2 Mandatory Vaccination Angelia Beaulieu Chamberlain University Michael Bodnar 03/24/2024 Reference Sources
2
Mandatory Vaccination
Angelia Beaulieu
Chamberlain University
Michael Bodnar
03/24/2024
Reference
Sources
Navin, M. C., & Largent, M. A. (2017). Improving nonmedical vaccine exemption policies: three case studies. Public Health Ethics, 10(3), 225-234.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phw047
Description: This scholarly article discusses the debate surrounding nonmedical exemptions for mandatory vaccination policies. The ethical concerns relate to the possibility of nonmedical exemptions for compulsory vaccination policies that are provided in the United States. It is a pilot program from different states that is likely to take an ethical perspective and examine the health effects of exemption policies. The authors further explain the tension between individual autonomy and the larger goal of immunity. Therefore, vaccination must be conducted which will achieve herd immunity.
Phadke, V. K., Bednarczyk, R. A., Salmon, D. A., & Omer, S. B. (2016). Association between vaccine refusal and vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States: a review of measles and pertussis. Jama, 315(11), 1149-1158.
Link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2503179
Description: This peer-reviewed article was published by a top-notch journal, JAMA, inquiring into the relationship between the vaccine rejection rates and the morbidity and clinical features of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis occurring in America. The articles present a systemic overview and examination of the existing data, in which the increasing vaccine exemptions and outbreaks due to lowered vaccination rates are highlighted as significant public health risks.
Aspect 1: Proven benefits and risks of mandatory vaccinations
Pro: The mandatory vaccination policies have proven to be very efficient in contributing to herd immunity and the eradication or significant elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases, as observed in the world vaccination program that eliminated smallpox and poliomyelitis.
Con: Mandatory vaccination opponents hold the position that such a measure might hurt overall populations because of safety concerns and falsities about side effects that can be found in historical contexts, and other information provides misleading data.
Aspect 2: Public rights to decision-making and autonomy
Pro: Supporters of compulsory vaccination explain that although individual autonomy is fundamental when it comes to a public health issue, social protection of vulnerable groups may justifiably substitute the authentic individual decision of citizens because others can endanger their health.
Con: The opponents insist that such mandatory vaccination measures violate individual rights as well as the violation of decision-making freedom, which can be referred to as the absence of a very democratic system and informed consent in medicine.
Aspect 3: Public education and awareness
Pro: Navin and Largent (2017) posit that the betterment of public education and awareness of the advantages of vaccinations is perhaps the means by which communities can redirect the apprehensions of members, and subsequently, the need to enforce measures can be reduced via the promotion of higher rates of vaccination.
Con: This document contends that the message of public information campaigns by themselves cannot achieve a desirable rate of herd immunity; hence, compulsory vaccination measures should be imposed to maintain public well-being and public health.
References
Navin, M. C., & Largent, M. A. (2017). Improving nonmedical vaccine exemption policies: three case studies. Public Health Ethics, 10(3), 225-234.
Phadke, V. K., Bednarczyk, R. A., Salmon, D. A., & Omer, S. B. (2016). Association between vaccine refusal and vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States: a review of measles and pertussis. Jama, 315(11), 1149-1158.