Parents Refuse Infant Vaccination After Home Birth, Court Order Sparks Controversy

A couple in northern Israel who opted for a home birth for their first child found themselves in a legal and medical dispute when they refused to vaccinate their newborn daughter against tetanus at the hospital. The parents, identified as S. (24) and A. (25), stated they had prepared for the unassisted birth, which occurred at week 40 of pregnancy without any medical professional present. Following the birth, they took their daughter to HaEmek Medical Center for routine checks about 20 hours later.

During their hospital stay, a senior doctor expressed concerns about the sterility of the umbilical cord cutting during the home birth and recommended a tetanus vaccination for the infant. The parents objected, asserting they had used sterile equipment and followed proper procedures. They claimed the hospital's stance shifted from a routine check-up to a confrontation, with hospital staff suggesting the matter could be escalated to welfare authorities and the courts if they continued to refuse the vaccine. The couple eventually signed a waiver for continued hospitalization and were discharged about 30 hours after arriving.

The situation escalated the following day when police and a social worker arrived at their home with a court order mandating the infant's vaccination by that evening. The parents immediately contacted a lawyer, who filed a request to delay the order. The lawyer stated that the court order was eventually canceled and a new hearing was scheduled. The mother expressed relief, stating, "We won for now. There is still a war to fight, but for now we are home, in our new small family, processing what happened."

The parents' lawyer, Tamir Turgal, criticized the "persecution of the public" regarding vaccinations, particularly for tetanus, claiming it has been eradicated in Israel for decades and that only two cases have occurred since 2001. He argued that the medical system is ignorant of this fact and that parents are being pursued for unnecessary and potentially dangerous vaccinations. HaEmek Medical Center stated that they recommended standard procedures and preventative treatments, and when the parents refused, they acted according to their legal obligations by contacting child welfare services. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services confirmed they approached the court due to medical concerns for the infant's health and the limited window for treatment. The police confirmed their involvement in assisting welfare authorities based on the court order.