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Lermytte E, Bracke P, Ceuterick M. Healthcare Professionals' Discursive Constructions of Parental Vaccine Hesitancy: A Tale of Multiple Moralities. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:1384-1397. [PMID: 38881208 DOI: 10.1177/10497323241245646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in addressing the concerns of vaccine-hesitant parents since they form a trusted source for vaccine-related information. An increasing body of evidence suggests that healthcare professionals are faced with complexities when navigating the sensitive topic of parental vaccine hesitancy, as they balance their own vaccine- and context-specific concerns with institutional and societal pressures to vaccinate. Furthermore, health choices, such as parental choices for childhood vaccination, are often linked to moralisation. Given the emphasis on effective communication with vaccine-hesitant parents in the patient-centred care literature, it is important to consider healthcare professionals' interpretations of parental vaccine hesitancy. Hence, a deeper understanding of how healthcare professionals make sense of, and moralise, childhood vaccination can help us understand how moralisation might appear in their communication with hesitant parents (in)directly. Drawing on a critical social-psychological framework for discourse analysis, this study analyses 39 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals in Flanders, Belgium, and presents the discursive patterns articulated by healthcare professionals on parental vaccine hesitancy. The findings elucidate how healthcare professionals perpetuate, or resist, moral discourse in their accounts of vaccine hesitancy by constructing five different interpretative repertoires, that is, a "good" or "bad" parenting repertoire, a freedom of choice repertoire, an individual risk-benefit repertoire, a public health repertoire, and an accessibility repertoire. Our study highlights the complexities healthcare professionals experience in negotiating vaccine hesitancy, as their understandings of vaccine hesitancy are affected by, and contribute to, existing moral dilemmas and dominant discourses surrounding health and parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Piet Bracke
- Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Drabo EF, Kelley MA, Gong CL. Appealing to Americans' altruism is not enough to nudge them to accept novel vaccines. J Public Health (Oxf) 2024; 46:e494-e499. [PMID: 38570896 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of altruism in the acceptance of novel preventive healthcare technologies like vaccines has not been thoroughly elucidated. METHODS We 1:1 randomized n = 2004 Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) participants residing in the USA into a control or treatment arm with vaccination decisions framed altruistically, to elicit their preferences for COVID-19 vaccination using web-based discrete choice experiments. We used conditional and mixed logit models to estimate the impact of framing decisions in terms of altruism on vaccination acceptance. RESULTS Valid responses were provided by 1674 participants (control, n = 848; treatment, n = 826). Framing vaccination decisions altruistically had no significant effect on vaccination acceptance. Further, respondents' degree of altruism had no association with vaccination acceptance. LIMITATIONS The MTurk sample may not be representative of the American population. We were unable to ascertain concordance between stated and revealed preferences. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Framing vaccination decisions in terms of altruism does not appear to significantly influence vaccination acceptance and may not be an effective nudging mechanism to increase the uptake of novel vaccines. Instead, a favorable vaccination profile appears to be the primary driver of uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel F Drabo
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Marcella A Kelley
- Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Cynthia L Gong
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, Fetal and Neonatal Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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Marini M, Demichelis A, Menicagli D, Mancini G, Panizza F, Bilancini E, Cevolani G. I want to be safe: understanding the main drivers behind vaccination choice throughout the pandemic. