Council to vaccinate child in care after court win

A council has won a High Court battle to vaccinate a baby against her mother's wishes.

Islington Council faced a legal challenge by one of its residents after it arranged for her eight-month-old daughter to receive routine vaccinations while the child was in its care.

The mother, known only as Ms S, had refused the vaccinations out of her belief there was a link between the jabs and autism – a claim science does not support.

At the High Court, Mr Justice McDonald decided that not vaccinating the girl would leave her at risk of childhood disease "at a very young age when she remains vulnerable," and ruled in favour of the local authority.

The baby, known only as P, has been under the north London council's guardianship since February due to concerns that her mother could not meet her or her older siblings' basic care needs.

In July, the council proposed the infant stay with her mother at the family home while under its supervision, until it was decided whether or not she would permanently be taken out of her mother's care.

During this time the mother refused to have her daughter vaccinated.

After the council moved ahead with the appointment out of concern for the child's welfare, Ms S took the local authority to the High Court to try to stop it.

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Source: BBC News, 5 November 2025