Journal of Medical Ethics
Volume 41, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 276-277

Refugees, humanitarian aid and the right to decline vaccinations (Article)

Caplan A.L.* , Curry D.R.
  • a New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
  • b New York University, School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Recent instances of governments and others refusing humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs (internallydisplaced persons) unless they agreed to polio immunization for their children raise difficult ethical challenges. The authors argue that states have the right and a responsibility to require such vaccinations in instances where the serious vaccine-preventable disease(s) at issue threaten others, including local populations, humanitarian workers, and others in camps or support settings.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Pakistan Afghanistan refugee Syrian Arab Republic human ethics Refugees altruism health Government Programs Lebanon civil rights Humans Poliovirus Vaccines poliomyelitis vaccine standards Disease Outbreaks Syria global health government treatment refusal vaccination poliomyelitis public health Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84923230821&doi=10.1136%2fmedethics-2014-102383&partnerID=40&md5=edc6606e4c077468848c644610aa16c7

DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2014-102383
ISSN: 03066800
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English