Mandatory Vaccination

Voluntary Vaccination Program Is Everyone’s Protection
Sung Eun (Grace)
Grande Prairie Regional College
PO 1030
June-011-12

Should vaccination programs be mandatory?
Immunization or vaccination is “an essential component of disease prevention” (Potter & Perry, 2010, p. 649). However, there are many argumentative voices on whether vaccine program should be mandatory. It is true that in democratic countries, individuals have the rights to refuse and the freedom of choice to acquire vaccination. Hence, there has been political issue (since this is “linked to some vision of reordering society”) on immunization against the government whether they should enforce mandatory vaccination; especially in country where the health-care is regulated by the government (Dickerson, Flanagan & O’Neill, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to support the stance of voluntary vaccination program in which the government should respect individual rights and freedoms according the Code of Ethics as well as Charter of Rights and Freedom, while providing the best informed resources about immunization to the public. Vaccines are promise of protection for everyone regardless of age; however, individuals’ decision on vaccination should be respected, particularly in democratic countries.
Immunization/ Vaccination
Bacteria, germs, and virus are the source of infections which are widely spread. Potter and Perry (2010) stated that immunization is the process by which resistance to a transferable disease is formed or improved via vaccination. With vaccine injections people are protected from diseases and improve body’s immune system (Public Health, 2007). According to the Unite for Children (2012), “immunization works by tricking the body into believing it is experiencing a full-scale invasion by an infectious agent so that the immune system can fortify its defenses”. When the vaccine is injected, dead microorganisms known as antigens are introduced to the body and the immune system fight against the antigens by producing “disease-fighting substances” known as antibodies (World Book, 2012). Subsequently, a “memory of this ‘invasion’ remains so that the immune system can quickly recognize and neutralize disease-causing agents when they appear” (Unite for Children, 2012).
According to Potter and Perry (2010), common uses of immunizations have brought dramatic decline in infectious diseases since the 1950s and proved the rationale why it is the most important factor in health promotion from newborns to seniors. It is true that vaccination provides health promotion and disease prevention, but several lethal downsides have been identified as side effects.
Points of the Argument
Examination of existing contents reveals two main arguments to be supported or opposed in the question of whether vaccination program should be mandatory.
Beliefs and Values of Democracy. Opponents of voluntary vaccination program argue that it is the state’s responsibility to take care of public’s health by establishing mandatory vaccination. However, in democratic countries where the government “in which the people rule themselves” such as in Canada, individual rights and freedom are valued and such values are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom (Pocklington, 1994). According to the legal rights in Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, everyone has the right to life and liberty (Department of Justice, 2012). If the government set up mandatory vaccination program by taking away the promise of the rights to life and liberty from the individuals leaving them with no freedom and liberation, this would violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom under the Canadian law.
Some individuals do not acquire vaccination or any immunization according to their religious beliefs. Moreover, when vaccination becomes mandatory to everyone, this would interfere with and violate individuals’ “freedom of conscience and religion” as recorded in the Charter of Rights and Freedom (Department of Justice, 2012). Since the policy of mandatory vaccination contravenes the rules of the Charter of Rights and Freedom, until now no government policy has established mandatory vaccination under the Canadian law.
Ethical Concern. In public health care in which the system is regulated by the government, health care providers such as nurses are obligated to comply with the regulations and rules such as Code of Ethics in the health care system. Health care providers are obligated to promote and respect informed decision- making of their clients (Canadian Nursing Association, 2008). Especially, according to the Code of Ethics, “nurses are ought to recognize, respect and promote a person’s right to be informed and make decisions” (Canadian Nursing Association, 2008). They should be able to respect “the right to refuse or withdraw consent for care or treatment at any time” (Canadian Nursing Association, 2008). However, if immunization becomes mandatory, the nurses (as union workers) would be violating the Code of Ethics and implementing unethical practice by enforcing treatment to their clients. In health care:
The most important right that patients possess is the right of self-determination, the right to make the ultimate decision concerning what will or will not be done to their bodies.' This right, embodied in the informed consent doctrine, has a critical and essential corollary: the right to refuse treatment (American Journal of Public Health, 1983).
Edda West (coordinator for the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network) stated that it is important to be cautious and “always be left to the discretion of the patient, or the patient’s parents in terms of a minor” when dealing with invasive and insidious “medical procedure of any kind that carry a risk of injury and death” and especially vaccinations “should never be made mandatory because they carry the risk of injury and death and are essentially ‘experimental’” (as cited in Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2011). Experimental does not necessarily refer being experimented on human life since it is unethical and an illegal act; but it signifies the potential lethal consequences that released vaccines may generate.
Social concern. Supporters of mandatory vaccination program may argue about bringing forth more improvement of disease prevention by enforcing everyone getting vaccinated.
Dr. Ian Gemmill (past chair of the Canadian Coalition of Immunization Awareness and Promotion) stated that “There are some circumstances, like schoolchildren [and] for sure, health care workers, where there are compelling arguments that can be made and should be respected around requiring people to be immunized. But it’s not true for every single vaccine and every single circumstance.” (as cited in Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2011). For instance, special circumstances for someone “who works in a health care service should be required to be vaccinated on the grounds that they are in a position to put vulnerable people at risk and could be knocked out during a pandemic” (Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2011). It is agreeable to certain extent vaccinations are required to specific population such as health care employees to prevent the spread of disease during the outbreak. However this does not mean every single individual in Canada must be vaccinated by enforcement of mandatory vaccination program.
Government’s Interference with Decision-Making of Individuals. Some may argue that the public is not capable of making accurate decision regarding immunization or vaccination. Therefore mandatory vaccination should be enforced to everyone for disease prevention and health promotion. However there are no proofs of the public making unintelligent decision, especially when it comes to matters of dealing with their health. It is undeniable in certain circumstances where individuals are misinformed about various aspects of vaccination and decide to wait longer or some may never get vaccinated. In this case, individuals must be able to separate the facts and fiction about immunization and make right decisions for their selves. For instance, there are claims about vaccines being the cause of autism or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) has stated that professional research committees in Canada and across nations have examined reports of severe results over long periods of time and they have found no proof of a link between vaccines and autism or any other illnesses.
For people to gain true facts about vaccines, they need to reach credible researches from credible resources with current information from websites such as www.healthcanada.ca or updated new articles or news. Doctor Gemmill counters that governments and health care professionals must standardize the facts and untruths on the Internet (as cited in Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2011). The government may publicize a web site or health links with information on vaccination or any information on health promotion; moreover through the media as well. The government may also fund health promotion teams in the health care facility to educate and create programs similar with ‘Tobacco free kids’ for parents and individuals through school or work. Ultimately by gaining access to accurate information and credible resources, it is up to the public to be immunized or not.
Ever since vaccination has been produced, it has proven itself of being effective in preventing disease and in health promotion. This also indicates that, even if the vaccination is not mandatory, the majority of the population choose to get immunized and prevent diseases. Therefore, mandatory vaccination is not necessary to maintain health promotion since individuals are left to make right choices for their own good. With adequate and truthful information about immunization, mandatory vaccination program is unnecessary to persuade the majority to be vaccinated.
Conclusion.
Immunizations are among the victorious public health involvement in preventing “morbidity, mortality and health care costs” (Salmon, 2002). Through immunization many lives were saved and were possible to preserve human race. It is true vaccination is effective in preventing disease and promoting health. However, individuals’ rights and freedom should be protected with respect according to the laws of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom as well as the Code of Ethics. Enforcing mandatory vaccination program means carrying out an illegal act by violating the laws mentioned above. The government is entitled to provide its citizens with adequate information on immunization for better health promotion and disease prevention. Ultimately, through voluntary vaccination program with sufficient information, the majority would decide on right choice as to get vaccinated according to each benefit. Mandatory vaccination is not acceptable in democratic countries where individual rights and freedoms are valued to comprise better humanity. Voluntary vaccination is promise of protection for everyone regardless of age.

