Read the statement at the bottom of the screen and decide who would have made that statement and whether it is for or against compulsory vaccination. Use the check button to check your answers.
Are these arguments for or against compulsory vaccinations? Which apply to the general population and which apply to health workers in particular?
Health care workers are members of the general public but they have a special role, where additional arguments apply.
For ‘General Public’
For ‘Healthcare workers ’
Against ‘General Public’
Against ‘Healthcare workers ’
- To protect the greatest number of people, regulations may have to infringe individual autonomy.
- Evidence that non-vaccinated are at a greater risk of contracting infections, so they and their communities are at risk.
- If the proportion of people not vaccinated in a population rises, the whole population is at risk.
- Minors have a right to be protected against vaccine-preventable illness and society has an interest in safeguarding the welfare of children who may be harmed by the choices of their parents/ guardian.
- Human rights criticism about initially offering HPV vaccine to one sex only. Now, however it is available for both sexes.
- Vaccinating healthcare workers reduces relative mortality in patients up to 40%, reduces lost working days and ∴ provides a cost saving.
- Vaccinating healthcare workers provides herd immunity in an institution.
- There is a duty not to harm others: knowingly risking infecting patients when prevention is possible is a culpable omission of care.
- Trust in health system: public trust may decline if healthcare workers choose not to be vaccinated.
- Consistency between what healthcare workers preach and their actions
- Disagree with mandates
- Religious objections e.g. concerns that a vaccine, such as HPV, against an STD contradicts abstinence-based messages
- Philosophical objections
- Government infringing on the right of the individual to choose what medication to take.
- If disease threat is low, people rely on herd immunity.
- Freedom of choice
- Alternatives, such as increasing hygiene practices in the work place
- Financial costs in seeking people who do not comply
- Decreased morale in healthcare workers if some remain unvaccinated