Ethics of Public Health Policies
Public health concerns necessarily introduce a tension between the individual and the greater good, which may have different resolutions depending on the ethical perspective that one uses to assess them. As a society, the United States has determined that certain public health policies so promote the greater good that they should be considered even if they infringe upon private liberties, or, in some cases, pose a threat to individual health or welfare. One widely discussed example of this type of policy is universal healthcare or affordable healthcare for the impoverished; others are forced to subsidize healthcare costs for those who can least afford it because it is believed to be in the best interest of overall public health. However, some public health policies are even more controversial. Vaccinations to prevent the spread of communicable illnesses, particularly childhood vaccinations, may be one of the most controversial public health policies. Although childhood vaccinations have been demonstrated to reduce childhood mortality, there are health risks associated with vaccines that can make requiring vaccinations a difficult ethical issue. What type of vaccination policy a country should have may depend on whether the country approaches the issue from a utilitarian, distributive justice, or paternalistic perspective.
Childhood Vaccinations
Childhood vaccinations consist of a series of vaccines to prevent certain childhood illnesses, given at a certain schedule, so that, by the time a child enters into the public school system, he or she is fully vaccinated. There are some risks associated with vaccines and some small percentage of children have adverse reactions to those vaccines. Moreover, for children who are high risk, vaccines may not be recommended or may be postponed from the usual childhood schedule. The result is that, in order to provide maximum effectiveness, most children should be vaccinated, which provides herd immunity even to children...
Policy Analysis Critique Rationale for the chosen policy Avian influenza is a virus causing lethal infection in human beings (Sims et al., 2003). It can be transmitted from patients to other human beings. It is a deadly virus with track record of 6 deaths in Hong Kong in 1997. That incident was just the start of this health issue. The virus spread enormously and caused H5N1 infection numerous times in Hong Kong.
Essay Topic Examples 1. The Historical Impact of Vaccines on Global Health: This essay would explore the development and historical significance of vaccines in controlling and eradicating infectious diseases. It would examine the milestones in vaccine technology and the global collaboration efforts, such as the eradication of smallpox, the reduction of polio cases, and the impact of the measles vaccine. Additionally, it would discuss how vaccines have shaped population health over the
V. ANALYSIS The work of Maxwell McCombs entitled: "The Agenda-Setting Function of the Press" relates the fact that the press plays a primary role in the life of the public and influences the focus of attention of individuals and makes provision of the "facts and opinions that shape perspectives on topics of the day." (2005) McCombs explains that 'agenda-setting' of the press works to influence the issues in the news and
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in the United States of America. It also discusses its association with different diseases. It highlights the role played by federal and state government to control this disease from preventing. In addition to that this paper also discusses whether the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination should be made mandatory for girls entering sixth grade or not. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can be defined as a group
Employee Privacy � Drug Testing vs. Mandatory VaccinationsMandatory vaccinations and various drug-testing regimens have long been used in the American workplace as a condition of employment in an effort to protect organizations as well as individual employees. Many Americans, however, are adamantly opposed to Covid-19 vaccine mandates, some to the point of resigning or even becoming violent in response to them despite having been already vaccinated for a laundry list
The Vaccination Dilemma The rights of individuals to refuse vaccinations, and the rights of parents to refuse their children vaccinations, has been increasingly called into question because of the way individual autonomy conflicts directly with the rights of the general public. For example, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses have increased, with serious outbreaks of measles in the United States being a prime example. Although the United States Centers for Disease Control and
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