials denied the parents’ request.
The country’s blood banks do not differentiate between donations from people with or without the covid vaccine, as there is no extra risk of using blood from people who have been vaccinated.
Authorities are seeking partial custody of the child, leaving the parents in charge of non-medical care to allow the surgery to take place.
The New Zealand Health Authority said it was applying to the court “in the best interests of the child”.
About 150 anti-vaccination protesters gathered outside the Auckland courthouse on Tuesday to express their support for the family.
New Zealand’s response to the coronavirus pandemic was considered a success story in the world, with a low death rate even before the vaccination campaign.
But continued travel restrictions, lockdowns and other restrictions have fueled concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the emergence of a small but vocal group opposing anti-COVID-19 measures and vaccines.
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© Agence France-Presse
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.