6.3.3 Ethical Considerations

• What is the purpose of vaccination?

  Inducing artificial immunity
• Vaccination works by introducing weakened or inactivated pathogens
• Ethical concerns related to vaccination include balancing individual autonomy with public health needs.
• Match the ethical principle with its dilemma in the context of vaccination:

  Autonomy ↔️ Mandating vaccination infringes freedom

  Beneficence ↔️ Weighing prevention against side effects
• What is the role of memory cells in vaccination?

  Quicker immune response
• Vaccination stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies and memory
• Vaccination confers long-term immunity without causing illness.
• What are antibodies produced by the immune system in response to vaccination?

  Proteins to neutralize pathogens
• Herd immunity in vaccination reduces disease transmission
• Mandatory vaccination can infringe on individual autonomy.
• Match the consequence of vaccination with its description:

  Herd immunity ↔️ Protects unvaccinated individuals

  Side effects ↔️ Potential discomfort or reactions
• When does herd immunity occur in a population?

  High vaccination rates
• The MMR vaccine contains weakened viruses to develop immunity without causing illness
• Steps in how vaccination works to confer immunity:

  1️⃣ Weakened pathogens introduced

  2️⃣ Immune system produces antibodies

  3️⃣ Memory cells generated

  4️⃣ Future exposure triggers immunity
• What ethical principle states that individuals have the right to decide whether or not to vaccinate?

  Autonomy
• The ethical principle of beneficence states that vaccination protects individuals and promotes public health
• Ensuring vaccines do not cause harm aligns with the ethical principle of non-maleficence.
• Match the ethical principle with its explanation in the context of vaccination:

  Autonomy ↔️ Right to decide on vaccination

  Beneficence ↔️ Protecting public health

  Non-maleficence ↔️ Ensuring vaccine safety

  Justice ↔️ Equitable vaccine access
• What is one benefit of vaccination in terms of healthcare costs?

  Reduced healthcare costs
• Herd immunity occurs when a large proportion of a population is vaccinated
• Herd immunity protects unvaccinated individuals by reducing disease transmission.
• What ethical principle is infringed upon by mandatory vaccination policies according to opponents?

  Autonomy
• Order the steps of the ethical argument for and against mandatory vaccination based on key principles:

  1️⃣ Define ethical principles (Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Justice)

  2️⃣ Identify arguments for mandatory vaccination based on each principle

  3️⃣ Identify arguments against mandatory vaccination based on each principle

  4️⃣ Analyze the balance between public health and individual rights