Vaccination against coronavirus: legal issues

Abstract

This article examines the legal issues related to voluntary vaccination against the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. It is noted that usage of contract with regards to mandatory vaccinations against coronavirus is impossible, as from the legal perspective, signing a contract is voluntary. Therefore, it is necessary to issue the corresponding legislative act that would not only establish the responsibility, but also ensure right for protection of biological database. There is also a need to settle the matter pertaining to storage of the collected biomaterial, as well as monitoring of the process of testing mass vaccination. There are currently no legislative acts on this issue, which necessitates the development of normative legal acts thereof. The article reviews the legal issues related to voluntary vaccination against the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. There yet multiple unresolved legal issues regarding the application of new vaccine, requirements for its transportation, and storage of biological materials. It is underlined that if a pedagogue, medical employee, or sales person are not vaccinated against coronavirus, the suspension of this category of citizens or refusal to hire is currently unlawful. This is substantiated by the fact that in order for vaccination against any infectious disease (including COVID-19) to be mandatory, it is essential to make amendments to not only the aforementioned legislative act, but also to the framework law of 11.11.2011 No. 323-FZ “On the Fundamentals of Protection of Public Health in the Russian Federation”. These legislative acts should ensure the rights of citizens for refusal of medical treatment overall, as well as refusal of preventive vaccinations in particular.