Smallpox vaccination: an early start of modern medicine in America

Edward Jenner: The Pioneer of Vaccination and His Enduring Legacy in Modern Medicine

Edward Jenner's work in the latter part of the 18th century laid the groundwork for contemporary vaccination techniques and represented a crucial moment in the battle against contagious diseases. Born in 1749 in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, Jenner received early medical training under the guidance of John Hunter, a distinguished British surgeon. Although variolation offered some immunity to smallpox, it was a hazardous procedure that could result in severe illness or even death. It was within the context of limited and hazardous medical practices that Jenner made his revolutionary observation that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox, a relatively mild illness, appeared to be immune to smallpox. This local folklore piqued Jenner's interest, leading him to investigate the potential of cowpox as a safer alternative to variolation. His work paved the way for the development of vaccines for other infectious diseases, transforming public health and establishing a foundation for modern immunology. The smallpox vaccine became a crucial element of public health initiatives, ultimately leading to the global eradication of the disease by the late 20th century. Jenner's contributions have saved countless lives and represent a testament to the enduring influence of his work on global health. His pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for vaccines that protect us today, solidifying his place as one of the most influential figures in medical history.

Ethical and Legal Debates on Vaccine Infodemics

Over the course of three and a half years, the global toll of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of millions of individuals. Scientific breakthroughs, exemplified by mRNA vaccines, have emerged as crucial tools in saving numerous lives and fortifying our defenses against future pandemics. However, the battle against the virus has been complicated by the dissemination of misleading political and ethical information, resulting in avoidable fatalities. Recognizing this phenomenon, the term 'infodemics' has been coined to denote the proliferation of false or misleading information that hinders effective social responses. Given the historical prevalence of infodemics surrounding vaccinations, this discussion delves into the ongoing ethical and legal deliberations concerning vaccination mandates, an indispensable health intervention in the face of pandemics. Governments bear the responsibility of safeguarding their citizens, acknowledging the social requirements imposed by the collective well-being. The protection of both citizens and healthcare workers becomes paramount, considering the potential risks of infection and mortality associated with individuals refusing vaccination. Historically, governments have played a pivotal role in eradicating pandemics through the implementation of vaccine mandates. However, the contemporary landscape is marked by the infusion of political and misleading misinformation, presenting new challenges. Governments are now confronted with an ethical duty to ensure that citizens possess the necessary information to make informed decisions and safeguard their well-being. While grappling with the realization that extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary responses, the lessons from past pandemics underscore the imperative of prioritizing public health, especially in the context of the high numbers of casualties worldwide. This discourse explores the ethical and legal dimensions surrounding vaccine mandates, with particular emphasis on their relevance to healthcare workers.

Why Turkish Parents Refuse Childhood Vaccination? A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Anti-vaccination is spreading among parents. In 2017, 23000 families in Turkey refused vaccinations for their children. Meanwhile an increase in infectious diseases was observed, which might be caused by vaccination rejection. The reasons why families do not vaccinate their children may be very different, such as side effects, or advocation for "healthy life" by gurus. However, the real reasons for vaccine refusal are unknown. Our aim is to determine the reasons for anti-vaccination in Turkey.

METHODS

In order to reveal the real reasons for not taking the vaccine, we planned to conduct interviews with the representatives of the vaccine rejection group using qualitative research methodology with the "grounded theory" method. We searched some anti-vaccination blogs to find candidates for interviews. Within the scope of our study, parental concerns about vaccinations were classified by analyzing the data obtained from semi-structured questions and interviews recorded with voice recorders in face-to-face interviews with 21 parents in 13 cities of Turkey.

RESULTS

The obtained findings were classified under the headings of ''mistrust'', ''vaccine efficacy-importance'', ''decision-making processes - bases'', and ''law-ethics''. Mistrust was the main theme, almost singularly, as the most important reason for vaccine rejection. The salient reasons for mistrusts were: Companies which produce vaccines especially international companies because of conspiratory beliefs; health authorities, because of the belief about non-transparency in epidemiologic data, immunization council etc. and healthcare professionals, because of their non-communicative and non-concerned attitude.

CONCLUSION

Mistrust is hard to overcome. The beliefs of the patients cannot be easily changed. As a result of our study, we made some recommendations for health authorities, healthcare professionals, companies and other related stakeholders.

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Medical, Ethical and Legal Aspects

Background

Following the consideration of COVID-19 as pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), developing new vaccinations against COVID-19 was the dream of humanity. Leading companies competed to achieve this task. Several vaccinations have been developed relatively quickly.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to review the literature regarding medical, ethical, and legal aspects of COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

Literature was reviewed regarding various issues of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Results and Discussion

The main findings showed that a dilemma exists in literature regarding the ethics in general in keeping the rights of individuals to retain their rights to receive the vaccine and considering receiving the vaccination as compulsory.

Conclusion

As the disease has become pandemic with high mortality rates, keeping the safety of the community has received the priority on individual rights, and many countries considered compulsory vaccinations.

COVID-19 Compulsory Vaccination: Legal and Bioethical Controversies

The imposition of compulsory health treatments has always been a subject of animated legal and bioethical debate. What is at stake are two opposing interests that are in their own way protected by international treaties and constitutional provisions: the right to individual self-determination and the duty to defend and preserve collective safety. The global health crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic has placed the issue of the legitimacy of imposing compulsory vaccination at the center of the multifaceted debate on pandemic health policies. Indonesia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Federated States of Micronesia are currently the only four countries in the world where the COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory for all citizens. Italy was the first country in the European Union to introduce this obligation, effective from 8 January 2022 by virtue of the decree-law approved on 5 January 2022, which imposed vaccination compulsory for everyone over the age of 50. Similar paths have been undertaken by Greece and Austria, where the obligation will start respectively on 16 January 2022 (for citizens aged over 60) and 1 February 2022 (for citizens of all ages). However, in many civilized countries, “selective” forms of compulsory vaccination, i.e., aimed at specific categories of individuals, especially healthcare professionals, are already provided for. The present work aims to offer a concise and as much as possible exhaustive overview of the main ethical and legal issues related to compulsory COVID-19 vaccination, with reference to both the Italian and the international context, mainly European.