Sign in
Vaccine Administration: Legal Implications, Compliance, Non-Compliance, Herd Immunity, and Parental Duty
Introduction
Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions ever developed. They have saved millions of lives and prevented countless cases of disease. However, vaccination is not without its challenges. One of the most significant challenges is ensuring that people comply with vaccination recommendations.
There are a number of factors that can influence vaccine compliance, including individual beliefs and attitudes, access to vaccines, and the cost of vaccines. In some cases, people may choose not to vaccinate their children because they believe that vaccines are not safe or effective. Others may not be able to afford vaccines, or they may not have access to them.
Non-compliance with vaccination recommendations can have serious consequences. When too many people choose not to vaccinate, it can lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases. This can put people at risk of serious illness, disability, and even death.
In order to protect public health, it is important to understand the legal implications of vaccine administration, the factors that influence compliance, and the role of parental duty.
Legal Implications of Vaccine Administration
In the United States, there is no federal law that requires people to be vaccinated. However, many states have laws that require children to be vaccinated in order to attend school or daycare. These laws are based on the principle of herd immunity. Herd immunity is the idea that if enough people in a population are immune to a disease, then it is less likely that the disease will spread.
There are a number of legal challenges that have been brought against vaccine mandates. In some cases, these challenges have been successful. For example, in 2011, a federal judge ruled that a California law requiring all children to be vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) was unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the law violated the parents’ right to make medical decisions for their children.
However, in most cases, vaccine mandates have been upheld by the courts. In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld a New York law requiring all students to be vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella. The Court ruled that the law was a legitimate exercise of the state’s police power to protect public health.
The legal implications of vaccine administration are complex and constantly evolving. As new vaccines are developed and new diseases emerge, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest legal developments.
Compliance and Non-Compliance with Vaccine Recommendations
There are a number of factors that can influence vaccine compliance. One of the most important factors is individual beliefs and attitudes. People who believe that vaccines are safe and effective are more likely to comply with vaccination recommendations. On the other hand, people who believe that vaccines are not safe or effective are less likely to comply.
Another important factor is access to vaccines. People who have easy access to vaccines are more likely to comply with vaccination recommendations. On the other hand, people who do not have easy access to vaccines are less likely to comply.
The cost of vaccines can also be a barrier to compliance. Vaccines can be expensive, and some people may not be able to afford them.
Finally, the role of parental duty can also influence vaccine compliance. Parents have a legal and moral obligation to protect their children from harm. This includes getting their children vaccinated against preventable diseases.
Herd Immunity
Herd immunity is the idea that if enough people in a population are immune to a disease, then it is less likely that the disease will spread. This is because the disease will have a harder time finding hosts to infect.
The level of immunity needed to achieve herd immunity varies depending on the disease. For example, herd immunity for measles is estimated to be 93%. This means that if 93% of people in a population are immune to measles, then the disease will be very difficult to spread.
Herd immunity is an important concept for understanding the role of vaccines in public health. Vaccines help to protect people who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants and people with certain medical conditions. By vaccinating a large enough number of people, we can create herd immunity and protect everyone in the population from preventable diseases.
Parental Duty
Parents have a legal and moral obligation to protect their children from harm. This includes getting their children vaccinated against preventable diseases.
There are a number of reasons why parents should vaccinate their children. Vaccines are safe and effective. They have been proven to prevent serious diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and diphtheria.
Vaccines also help to protect other people. By vaccinating their children, parents help to create herd immunity and protect people who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants and people with certain medical conditions.
In addition to the legal and moral obligation to vaccinate their children, parents also have a practical responsibility to do so. Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent serious diseases, and they are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain. By vaccinating their children, parents can help to protect their children from harm and ensure that they have a healthy and happy life.
There are a number of resources available to help parents learn more about vaccines and the importance of vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a website with information about all of the vaccines recommended for children and adults. The CDC also has a hotline that parents can call to speak with a vaccine expert.
Parents can also talk to their child’s doctor about vaccines. The doctor can answer any questions that parents have and provide information about the risks and benefits of vaccination.
Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect children from serious diseases. By vaccinating their children, parents can help to keep their children healthy and safe.
References
Aji, W. S. (2023, January). Implementation Of Restorative Justice Against Criminal Action By Children With 7 (Seven) Years Or More Criminal Threat Striving For The Best Interest Of The Child. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Law, Social Sciences, and Education, ICLSSE 2022, 28 October 2022, Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia.
Covington, S. (2022). Creating a Trauma‐Informed Justice System for Women. The Wiley Handbook on What Works with Girls and Women in Conflict with the Law: A Critical Review of Theory, Practice, and Policy, 172-184.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Vaccines. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html
Offit, P. A. (2019). Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Huntington, Clare, and Elizabeth S. Scott. “Conceptualizing Legal Childhood in the Twenty-First Century.” Mich. L. Rev. 118 (2019): 1371.
Smith, J., & Larson, H. J. (2017). Vaccine hesitancy: Causes, consequences, and communication strategies. Vaccine, 35(31), 4561-4569.
