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An Ontario Superior Court justice ruled that a 12-year-old girl can’t be forced to take a Covid vaccine against her will by her father. 

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, in a judgement, Justice Christopher Corkery sided with the girl and her mother saying that he is satisfied with her being mature enough to make personal medical decisions. 

“I am satisfied she is able to reasonably form her own opinions,” he wrote.

“What are the health implications if children receive the current vaccine but skip some or all of the boosters? What future Covid variant will boosters guard against?”

“These are all valid questions requiring answers which are currently unavailable. It is improper for the Court to pre-determine future medical treatments at unknown times, in unknown circumstances,” he continued. 

During the court procedure, the girl stated that not wanting to be vaccinated was her final decision. 

“This is my final decision. I do not want the vaccine. I hope my wishes will be respected,” she said. 

Additionally the mother involved was “not against the Covid-19 vaccine” but was “not prepared to force her daughter to be vaccinated against her will.” 

Crockery argued that forcing the girl to be vaccinated could put the girl at risk of serious harm mentally. 

“Requiring her to be vaccinated against her will would not respect her physical, emotional and psychological safety, security and well-being but would in fact put her at risk of serious emotional and psychological harm,” said Crockery. 

“It is not in her best interest.”

Although vaccinations have opened up for children under the age of five, federal research shows that parents are less willing to have their children get the Covid-19 shot. 

A federal survey found that parents had “legitimate concerns about the possible side effects and long-term impacts of a drug that, in their view, had been rushed to market for emergency use and remained largely untested in children.”

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