References
Canadian Nurses Association. (2010, July 8). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www2.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/practice/ethics/code/default_e.aspx
Department of Justice. (2012, June 11). Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. Retrievd from http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html#l_I
Dickerson, M., Flanagan, T., & O’Neill, B. (2008). An introduction to government and politics: A conceptual approach. Toronto, ON: Thomson Nelson Potter, P.A., & Perry A.G. (2010). Canadian fundamentals of nursing: Caring throughout the life span. Toronto, ON: Mosby Elsevier.
Public Health (2007, July 18). The Benefits of vaccines. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci/p01-02-eng.php
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2012). Vaccines are safe. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/iyc-vve/safe-secur-eng.php
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2012). Immunization facts and fiction. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/iyc-vve/fiction-eng.php
Pocklington, T.C. (1994). Representative democracy: An introduction to politics and government. Toronto, ON: Harcourt Brace
Salmon, D. A. (2002, August). Mandatory immunization laws and the role of medical, religious and philosophical exemptions. Retrieved from http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/exemptreview101503.pdf
The Right to Refuse Treatment: A Model Act. (1983). American Journal of Public Health, 73(8), 918-921.
Unite For Children (2012, June 7). Immunization: How does immunization work? Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/immunization/index_how.html
Walkinshaw, E. (2011). Mandatory vaccinations: No middle ground. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 183(16), 1830-1831. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-3994
World Book Advanced (2012, May 3). Immunization. Retrieved from http://www.worldbookonline.com.ezproxy.agpc.talonline.ca/advanced/article?id=ar273250