Ethics and Vaccines

Several fundamental ethical principles governing research involving human subjects have gained virtually universal acceptance throughout the world. Ethical concerns related to preventive vaccines comprise three main categories: design and conduct of vaccine research involving human beings, guarantee of access to vaccines that research has demonstrated to be safe and effective, and tension between the public health benefits of vaccines and respect for the autonomy of individuals who seek to refuse mandatory vaccination of themselves or their children. In all clinical trials, an ethical imperative exists to minimize risks to subjects. An ethical requirement closely related to the principle of distributive justice is the view that research must be responsive to the health needs, and priorities of the population in which it is conducted.