[Vaccination ethics: report on a workshop at the Ruher-Universität Bochum]

Abstract

Important issues in vaccination ethics are: the right for equal access to basic health care, self determination and solidarity. National recommendations are the basis for equal access to prevention of severe infectious diseases by vaccination allowing for provision basic health care for all. Since the effect of vaccination programmes depends heavily on high vaccination rates solidarity with respect to getting vaccinated, despite small but not deniable risks for vaccination side effects is mandatory. Research challenges in vaccination ethics pertain to paternalism, individualism, solidarity and definition of basic health care with respect to vaccine preventable disease.