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1111. [PMID: 38649925 PMCID: PMC11036553 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18511-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite being a major advancement in modern medicine, vaccines face widespread hesitancy and refusal, posing challenges to immunization campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the pivotal role of beliefs in efficacy and safety on vaccine acceptance rates. This study explores the influence of efficacy and safety perceptions on vaccine uptake in Italy during the pandemic. METHODS We administered a 70-item questionnaire to a representative sample of 600 Italian speakers. Participants were tasked with assessing the perceived effectiveness and safety of each vaccine dose, along with providing reasons influencing their vaccination choices. Additionally, we conducted an experimental manipulation, exploring the effects of four framing messages that emphasized safety and/or efficacy on participants' willingness to receive a hypothetical fourth vaccine dose. Furthermore, participants were asked about their level of trust in the scientific community and public authorities, as well as their use of different information channels for obtaining COVID-19-related information. RESULTS Our study reveals a dynamic shift in vaccine efficacy and safety perceptions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially influencing vaccination compliance. Initially perceived as more effective than safe, this assessment reversed by the time of the third dose. Beliefs regarding safety, rather than efficacy, played a significant role in anticipating future vaccinations (e.g., the booster dose). Safety-focused messages positively affected vaccination intent, while efficacy-focused messages showed limited impact. We also observed a changing trend in reasons for vaccination, with a decline in infection-related reasons and an increase in social related ones. Furthermore, trust dynamics evolved differently for public authorities and the scientific community. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine perception is a dynamic process shaped by evolving factors like efficacy and safety perceptions, trust levels, and individual motivations. Our study sheds light on the complex dynamics that underlie the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy, and their impact on willingness to vaccinate. We discuss these results in light of bounded rationality, loss aversion and classic utility theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Marini
- IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy.
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Kraaijeveld SR, Gur-Arie R, Jamrozik E. A Scalar Approach to Vaccination Ethics. THE JOURNAL OF ETHICS 2023; 28:145-169. [PMID: 38375445 PMCID: PMC10874331 DOI: 10.1007/s10892-023-09445-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Should people get vaccinated for the sake of others? What could ground-and limit-the normative claim that people ought to do so? In this paper, we propose a reasons-based consequentialist account of vaccination for the benefit of others. We outline eight harm-based and probabilistic factors that, we argue, give people moral reasons to get vaccinated. Instead of understanding other-directed vaccination in terms of binary moral duties (i.e., where people either have or do not have a moral duty to get vaccinated), we develop a scalar approach according to which people can have stronger or weaker moral reasons to get vaccinated in view of the moral good of vaccination. One advantage of our approach is that it can capture why a person might have strong moral reasons to get vaccinated with Vaccine A, but only weak moral reasons to get vaccinated with Vaccine B. We discuss theoretical strengths of our approach and provide a case study of vaccination against COVID-19 to demonstrate its practical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R. Kraaijeveld
- Wageningen University & Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Gur-Arie
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 550 N 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 USA
- Oxford-Johns Hopkins Global Infectious Disease Ethics (GLIDE) Collaborative, Oxford, United Kingdom, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF UK
- Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Australia
- Monash Bioethics Centre, Monash University, Clayton, 3168 Australia
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Kraaijeveld SR. The Ethical Significance of Post-Vaccination COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics. JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2023; 20:21-29. [PMID: 36542290 PMCID: PMC9768787 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-022-10223-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The potential for vaccines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases is crucial for vaccination policy and ethics. In this paper, I discuss recent evidence that the current COVID-19 vaccines have only a modest and short-lived effect on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission and argue that this has at least four important ethical implications. First, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 should be seen primarily as a self-protective choice for individuals. Second, moral condemnation of unvaccinated people for causing direct harm to others is unjustified. Third, the case for a harm-based moral obligation to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is weak. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, coercive COVID-19 vaccination policies (e.g., measures that exclude unvaccinated people from society) cannot be directly justified by the harm principle.
