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Discussion forum: Mandated Vaccines for Employment
My research analysis and experience professionally, I have witnessed the detrimental effects of
COVID-19 and its variants. At the same time, I glimpse how important vaccination has
facilitated in flattening the infection curve and protecting lives. However, the ministry of health
is guided by ethical principles where they respect the autonomy where they are to respect refusal
to vaccination from the client otherwise it is medical malpractice punishable by law. However,
due to the benefits of the vaccination, the employers should rather focus on informing and
encouraging employees to partake of the vaccine while reinforcing on its relevance. The law
allows persuasion and this should thus be the focus to boost vaccination.
Currently, the United States have tried numerous approaches to boost the vaccination rate. For
example, encouraging and stressing personal personalities, incentivizing programs, public
campaigns, and coordinating with non-health organizations. Respecting autonomy therefore
continues to make people oppose the vaccine as majority are still not willing to engage in the act.
Meaning, there is little the United States can do to boost vaccination rate which means that
millions of people are at risk of infection and related mortality. The dilemma arises when
autonomy is respected as the beneficence, non-maleficence ethics will be compromised since it
will cause harm to the rest of the population.
From my perspective, failure to compensate first responders upon COVID-19 infection is unfair
and unjust. Some institutions, such as healthcare, are encountering limited resources, especially
from how they were overwhelmed with COVID-19. Therefore, the workers in such institutions
have a limitation of protective equipment against the infection, and thus they are at risk. At the
same time, PPEs are not a guaranteed safety against COVID-19 infection as a number of factors
can compromise this, such as wrong handling. Due to their indispensable roles in protecting
society, they need to be compensated, and less regard is put on the value of PPEs as they are not
a full guarantee of safety.
Upon public education and assurance of the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, I take the initiative
of being vaccinated. I had a challenge dealing with minor side effects such as headache and pain
at the injection area that went away after some hours and a day, respectively. I had, however,
been briefed by healthcare workers, and WHO had also hinted on the same; therefore, it was not
worrying. Taking the vaccine made me feel better, especially upon thinking that I am boosting
my immunity against COVID-19 infection, and this way, I am also protecting those I love.
CLASSMATE’S RESPONSE
Response 1
I have gone through your response. It is understandable and significantly logical. I agree with
you that forcing vaccination with a threat of firing employees compromises the ethical principle
of autonomy. In the healthcare employment system, however, respecting autonomy paves a way
to compromise other ethical principles, particularly beneficence and non-malevolence, which
should be considered as well. Meaning there is a lot that needs to be understood and balanced in
ethical principles guiding medical practices including this COVID-19 vaccination. From the
issues raising concern, you talk about avoiding firing people by forcing them to get vaccinated.
In the rehab center, healthcare workers are the frontline people that interact with an increased
number of people, most of who have underlying health issues. Therefore, failing to get
vaccinated is a risk factor that endangers lives of thousands of lives, and this should thus be
considered as well. Thirdly I agree with you that PPEs do not offer 100% protection, and this
should thus not be used as the basis for not compensating frontline healthcare workers. And
based on your experience with vaccination, the ministry of health, CDC, and WHO call for close
monitoring for people with adverse side effects.
Response 2
Your response to the issue is an eye-opener. I agree with you that many people oppose
vaccination for valid reasons while others do not. For this case, therefore, employers in
whichever decision they take, whether mandating it or not, should consider these concepts so as
not to endanger the lives of others. But in whichever approach they take, respect to autonomy
and informed consent should be respected. It is also clear that frontline workers face a huge risk
of their lives while persevering to protect others, and this way, they should be compensated as
their roles are invaluable. And lastly, I concur with you that receiving a vaccine makes one feel
that they are protecting others, reducing paranoia of spreading the infection. Regarding the side
effects, they are quite common, as several researchers and WHO affirm, and their management
requires close monitoring by healthcare workers.