Childhood Immunizations And Universal Vaccination

Childhood Immunizations and Universal Vaccination in the U.S.  
 
Brianna D. Lumpp  
 
Kennesaw State University  
 
WellStar School of Nursing  
 
Nursing 3302: Professionalism and Ethics in Nursing  
 
Spring 2015
 
November 10, 2015
 
 
 
Childhood Immunizations and Universal Vaccination in the U.S.  
 
For years, universal childhood vaccinations have been a deliberated and debated topic among much of the population. Those who are in support of vaccination, including healthcare providers, believe that vaccinations are not only in the best interest of each child’s health, but also in the best interest of the public’s health as a whole. Many vaccine supporters also believe that the benefit of vaccinations outweigh the risks associated with them (Song, 2014, p. 542). Those who are not in support of vaccinations, or display hesitancy regarding them, may not perceive the continuing need for them or may decline them for various other reasons. Anti-vaccinators are also typically concerned with the safety of vaccinations and believe that the risks associated with them may be greater than their benefit (Song, 2014, p. 542). This paper will focus on discussing some of the ethical issues arising from childhood vaccinations, it will apply ethical principles such as autonomy and beneficence to the issue, and it will explore the role of the nursing profession and ethical standards by which they abide. Background  
 
Overtime, and due to many different factors, universal vaccinations have received