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Gray J, AlAnazi AA, AlSumait F, Abu-Shaheen A, Bashir MS, Al Sheef M. What motivated residents of Saudi Arabia to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Front Public Health 2023; 11:1065157. [PMID: 36825136 PMCID: PMC9941561 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1065157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Acceptance of vaccination is a multifactorial issue. The unprecedented speed at which the COVID-19 disease spread globally has meant that people have had to face the idea of receiving novel vaccines for a novel disease. Purpose Studies conducted earlier in the pandemic had shown high vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia, therefore we wanted to understand the motivating factors for people living in Saudi Arabia with regards to accepting the COVID-19 vaccine, our survey was conducted when the government had already mandated vaccination to enter public spaces. Saudi society is not particularly outspoken and therefore it was of special importance to the authors to explore the motivation behind COVID-19 vaccines. Methods This is a cross-sectional survey of 802 participants living in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed to staff, visitors, and patients in a hospital in Saudi Arabia and via electronic means to the general population. Results A total of 521 (65%) of the respondents were women, and 281 (35%) were men. A total of 710 (88.5%) were Saudi, and 55 (6.9%) were non-Saudi. The majority of participants (496, 65.7%) stated that they registered for the vaccine as soon as it was available, with 185 (24.5%) stating that they registered when they were mandated to do so and 74 (9.8%) registered only when they felt cases were increasing. Most participants (316, 41%) stated that the main reason for taking the vaccine was one of a self-protective nature, followed by indirect vaccination (240, 31.1%), paternalistic reasons (157, 20.4%) and altruistic reasons (58, 7.5%). Conclusions With the increased burden on healthcare that is being faced by COVID-19, other resources need to be carefully allocated. This paper may aid the Saudi government in understanding the motivation for the population to take the vaccine and therefore facilitate any future vaccination campaigns to ensure the best utilization of resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Gray
- Dentistry Administration, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Jenny Gray ✉
| | - Ahmed AlHumaidi AlAnazi
- Department of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad AlSumait
- Department of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani Abu-Shaheen
- Research Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Salman Bashir
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Al Sheef
- Department of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Indiana Parental Perceptions of the Acceptability of General and HPV-Specific State Vaccine Requirements. J Community Health 2023; 48:528-538. [PMID: 36745356 PMCID: PMC9900532 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-023-01198-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
State vaccine requirements are a tool for improving child and adolescent vaccination immunization coverage, but to be effective, parental buy-in is needed. The objective of this study was to assess the demographic, healthcare characteristics, and health beliefs associated with parental acceptance of general and HPV-specific state vaccine requirements. Indiana parents (N = 601) with children ages 11-17 years old completed a survey during March 2020.Results showed that 47.2% and 43.1% of parents believed there should always be general and HPV-specific state vaccine requirements, respectively. In multivariable analysis, higher odds of parental support for general state vaccine requirements were associated with being unsure whether HPV-associated cancer is a problem in the participant's county and having higher perceived benefits of HPV vaccines. Lower odds were associated with private insurance, having less than a bachelor's degree, and having less confidence in vaccines. In comparison, parents had higher odds of agreeing with HPV-specific state vaccine requirements if they reported higher interpersonal altruism and higher perceived benefits of HPV vaccines; they had lower odds if they were non-Hispanic White. Findings indicate that while similar percentages of parents agreed with general and HPV-specific state vaccine requirements, there were different characteristics associated with acceptance of each. Results can inform the development of tailored interventions for improving parental support for general and HPV-specific state vaccine requirements.
