WELLINGTON: New Zealand authorities have launched a battle on Tuesday for custody of an infant whose parents are blocking life-saving surgery because blood donors may have been vaccinated against COVID - 19.
The bid for emergency custody was taken to the High Court in Auckland by the New Zealand health authority in a case that has sparked local protests and underscored the potency of vaccine misinformation.
The four-month old, whose name has been suppressed by court order, needs an urgent operation to correct a heart disorder known as pulmonary valve stenosis, the child's mother said.
The surgical procedure has been delayed because the parents do not want blood transfused that could have come from a donor who has been vaccinated using mRNA vaccines.
New Zealand's blood service does not make a distinction between donations from those who are vaccinated against COVID - 19, as there is no extra risk from using vaccinated blood.
The authorities want to take partial custody of the child but they want to leave the parents in charge of non-medical care, but allowing the procedure to go ahead.
After extensive conversations with the family, Health New Zealand said it applied to the court with the best interests of the child in mind.
It can be worrying when a child is unwell and parents are making decisions about their care, says Mike Shepherd, a doctor from Health New Zealand.
On Tuesday, about 150 anti-vaccination protesters were outside the court in Auckland to voice their support for the family.
New Zealand's strict response against COVID 19 was widely regarded as one of the most successful in the world, with the country enjoying a low mortality rate even before a vaccine programme started.
The erosion of civil liberties was caused by tough travel restrictions, lockdowns, and other restrictions, and emergence of small-but-vocal anti-vaccine and anti-restriction groups.