Immunization Debate

This immunization debate stems from the story of Alijah Williams, aged seven, who was hospitalized with tetanus after his parents decided to not vaccinate him. Despite being a scientist himself, Alijah’s father opted to disregard scientific studies showcasing the importance of immunization (Kennedy, 2013). The Williams are one of many families around the world who are suffering from the consequences of making decisions that have put the lives of their kids in jeopardy. However, it is imperative to note that laws around immunization are unobstructed in Canada and vaccinations are not actually mandatory. Therefore, in this controversial topic of immunization, a question arises— should parents be given the right to choose if their child gets vaccinations or not?
A utilitarian perspective is one that emphasizes on achieving the highest amount of utility for the largest number of individuals. Utility is referred to as ‘pleasure, happiness, and, conversely, freedom from pain” (Holland, 2015) and with respect to the topic of immunization, the utilitarian approach asks for maximized benefit for everyone equally. Immunization is known to reduce the …show more content…
In conclusion, the benefits of immunization outweigh the cost making it our moral obligation to introduce laws to mandate immunization.

Works cited
Holland, S. (2015). Public health ethics (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Polity.
Kennedy, L. (2013). The Very Real Consequences of Not Vaccinating Your Child. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 September 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/babypost/not-vaccinating-your-child_b_3421456.html
'Please vaccinate your kids,' pleads mom of infant in hospital with whooping cough. (2016). CBC News. Retrieved 25 September 2016, from