Non-Maleficence, Social Benefit and the Vaccination of Children.
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
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Repository DOI
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Authors
John, Stephen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1062-0188
Abstract
Public health policy often involves a trade-off between promoting population health and protecting the interests of identifiable individuals. This paper analyses this trade-off as it arises in the context of decisions about the vaccination of children against Covid-19, where vaccination may be in the interests of society as a whole, as a means to stopping transmission, but not in the interests of individual children. The paper argues that the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation resolved this tension by appeal to a version of a non-maleficence principle. It argues that, while this principle can be a useful guide to some public health policy decision-making, it is inappropriate in the case of vaccination.
Description
Keywords
Covid-19, public health ethics, public health policy, vaccination ethics, COVID-19, Child, Humans, Vaccination
Journal Title
R I Med J (2013)
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0363-7913
2327-2228
2327-2228
Volume Title
105
Publisher
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Rights
Sponsorship
British Academy (COV19\200862)