Do I have to vaccinate my child in Czechia?
Yes — mandatory vaccination is a statutory duty repeatedly upheld by the Constitutional Court. Mandatory are the hexavalent vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, Hib) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). The practical lever targets parents: unvaccinated children aren't admitted to kindergartens, children's groups or camps — with one key exception: the compulsory preschool year, where kindergartens must admit even unvaccinated children. A sanction exists (a misdemeanour up to CZK 10,000) but is rarely enforced. Recognised exemptions: a permanent medical contraindication (doctor-certified), documented immunity — and, per case law, a narrowly construed conscience objection in extraordinary cases.
📋 The rules
- Mandatory: hexavalent + MMR per the vaccination calendar
- Unvaccinated: no kindergarten, children's groups or camps (under 5)
- Exception: the compulsory preschool year — admission regardless
- Sanction: misdemeanour up to CZK 10,000 (rarely enforced)
- Exemptions: contraindication, proven immunity, narrow conscience objection
🔓 Exceptions
- Doctor-certified permanent contraindication: full facility access
- Conscience objection: only in exceptional, well-reasoned cases per the Constitutional Court
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Refusing mandatory vaccination: fines to CZK 10,000 (hygiene stations). The real-world lever: non-admission to kindergartens and recovery events until the compulsory preschool year.
📎 Official sources
- Dostupný advokát · Mandatory vaccination explained (CS) →
- VZP · Mandatory insurer-covered vaccinations (CS) →
- Aktuálně · Constitutional Court: kindergartens may refuse (CS) →
❓ Frequently asked
Will an unvaccinated child get into kindergarten?
Not into regular attendance — only into the compulsory preschool year, where admission is mandatory.
Is the fine real?
The CZK 10,000 band exists but hygiene stations rarely use it; the pressure works through kindergartens and camps.
How does the medical exemption work?
A doctor certifies a permanent contraindication — the child then counts as meeting admission conditions.
What about conscience objections?
The Constitutional Court allows them only exceptionally: convincing, consistent and urgent reasons — no blanket reliance.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “mandatory vaccination czech republic”
- “unvaccinated child kindergarten czech”
- “vaccination exemption czechia”
- “hexavalent vaccine czech law”
- “vaccine fine czech”