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Assadi M, Kiani M, Shamsi Gooshki E, Aryanian Z, Afshar ZM, Hatami P. COVID-19 vaccination in children as a global dilemma through an ethical lens: A retrospective review. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e976. [PMID: 36479386 PMCID: PMC9719287 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims COVID-19 pandemic led to a need to rapidly vaccinate as many people as possible. Children are an important part of the population with different characteristics which vaccinating them is a matter of great importance as it should be decided considering all aspects and ethics. Here, we present different aspects of COVID vaccination in children including the potential challenges. Methods We searched on PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus in this regard, and all of the relevant papers published until June 28, 2021 were included if we could access their full-texts. Results We found various expert opinions in this regard and tried to summarized them. Saving lives has similar ethical value as preventing evitable adverse event. Accordingly, mandating the children to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, needs risk-benefit weighing with special consideration of ethical challenges. Conclusion Considering the vast range of benefits resulted from pediatric vaccination both for the children and the community, implementing the program in a scientific manner and also with the least financial expenses for the families seems to be reasonable and makes it both ethical and moral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Assadi
- Department of Medical EthicsShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Health Research InstituteBabol University of Medical SciencesBabolIran
| | - Mehrzad Kiani
- Department of Medical EthicsShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Ehsan Shamsi Gooshki
- Department of Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine/Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Research CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Zeinab Aryanian
- Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Department of DermatologyBabol University of Medical SciencesBabolIran
| | - Zeinab M. Afshar
- Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza, Hospital, KermanshahUniversity of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Parvaneh Hatami
- Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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Slotte P, Karlsson LC, Soveri A. Attitudes towards mandatory vaccination and sanctions for vaccination refusal. Vaccine 2022; 40:7378-7388. [PMID: 35688728 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Investigating attitudes towards mandatory vaccination and sanctions for vaccination refusal in an area with insufficient vaccination coverage may help health authorities to assess which strategies for increasing vaccination coverage are appropriate. This study examines attitudes to vaccine mandates and asks questions regarding what kinds of sanctions could legitimately result from vaccination refusal. It seeks to find out if people's attitudes towards mandates and towards sanctions for vaccination refusal are related to their attitudes to vaccines and the degree of trust they feel towards health care professionals and health care authorities. The study also discusses how the observed attitudes towards mandates may be related to perceptions of autonomy, responsibility, and equitability. METHODS Data collection was carried out in Finland through an online survey in a region with suboptimal vaccine uptake. Statistical analysis was conducted on a sample of 1101 respondents, using confirmatory factor analysis and structural regression analysis. RESULTS Persons hold different views on mandates and sanctions. Importantly, the persons who support vaccination mandates and sanctions for vaccination refusal are to a great degree the same people who have positive attitudes to vaccines and high trust in health care professionals and health authorities. CONCLUSION Trust is a key factor which has a bearing on people's attitudes towards mandates and sanctions for noncompliance. A focus on the reasons for lack of trust, and on how to enhance trust, is a more feasible long-term way (than mandates) to promote large- scale compliance with childhood vaccine programmes in the studied country context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Slotte
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Tehtaankatu 2, FI-20500 Turku, Finland; Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives, Siltavuorenpenger 1A, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Linda C Karlsson
- Department of Clinical Medicine, FI-20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Anna Soveri
- Department of Clinical Medicine, FI-20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
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Kraaijeveld SR, Mulder BC. Altruistic Vaccination: Insights from Two Focus Group Studies. HEALTH CARE ANALYSIS 2022; 30:275-295. [PMID: 36454320 PMCID: PMC9713734 DOI: 10.1007/s10728-022-00453-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination can protect vaccinated individuals and often also prevent them from spreading disease to other people. This opens up the possibility of getting vaccinated for the sake of others. In fact, altruistic vaccination has recently been conceptualized as a kind of vaccination that is undertaken primary for the benefit of others. In order to better understand the potential role of altruistic motives in people's vaccination decisions, we conducted two focus group studies with a total of 37 participants. Study 1 included three focus groups on the subject of HPV vaccination for boys. Study 2 included three focus groups on the subject of pertussis and measles vaccination for childcare workers. We found substantial evidence of other-regarding motives across all focus groups, which suggests that altruistic motives could be an important factor when it comes to people's vaccination decisions. We address the significance of these findings for vaccination policy surrounding HPV vaccination for boys and vaccination for childcare workers. We also extend the findings to normative work on vaccination for the sake of others more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Kraaijeveld
- Philosophy Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Bob C Mulder
- Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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The role of altruism vs self-interest in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the United Kingdom. Public Health 2022; 213:91-93. [PMID: 36399867 PMCID: PMC9575617 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to explore self-interest, kin altruism and non-kin altruism reasons that influence people to vaccinate against COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study using a fully repeated measures design. METHODS Participants (N = 178) answered questions on perceived threat and likelihood of infection, vaccination status and opinion on mandatory vaccination. Participants also rated a set of statements that asked how likely these would influence them and others to vaccinate against COVID-19. Statements reflected self-interest, kin altruism or non-kin altruism. RESULTS Just more than half of the sample (50.8%) reported the likelihood of infection as somewhat or extremely likely, and almost three-fourths (74.2%) reported that COVID-19 posed a minor or moderate threat to their physical health. Almost three-fourths (74.3%) of the sample were vaccinated, with just more than half (56.2%) in favour of mandatory vaccination. A 2 (self/other) × 3 (self-interest/kin altruism/non-kin altruism) fully repeated measures analysis of variance showed that kin-altruistic reasons were rated most highly, regardless of whether this was regarding oneself or others. Participants rated others as having greater self-interest reasons for vaccination compared with oneself, whereas non-kin altruism reasons for vaccination were rated higher for oneself, compared with others. CONCLUSION Highlighting the benefits of vaccination for close relatives and vulnerable others in the population would be a useful strategy for government to use when urging the public to vaccinate against COVID-19.
