Raising Rates of Childhood Vaccination: The Trade-off Between Coercion and Trust

This article examines the impact of coercive appr oaches to childhood vaccination and raises the question of the ethical justification of health policy initiatives based on coercion. We consider the current evidence regarding childhood vaccination in Australia, the small but real risks associated with vaccination, the ethical requirement for consen t for medical procedures, and the potential social harms of targeting non-vaccinators. We conclude that the evidence does not support a move to an increasingly mandatory approach that could only be delivered through paternalistic, coercive clinical practices.
Source: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry - Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research