We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Is Mandatory Vaccination an Unjustified Limit on Human Rights?
- Authors
EICHELBAUM, KATHERINE
- Abstract
The horrors of many historically commonplace diseases are now in check thanks to vaccination. However, because the horror has dissipated, the public is no longer reminded of the importance of vaccines. Additionally, when people weigh risk against benefit under a voluntary vaccination scheme, they are far more likely to rely on anecdotal information than empirical scientific evidence. These factors, along with misinformation, have led to a strong anti-vaccination movement in many populations, which has in turn contributed to vaccination rates falling below important population thresholds. This article demonstrates the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. It then explores which human rights are limited by a mandatory vaccination scheme. Drawing from the recent analogous decision in New Health New Zealand Incorporated v South Taranaki District Council on mandatory fluoridation, this article contends that such incursions upon rights are justified by the strong evidential foundation supporting vaccination.
- Subjects
NEW Zealand; VACCINATION policies; HUMAN rights; RUBELLA vaccines; MEASLES vaccines; VACCINATION; PUBLIC health
- Publication
Te Mata Koi: Auckland University Law Review, 2019, Vol 25, p105
- ISSN
0067-0510
- Publication type
Article