Dear paediatric colleagues,

In response to your statement and the pressures to which you have been subjected through public appearances and comments, the Medical Chamber of Montenegro extends its full professional and personal support to you. It is unacceptable to shift responsibility for insufficient vaccination coverage among children onto paediatricians or to call their professional integrity into question through sweeping claims that they have not done enough and that they fail to provide parents with adequate information.

Medicine is based on science. Decisions are made on the basis of the best available evidence, validated professional guidelines, and the continuous assessment of benefits and risks. Childhood vaccination is no exception. Parents have the right to receive clear, comprehensive, and scientifically grounded information about the benefits of vaccination, as well as possible adverse reactions and contraindications. It is equally important to explain to parents that many deadly diseases have been eradicated or significantly brought under control thanks to vaccines, and that reduced vaccination coverage increases the risk of those diseases spreading again, endangering not only unvaccinated children but also the health of the community, particularly people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Open discussion about vaccination is necessary, but personal belief and a scientifically grounded position do not carry the same professional weight.

Particularly concerning is the fact that paediatricians, especially those working at the primary healthcare level, were not invited to the public debate. They are the very professionals who speak with parents every day, are familiar with the child’s health status, assess individual circumstances, and directly participate in the implementation of immunisation. Without their knowledge and experience, a debate on childhood vaccination cannot be comprehensive.

Improving immunisation requires system-level support: a sufficient number of healthcare professionals, more time for counselling, continuous education, and the active involvement of relevant institutions in informing parents and the public.

Every physician’s work is subject to professional and ethical accountability and must be open to scrutiny. However, the evaluation of professional practice must be based on facts, medical documentation, and prescribed procedures, rather than on public attacks and sweeping judgments. Labelling, personal discrediting, and accusations without evidence are unacceptable, as they undermine physicians’ reputations and public trust in the healthcare system. Such an approach does not contribute to increasing vaccination coverage or protecting children’s health.

Therefore, paediatricians, especially those working at the primary healthcare level, must be included in every future public debate on childhood vaccination. Their participation is not a matter of formality; it is a prerequisite for the debate to be professional, comprehensive, and focused on the best interests of the child. The voice of paediatricians must be heard wherever children’s health is discussed publicly.

The Medical Chamber of Montenegro will, within the scope of its authority, protect the professional integrity of paediatricians who carry out their work conscientiously, professionally, and ethically.