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, so the real price is paid in lost places, not in fines. Recognised exemptions: a permanent medical contraindication certified by a doctor, 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
- Proven immunity (documented past infection): substitutes for the vaccine for admission purposes
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The sanction sounds mild; the impact is not. Refusing mandatory vaccination is a misdemeanour fined up to CZK 10,000 by the hygiene station — and it is rarely enforced. The real price is paid elsewhere: an unvaccinated child is turned away from kindergartens, children's groups, camps and recovery events until the compulsory preschool year, which for parents often means another year at home and a delayed return to work. A facility that admitted an unvaccinated child risks its own sanction, so heads follow the rule to the letter and will ask for the vaccination record again and again.
📎 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 — kindergartens demand vaccination and heads will not bend, because they risk sanctions themselves. Admission is mandatory only for the compulsory preschool year, where no vaccination is required.
Is the fine real?
The CZK 10,000 band exists, but hygiene stations use it only rarely. The pressure does not come through fines — it comes through kindergartens, children's groups and camps that will not take an unvaccinated child.
How does the medical exemption work?
A doctor certifies a permanent contraindication and the child then counts as meeting the admission conditions. The exemption attaches to a concrete medical reason, not to a parent's worries — facilities will ask for the certificate.
What about conscience objections?
The Constitutional Court allows them only exceptionally: the parent must show convincing, consistent and urgent reasons. There is no blanket reliance — in the vast majority of cases the courts uphold the duty.
Which vaccines are actually mandatory?
The hexavalent vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and Hib, plus MMR against measles, mumps and rubella. The timing follows the vaccination calendar, which your paediatrician tracks.
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