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Kraaijeveld SR, Jamrozik E. Moralization and Mismoralization in Public Health. MEDICINE, HEALTH CARE, AND PHILOSOPHY 2022; 25:655-669. [PMID: 36045179 PMCID: PMC9432796 DOI: 10.1007/s11019-022-10103-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Moralization is a social-psychological process through which morally neutral issues take on moral significance. Often linked to health and disease, moralization may sometimes lead to good outcomes; yet moralization is often detrimental to individuals and to society as a whole. It is therefore important to be able to identify when moralization is inappropriate. In this paper, we offer a systematic normative approach to the evaluation of moralization. We introduce and develop the concept of 'mismoralization', which is when moralization is metaethically unjustified. In order to identify mismoralization, we argue that one must engage in metaethical analysis of moralization processes while paying close attention to the relevant facts. We briefly discuss one historical example (tuberculosis) and two contemporary cases related to COVID-19 (infection and vaccination status) that we contend to have been mismoralized in public health. We propose a remedy of de-moralization that begins by identifying mismoralization and that proceeds by neutralizing inapt moral content. De-moralization calls for epistemic and moral humility. It should lead us to pull away from our tendency to moralize-as individuals and as social groups-whenever and wherever moralization is unjustified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- Oxford-Johns Hopkins Global Infectious Disease Ethics Collaborative, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Ethox and Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Abstract
For contagious diseases like measles a successful immunization program can result in herd protection. Small outbreaks may still occur but fade out soon, because the possibilities for the pathogen to spread in the 'herd' are very small. This implies that people who refuse to participate in such a program will still benefit from the protection it offers, but they don't do their part in maintaining protection. Isn't that a case of freeriding-and isn't that unfair towards all the people who do collaborate? If so, that might be considered an additional ground for making vaccination mandatory or compulsory. In this paper I argue that vaccination refusal can be considered as freeriding, but that this might not be unfair. The public good of herd protection is a peculiar public good because it supervenes on private benefits that are enjoyed by all who do opt for vaccination. For vaccinated individuals, the additional benefit of herd protection comes about, as it were, for free, and hence they can't complain that others benefit without sharing in the burdens. There are however still other grounds for making vaccination compulsory or at least for seeing refusal as a morally wrong choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Verweij
- Corresponding author: Marcel Verweij, Philosophy Group, Wageningen University; Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherland;
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14
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Hays JP, Ruiz-Alvarez MJ, Roson-Calero N, Amin R, Murugaiyan J, van Dongen MBM. Perspectives on the Ethics of Antibiotic Overuse and on the Implementation of (New) Antibiotics. Infect Dis Ther 2022; 11:1315-1326. [PMID: 35608734 PMCID: PMC9127288 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-022-00656-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuing rise in global antimicrobial resistance is seen by many governments and international organizations as a major threat to worldwide health. This means that many publications have already described the problems concerning the overuse of currently available antibiotics and potential solutions to this crisis, including the development of new alternatives to antibiotics. However, in this manuscript, the authors approach the subject of increasing global antimicrobial resistance from two perspectives not normally covered by previous publications, namely the ethical use of antibiotics and potential issues relating to the implementation of new antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Hays
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Centre (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Maria Jose Ruiz-Alvarez
- Research Coordination and Support Service (CORI), National Institute of Health (ISS) Viale Regina-Elena, 299, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rohul Amin
