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Erschienen in: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 2/2018

01.06.2018 | Original Research

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

verfasst von: Bridget Haire, Paul Komesaroff, Rose Leontini, C. Raina MacIntyre

Erschienen in: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry | Ausgabe 2/2018

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Abstract

Vaccination is a highly effective public health strategy that provides protection to both individuals and communities from a range of infectious diseases. Governments monitor vaccination rates carefully, as widespread use of a vaccine within a population is required to extend protection to the general population through “herd immunity,” which is important for protecting infants who are not yet fully vaccinated and others who are unable to undergo vaccination for medical or other reasons. Australia is unique in employing financial incentives to increase vaccination uptake, mainly in the form of various childcare payments and tax benefits linked to timely, age-appropriate vaccination. Despite relatively high compliance with the childhood vaccination schedule, however, the Australian government has determined that rates should be higher and has recently introduced policy that includes removing certain tax and childcare benefits for non-vaccinators and formally disallowing conscientious objection to vaccination (“No Jab No Pay”). In addition, it has raised the possibility of banning unvaccinated children from childcare centres (“No Jab No Play”). This article examines the impact of coercive approaches 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 consent 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.
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Metadaten
Titel
Raising Rates of Childhood Vaccination: The Trade-off Between Coercion and Trust
verfasst von
Bridget Haire
Paul Komesaroff
Rose Leontini
C. Raina MacIntyre
Publikationsdatum
01.06.2018
Verlag
Springer Singapore
Erschienen in
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry / Ausgabe 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1176-7529
Elektronische ISSN: 1872-4353
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-018-9841-1

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