New Zealand parents are refusing life-saving surgery for their baby because it involves transfusing Covid-vaccinated blood into his body.
The New Zealand health services have officially made a court application over the guardianship of the four-month-old child. This was revealed after the parents refused to allow the life-saving heart surgery to go ahead unless the blood used is non-vaccinated against Covid-19.
The parents raised their concerns and fears over their son’s health situation and their medical preferences in an interview with an anti-vaccination body, The Guardian reported.
In the interview the parents stated that their son has severe pulmonary valve stenosis and needs surgery urgently, but they said that they were worried because of the type of blood that may be used on him.
According to blood service NZ Blood, any Covid-19 vaccine in the blood is broken down soon after vaccination.
“All donated blood also gets filtered during processing, so any trace amounts that may be present poses no risk to recipients,” it said.
In a statement Dr Mike Shepherd, Auckland’s interim director at the health services Te Whatu Ora, said he knows that it can be stressful when parents who have an unwell child are forced to make a fast decision about the child’s care.
Te Whatu Ora filed papers in the Auckland high court on Monday under the Care of Children Act. They asked that the baby’s guardianship be moved from his parents so that they could have consent to use donated blood for him.
Shepherd said the decision to apply to the court was made with the best interest of the child in mind, following extensive conversations with people involved.
On Wednesday both parties appeared at the court to set a date for an urgent hearing.
Compiled by Mashudu Mabila
Pictured above: Baby in hospital bed
Image source: MyStateline
