Mandatory Vaccinations and Ethics (AutoRecovered)
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Philosophy
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Jan 9, 2024
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Mandatory Vaccinations and Ethics
Mandatory vaccinations can be considered ethical from various perspectives, including public health, individual rights, and social responsibility. Here are three key reasons supported by scholarly sources:
Public Health Protection
Mandatory vaccinations are crucial for protecting public health by ensuring herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to a disease, making its spread unlikely. This not only protects those who are vaccinated but also those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.
Source
: Giubilini, A., Douglas, T., & Savulescu, J. (2018). The moral obligation to be vaccinated: utilitarianism, contractualism, and collective easy rescue. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy
, 21(4), 547-560.
Balancing Individual Rights and Social Responsibility
While individuals have rights over their own bodies, these rights can be overridden when failing to vaccinate poses a risk to others. Ethical principles suggest that the right to bodily autonomy may be justifiably limited to prevent harm to others, which is a fundamental aspect of public health ethics.
Source
: Pierik, R. (2018). Mandatory vaccination: an unqualified defense. The Journal of Applied Philosophy
, 35(2), 381-398.
Justice and Equitable Health Outcomes
Mandatory vaccination policies can promote justice by ensuring that all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to vaccines. This can lead to more equitable health outcomes and prevent the disproportionate impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable populations.
Source
: Mello, M. M., Silverman, R. D., & Omer, S. B. (2019). Ensuring uptake of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The New England Journal of Medicine
, 383(14), 1296-1299.
References in APA Format
Here are the references for the scholarly sources mentioned above, formatted in APA style:
Giubilini, A., Douglas, T., & Savulescu, J. (2018). The moral obligation to be vaccinated: utilitarianism, contractualism, and collective easy rescue. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy
, 21(4), 547-
560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-018-9829-y
Pierik, R. (2018). Mandatory vaccination: an unqualified defence. The Journal of Applied Philosophy
, 35(2), 381-398. https://doi.org/10.1111/japp.12215
Mello, M. M., Silverman, R. D., & Omer, S. B. (2019). Ensuring uptake of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The
New England Journal of Medicine
, 383(14), 1296-1299. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2020926
These sources provide a scholarly perspective on why mandatory vaccinations can be considered ethical,
emphasizing the importance of protecting public health, balancing individual rights with social responsibility, and promoting justice and equitable health outcomes.
Mandatory vaccinations can raise ethical concerns for several reasons. Here are three scholarly sources that discuss the ethical implications of mandatory vaccination policies:
1.
Autonomy and Consent
The principle of autonomy in medical ethics suggests that individuals should have the right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare. Mandatory vaccination policies can be seen as a violation of this principle by compelling individuals to undergo a medical intervention without their explicit
consent.
2.
Risk and Responsibility
While vaccines are generally safe and effective, like any medical intervention,
they carry some risk. Mandatory vaccination policies may force individuals to accept these risks, however small, without their consent. This raises questions about who is responsible for the adverse effects that result from compulsory vaccination.
3.
Social Justice and Equity
Mandatory vaccination policies may disproportionately affect certain groups within society, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities. For example, individuals with specific health conditions or religious beliefs may be unfairly impacted by such policies.
Scholarly Sources
Here are three scholarly sources that discuss the ethical considerations of mandatory vaccinations:
1.
Giubilini, A., Douglas, T., & Savulescu, J. (2018). The moral obligation to
be vaccinated: utilitarianism, contractualism, and collective easy rescue.
Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy
, 21(4), 547-
560.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-018-9829-y
2.
Navin, M. C., & Largent, M. A. (2017). Improving nonmedical vaccine exemption policies: Three case studies.
Public Health Ethics
, 10(3), 225-234.
https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phx009
3.
Pierik, R. (2018). Mandatory vaccination: an unqualified defense.
The Journal of Applied Philosophy
, 35(2), 381-
398.
https://doi.org/10.1111/japp.12215
APA Citations
Here are the APA citations for the sources listed above:
Giubilini, A., Douglas, T., & Savulescu, J. (2018). The moral obligation to
be vaccinated: utilitarianism, contractualism, and collective easy rescue.
Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy
, 21(4), 547-
560.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-018-9829-y
Navin, M. C., & Largent, M. A. (2017). Improving nonmedical vaccine exemption policies: Three case studies.
Public Health Ethics
, 10(3), 225-234.
https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phx009
Pierik, R. (2018). Mandatory vaccination: an unqualified defence.
The Journal of Applied Philosophy
, 35(2), 381-
398.
https://doi.org/10.1111/japp.12215
It is important to note that the ethical considerations of mandatory vaccinations are complex and multifaceted. While some argue that they are unethical due to the reasons mentioned above, others argue that the benefits to public health and the protection of vulnerable populations justify such policies. The scholarly sources provided offer a range of perspectives on
this debate.
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