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Measles resurgence and vaccine policy disputes in Balkans

Updated 23 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-11 08:07 UTC → 2026-10-15 19:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The resurgence of measles in the Balkan region continues to drive public health responses and intense social debates. In Serbia, confirmed cases have reignited polarized discussions on social media regarding misinformation. In Montenegro, the September 1, 2026, law requiring vaccinated children to attend kindergartens has caused significant administrative friction. Data from the Institute of Public Health (IJZ) shows a notable decline in coverage; for instance, only 23 percent of children born in 2024 have received their first MMR dose, compared to 88 percent in 2013. Legal tensions ~~regarding these requirements~~ reached a milestone on September 28, when the Constitutional Court of Montenegro ruled that mandatory vaccination for preschool attendance is constitutional. In a 5-2 decision, the court rejected challenges to articles 41 and 42 of the Law on the Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases, determining that protecting public health is a legitimate goal that justifies the requirement. The ruling noted the measure protects both vaccinated children and those unable to be vaccinated due to medical contraindications. While the court acknowledged the requirement limits access to preschool, it concluded this does not infringe upon the essence of the right to education in a disproportionate manner. In a dissenting opinion, President Snežana Armenko and Judge Faruk Resulbegović argued the ruling undermines the legal order, noting that the Law on Preschool Education and Training mandates equal access to education for all children. Following the court ruling, lawmakers from the response, Democratic People's Party ~~(DNP),~~ (DNP) lawmakers, including Milan Knežević, Jelena Kljajević, and Vladislav Bojović, submitted a proposal to amend the Law on the Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases. The amendment seeks to limit restrictions on unvaccinated children to periods when an epidemic is declared or when there is an immediate danger of disease spread, as determined by the Institute of Public Health. Proponents argue this would align infectious disease laws with the Law on Preschool Education and Upbringing. Recent data indicates MMR vaccine coverage among children born between 2020 and 2024 in Montenegro has risen from 50 percent to 63 percent. State Secretary Milena Cojić attributed this increase to the new legal requirement for preschool enrollment. However, during a Parliamentary Committee hearing, acting director of the Institute of Public Health Marijan Bakić warned that current levels remain insufficient to prevent an epidemic, noting that approximately 95 percent coverage is required for herd immunity. Concerns persist regarding low coverage in coastal municipalities such as Ulcinj, Budva, and Bar.

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