- James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Abstract
With evidence of vaccine hesitancy in several jurisdictions, the option of making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory requires consideration. In this paper I argue that it would be ethical to make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for older people who are at highest risk of severe disease, but if this were to occur, and while there is limited knowledge of the disease and vaccines, there are not likely to be sufficient grounds to mandate vaccination for those at lower risk. Mandating vaccination for those at high risk of severe disease is justified on the basis of the harm principle, as there is evidence that this would remove the grave public health threat of COVID-19. The risk–benefit profile of vaccination is also more clearly in the interests of those at highest risk, so mandatory vaccination entails a less severe cost to them. Therefore, a selective mandate would create fairness in the distribution of risks. The level of coercion imposed by a mandate would need to be proportionate, and it is likely that multiple approaches will be needed to increase vaccine uptake. However, a selective mandate for COVID-19 vaccines is likely to be an ethical choice and should be considered by policy-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget M Williams
- Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Oxford, UK
- Center for Population-Level Bioethics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA
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Gur-Arie R, Kraaijeveld SR, Jamrozik E. An ethical analysis of vaccinating children against COVID-19: benefits, risks, and issues of global health equity. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:252. [PMID: 39445230 PMCID: PMC11496933 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17234.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination of children has begun in various high-income countries with regulatory approval and general public support, but largely without careful ethical consideration. This trend is expected to extend to other COVID-19 vaccines and lower ages as clinical trials progress. This paper provides an ethical analysis of COVID-19 vaccination of healthy children. Specifically, we argue that it is currently unclear whether routine COVID-19 vaccination of healthy children is ethically justified in most contexts, given the minimal direct benefit that COVID-19 vaccination provides to children, the potential for rare risks to outweigh these benefits and undermine vaccine confidence, and substantial evidence that COVID-19 vaccination confers adequate protection to risk groups, such as older adults, without the need to vaccinate healthy children. We conclude that child COVID-19 vaccination in wealthy communities before adults in poor communities worldwide is ethically unacceptable and consider how policy deliberations might evolve in light of future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Gur-Arie
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Deering Hall, 1809 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA
- Oxford-Johns Hopkins Global Infectious Disease Ethics (GLIDE) Collaborative, Oxford, UK
| | - Steven R. Kraaijeveld
- Wageningen University & Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- Oxford-Johns Hopkins Global Infectious Disease Ethics (GLIDE) Collaborative, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
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Kraaijeveld SR. COVID-19: Against a Lockdown Approach. Asian Bioeth Rev 2021; 13:195-212. [PMID: 33262838 PMCID: PMC7687977 DOI: 10.1007/s41649-020-00154-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Governments around the world have faced the challenge of how to respond to the recent outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Some have reacted by greatly restricting the freedom of citizens, while others have opted for less drastic policies. In this paper, I draw a parallel with vaccination ethics to conceptualize two distinct approaches to COVID-19 that I call altruistic and lockdown. Given that the individual measures necessary to limit the spread of the virus can in principle be achieved voluntarily as well as through enforcement, the question arises of how much freedom governments ought to give citizens to adopt the required measures. I argue that an altruistic approach is preferable on moral grounds: it preserves important citizen freedoms, avoids a number of potential injustices, and gives people a much-needed sense of meaning in precarious times.
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