Chief epidemiologist rejects claims of mandatory vaccinations under new law

Guðrún Aspelund, Iceland’s chief epidemiologist, has rejected claims reported in public debate that new infectious disease legislation allows mandatory vaccinations, mbl.is reports. The legislation entered into force on Tuesday.

“That is incorrect,” Guðrún told mbl.is when asked whether the new law permits mandatory vaccinations. She added that she is not a lawyer and does not interpret legislation.

Discussion of the law has also included claims on social media that it authorises mandatory vaccinations and permits people to be deprived of their liberty.

The debate has focused in part on Article 28, which allows the minister, following recommendations from an epidemic committee and in cases involving a socially dangerous disease, to issue regulations on measures including immunisation.

Guðrún said the term “immunisation” was not new to infectious disease legislation and had been used since 1997. It covers both vaccinations and the administration of antibodies.

She said that allowing regulations on immunisation did not mean vaccinations would become mandatory.

“Even if it is possible to issue regulations on vaccinations, that is not the same as someone being about to require them,” Guðrún said. “There is nothing in the law that refers to mandatory vaccinations or indicates anything of the sort.”

She described the interpretation that the new legislation introduced mandatory vaccinations as “completely baseless”.

Guðrún stressed that much of the new legislation had already been included in earlier infectious disease laws. Significant changes were made to those laws in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and many of those provisions have now been incorporated into the new consolidated legislation.

“This is not a complete transformation and it is not a revolution […] it is in fact simply clearer than it was,” she said.

Among the changes, she cited a clearer classification of diseases and a greater distribution of authority through a new epidemic committee. The committee will provide broader interdisciplinary consultation, rather than recommendations for such measures coming solely from the chief epidemiologist.

The legislation also sets clearer time limits and specifically addresses proportionality, equality, the social and economic effects of measures, and the interests of children.

Guðrún said the disease classification would make it clearer when extensive measures could be used. Such “far-reaching measures” should only be taken in very serious circumstances.

She also rejected suggestions that the new law gives the authorities unrestricted powers over the public.

“No one is going to lock people up or anything similar without reason because of this law,” Guðrún said, adding that its purpose was to protect the public interest, people’s health and their lives.