WJEC Biology for A2: Student Bk

Going further The WHO has estimated that vaccinations save nearly 3 million lives each year. Going further Vaccinations have reduced child mortality and so women in many countries choose to have fewer children. This has significant impact on their own health and provides social and educational benefits. St u dy point Decisions concerning vaccination must consider the cost effectiveness, the rights of the individual to choose, the protection of the community and the seriousness of side effects. Ethical considerations Vaccination is a highly successful way of controlling infectious diseases and no other method is as effective. Indeed for some diseases, it is the only reliable means of protection. If enough people are vaccinated successfully against a contagious disease, there are fewer live pathogens in the population, which means that fewer people will become infected in the future. The spread of disease is controlled so even people who are not vaccinated have some protection. This is called ‘community’ or ‘herd’ immunity and requires a particular proportion of people to be vaccinated. If the proportion drops below this critical value, infection can spread. A moral argument can therefore be made for vaccination. But not everyone is vaccinated. This could be because: ▪ Vaccination is not medically advised, including for those who are: – Immunocompromised, e.g. if the spleen is faulty and the immune system does not function normally – Taking chemotherapy – Living with HIV-AIDS – Very old – Very ill in hospital. ▪ Some people choose not to have vaccinations for themselves or their children for a variety of reasons not related to their medical condition. Arguments cited include: – Religious objections – A preference for ‘natural’ or ‘alternative’ medicine – Mistrust of pharmaceutical companies who manufacture the vaccines – Safety fears. The cost effectiveness When health authorities make decision about mass vaccination, they must consider if the financial cost outweighs the benefit provided. For dangerous conditions, such as measles, vaccination for all is advised, but for influenza, it is only recommended for target groups such as older people. In general, however, the UK government considers vaccination to be a cost-effective way of protecting the public. Compulsory or voluntary vaccination The policy in the UK is that the government cannot infringe on the right of the individual to choose what medication to take and so vaccination is not compulsory. It is hoped, however, that the benefits are so clear that parents will choose to have their children vaccinated. A complication arises with the issue of vaccination for health care workers, as they have a duty not to harm others, which may be contravened if they are not vaccinated. Authorities around the world take different views. Where vaccination is compulsory, it is stressed that parents who choose against vaccination are not only withdrawing protection from their own children but also from all those with whom their children have contact. They argue that society has the right and duty to protect itself. WJEC A2 Biology: Chapter 14 276