Via CBC News: Divorced Sask. parents fight in court over COVID-19 vaccination for teen daughter. Excerpt:
A judge has ruled the 13-year-old child of divorced Saskatoon parents should be vaccinated against COVID-19, despite legal opposition from the girl's mother.
The father said his daughter was initially excited to receive her shot, but was then "bombarded" with false information by her mother and his own parents.
CBC News agreed to grant the father confidentiality in order to protect the identity of the daughter.
"[It felt like the] summer from hell," the father said of his efforts to get his daughter protected against the virus that causes COVID-19.
He's speaking out about the family rift and the judge's decision in support of vaccination to offer comfort to other divorced parents who may be in a similar situation, he said.
"I can't lose this case because it's going to affect so many other people."
The law firm representing the mother said she is appealing the decision and does not want the case publicized.
CBC News reached out multiple times to seek direct comment from her lawyer and did not hear back.
Mother views Pfizer vaccine as dangerous: judge
The father sought a court ruling that his daughter should get vaccinated in May, when she was 12.
In a Sept. 9 decision in Saskatoon's Court of Queen's Bench, Justice Michael Megaw ruled in favour of the father.
Megaw stated the mother expressed views challenging "the prevailing wisdom surrounding all of the health concerns arising from COVID-19," including skepticism about the seriousness of the pandemic and a view that the Pfizer-BioNTech is experimental and dangerous.
"This case is not about whether there is, or has been, a pandemic with respect to the COVID-19 virus," Megaw wrote. "The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective for use in people, including both adults and children."
