Reference
Savulescu, J., (2021), 'Good Reasons to Vaccinate: Mandatory or Payment for Risk?', Journal of Medical Ethics, Vol: 47(2) [PMC7848060]
Abstract
Mandatory vaccination, including for COVID-19, can be ethically justified if the threat to public health is grave, the confidence in safety and effectiveness is high, the expected utility of mandatory vaccination is greater than the alternatives, and the penalties or costs for non-compliance are proportionate. I describe an algorithm for justified mandatory vaccination. Penalties or costs could include withholding of benefits, imposition of fines, provision of community service or loss of freedoms. I argue that under conditions of risk or perceived risk of a novel vaccination, a system of payment for risk in vaccination may be superior. I defend a payment model against various objections, including that it constitutes coercion and undermines solidarity. I argue that payment can be in cash or in kind, and opportunity for altruistic vaccinations can be preserved by offering people who have been vaccinated the opportunity to donate any cash payment back to the health service.
Links
Publisher website: https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2020/11/09/medethics-2020-106821
Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/33154088
All OUCs Open Access papers are available on our Open Access webpage
Funders
Wellcome Trust WT203132 [Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities]
Wellcome Trust WT104848 [Responsibility and Healthcare]