New York City Is Requiring Some Residents to Get Vaccinated Against Measles. Is That Legal — And Ethical?

New York City officials on Tuesday took the unusual and dramatic step of requiring some Brooklyn residents to get vaccinated against measles, as an outbreak there continues to worsen. The controversial policy was announced just days after a New York judge halted an order in nearby Rockland County, which had previously banned all unvaccinated children from visiting public places. Under New York City’s policy, people in four Brooklyn zip codes who resist vaccination could face fines of up to $1,000, but it’s not clear whether they could actually be compelled to get vaccinated if they continue to refuse. Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said those who refuse vaccination would be dealt with on a “case-by-case basis.” These increasingly drastic actions have raised questions about how far local authorities can go to stop outbreaks — and whether it’s ethical, or even legal, to compel people to get vaccinated. Ethically, there’s nothing wrong with requiring vaccination during times of public-health danger, says Arthur Caplan, head of the division of medical ethics at the New York University School of Medicine and director of its Vaccine Ethics Project. “If it’s spreading rapidly and you have reason to believe there are a lot unvaccinated people around, you’re justified,” Caplan says. “You can fine them, you can restrict liberty, you can quarantine.” You cannot, however, physically force someone to ge...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized onetime public health Source Type: news