In the months following the adoption of the new Law on the Protection of the Population from Communicable Diseases, public debate in Montenegro has focused on the justification of the measure prohibiting incompletely vaccinated children from attending preschool institutions. The debate reached its peak following the proceedings initiated before the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, as well as the public hearing conducted during this month.

The Commission for Primary Health Care and Public Health of the Medical Chamber of Montenegro considers it its professional duty to express strong support for this necessary measure.

We wish to draw attention to the current epidemiological situation in neighbouring countries, where outbreaks of communicable diseases are occurring, although still on a limited scale, as well as to the unsatisfactory vaccination coverage across all age groups. Of particular concern is the significant downward trend in vaccination coverage that has been evident since 2013.

These data indicate that it was necessary to introduce urgent and immediate measures, similar to those implemented by countries affected by outbreaks under comparable circumstances, with the aim of ensuring specific preventive action and preventing the spread of epidemics that have historically caused significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the pre-vaccination era.

Numerous activities have been carried out by public healthcare institutions and authorities responsible for public health, as well as by international non-governmental organisations, with the aim of promoting health and primary healthcare measures that were not restrictive in nature. However, after more than a decade of unsatisfactory results, combined with increasingly concerning epidemiological circumstances, measures of this kind became necessary.

The effectiveness of the measure is best demonstrated by the fact that, within only a few weeks, vaccination coverage reached a level previously achieved over a period of seven months. Furthermore, vaccination coverage increased by more than 20 percent across all age groups. This indicates both the justification and the necessity of such a measure within our social and cultural context.

The legal framework is provided by Articles 16 and 24 of the Constitution of Montenegro, which stipulate that, depending on the circumstances, appropriate measures may be regulated by law.

We would also like to emphasise one of the fundamental rights of every child: **THE RIGHT TO HEALTH.**

We therefore appeal to all our colleagues and healthcare professionals to contribute, through their personal example and professional views, to the further advancement of our society.

Vaccination, as well as measures aimed at achieving the necessary level of collective immunity, undoubtedly represent an important part of that effort.