Parents Protest Mandatory Vaccination for Kindergartens, Warn of Blockades

Photo: Nikola Saveljić

Parents gathered on Tuesday outside Montenegro’s Constitutional Court for a protest under the slogan “Children have the right to kindergarten. Parents have the right to choose,” opposing the rule that makes vaccination a condition for children to attend kindergarten.

Protesters oppose the measure, which they say denies some children the right to attend kindergarten.

They are asking the Constitutional Court to examine the decision carefully and take parents’ concerns into account.

Parent Novak Raiçkoviq said he expects the Constitutional Court to respond responsibly to citizens and to consider the position of a large number of parents.

He warned that the protests will continue and that the option of blocking kindergartens is also being considered.

“We will continue the protests. Since kindergartens were built with the money of the parents of both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, we are also thinking of blocking kindergartens,” Raiçkoviq said.

Another parent, Nikola Millosheviq, said the decision lacks a sufficient basis, especially from an epidemiological standpoint.

He raised questions about liability in the event of possible health consequences following vaccination.

The rule barring unvaccinated children from kindergartens took effect on September 1, 2026, with exemptions for children who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons.

Several initiatives challenging the measure have been filed with the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing its constitutionality.