The Right to Choose Immunizations Thesis Paper Immunization rights are currently becoming a highly debatable ethical issue. Immunization is the method by which an individual is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease. Vaccines enable the body’s immune system to protect against disease or infection.
There is much debate arising about whether individuals have the right to choose to vaccinate their children. Are vaccines safe enough that it be mandated for all or should there be a choice among each individual or should they continue to be a choice? Today, there is much apprehension with the side effects of immunizations. Immunizations are designed to protect individuals from harmful and sometimes fatal diseases, but they do cause …show more content…
One argument for immunizations is that they protect individuals from infectious diseases. Prevention of infectious disease is one key element in minimizing mortality in the United States and the world, especially among vulnerable populations. In the late 1900s millions of deaths occurred each year from serious diseases such as the measles and polio. Today, there is a vaccine for the measles that provides 93% effectiveness against the measles virus with one dose and 97% effectiveness with two administered doses (Measles vaccination, 2015). According to healthy people 2020 the goal of immunizations is to increase immunization amounts and decrease infectious diseases that are preventable (Immunization and Infectious Diseases, …show more content…
This means do not cause harm to any individual. If a patient believes that getting their child immunized will cause harm to their little bodies than it is the duty of a nurse to respect that belief. Vaccinations are a type of medication and the patient has a right to refuse any medication. Nonmaleficence brings about another good point. Nurses also have to uphold the rights to medication administration. When a nurse is giving any medication is important to check patient’s rights. This includes the right route. The nurse has an ethical responsibility to do no harm. This translates in every task a nurse does including double checking prescribed doctor’s order, following protocols, ensuring all medication rights have been checked, and ensure medications are given properly to avoid causing harm to anyone. If an injection is given in the wrong site or with improper immunization techniques the patient can be at risk for adverse reactions or injury. Each individual has the right to have no harm done to them. Along with no harm each individual has the right to choose according to the ethical principle of
There is much debate arising about whether individuals have the right to choose to vaccinate their children. Are vaccines safe enough that it be mandated for all or should there be a choice among each individual or should they continue to be a choice? Today, there is much apprehension with the side effects of immunizations. Immunizations are designed to protect individuals from harmful and sometimes fatal diseases, but they do cause …show more content…
One argument for immunizations is that they protect individuals from infectious diseases. Prevention of infectious disease is one key element in minimizing mortality in the United States and the world, especially among vulnerable populations. In the late 1900s millions of deaths occurred each year from serious diseases such as the measles and polio. Today, there is a vaccine for the measles that provides 93% effectiveness against the measles virus with one dose and 97% effectiveness with two administered doses (Measles vaccination, 2015). According to healthy people 2020 the goal of immunizations is to increase immunization amounts and decrease infectious diseases that are preventable (Immunization and Infectious Diseases, …show more content…
This means do not cause harm to any individual. If a patient believes that getting their child immunized will cause harm to their little bodies than it is the duty of a nurse to respect that belief. Vaccinations are a type of medication and the patient has a right to refuse any medication. Nonmaleficence brings about another good point. Nurses also have to uphold the rights to medication administration. When a nurse is giving any medication is important to check patient’s rights. This includes the right route. The nurse has an ethical responsibility to do no harm. This translates in every task a nurse does including double checking prescribed doctor’s order, following protocols, ensuring all medication rights have been checked, and ensure medications are given properly to avoid causing harm to anyone. If an injection is given in the wrong site or with improper immunization techniques the patient can be at risk for adverse reactions or injury. Each individual has the right to have no harm done to them. Along with no harm each individual has the right to choose according to the ethical principle of