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Public concerns about vaccinations of young children have significantly grown over the

years. Various qualitative studies have been done on the same matter, it has provided helpful

information to public health and physicians together with authorities to make decisions and

vaccination polices to educated and address people on the importance of vaccinations.

Vaccinations of children at their early ages demands striking the balance between the parent’s

decision to whether to get their children immunized and the advantages to public health

derived from enforcing vaccine mandates. Vaccination of children has ethical considerations

which extends to various sectors of the public health. (Kristin S et al 2016) In this article I

will focus on demonstrating key ethical, cultural and inclusive principles to applied when

providing education around the importance of childhood vaccinations in a community that

has a large number of residents who are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)

backgrounds.

Ethics

There are four principles of biomedical ethics concerning the vaccination of children, my

objective is to create a comprehensive and applicable method that will guide Anahita to

address ethical aspects of vaccinations at both individual and society level.

i. Principle of respect for autonomy

Principle of respect for autonomy is one of the ethics in vaccination which should be

considered in the field, I this ethics, the respect for parent’s views is paramount and should be

respected. However, the cause of anti-vaccination is due to insufficient information or

misinformation. (Dubé et al 2015; 14:99–117.) In many cases parents are the making decision

on vaccination of their children, it is also the role of government to protect the child against

any harm and this can challenge the parental authority where a child is at risk (Katz et al

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2016;138). As part of the education exercise, Anahita should uphold the respect of autonomy

by respecting the parent’s choices, seeking parental permission to offer correct information to

reduce vaccine hesitancy or refusal. Having an informed consent in the parental side will lead

to a voluntary decision.

ii. Nonmaleficence

Nonmaleficence is a very important ethical principle which actually needs a medical officer

to restrain from harming of a patient. (Gillon R et al 1985; 291:130–131.). although

vaccination is a safe procedure, it is important for a physician to practice this principle since

there are situations which needs to be addressed according through principle of

nonmaleficence

iii. Beneficence.

Beneficence explicitly defines the core aim of physicians in providing the healthcare services,

the define treatment procedures that is recognized by the patient (Taylor et al, 2013;118:1–9).

This principle is the source of all trust in the medical setup and is a necessary for patient-

physician rapport, which yields an effective immunization process.

iv. Justice

And finally, justice is an equalizer of all these ethics, it entails equitability and distributive

justice. It encompasses ensuring subjects equal access to preventive measures and,

additionally, equal contribution to control of communicable diseases. This idea of justice is in

hand with solidarity, to serve a common good in expense of owns needs. (Hendrix et al 2016;

106:273–278.)

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Cultural principles

Culture of a group of people is what defines them, disrespecting the culture is equal to

disregarding them. I would encourage Anahita to research about the community to know in

details all the aspects of a community before engaging in his activity. It is paramount to know

political set up, cultural and as well as religious norms of a community especially those

which revolve around gender and sensitive topics of discussion. To ensure smooth and

successful education on vaccination of children within a community, I will advice on

maintain respect on the community protocols, cultural practices and also spiritual beliefs;

these are the principles which are upheld in a community.

Language in a culturally and linguistically diverse community is a subject of consideration.

While educating this linguistically diverse group it is important for Anahita to embrace this

diversity and conform to it, she should consider arranging for interpreters to assist him while

offering the education to CaLD or a culturally inclusive language to strengthen community

understanding and awareness. According to 2011 Australian census, the demographic profile

includes information about countries of birth, ancestries, language spoken at home,

proficiency in spoken English and religious affiliations of Western Australians.

I would prefer him to involves community leadership authority, engaging them show a good

manners and respect for elders, this is a preferred form of communication to build trust and

long-term relationships while offering education on vaccination. Acknowledge family roles

and their importance in the community, as it is the basic unit where children grow within and

are the decision makers in child’s immunizations. Furthermore, she should be very mindful to

some sensitive terms such as abuse, disability, violence, neglect etc. some people from CaLD

community may not well understand them and may cause distress.

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Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with disabilities should be

recognized. Be reminded of their rights and their freedoms and their unique insights into their

experiences, and understanding the influence of their culture on those experiences and overall

well-being.

Inclusive principles

as a health promotion officer providing education on the importance of childhood

vaccinations in a community that has a large number of residents who are from culturally and

linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, she needs to be inclusive during the whole period.

She should involve all the diverse groups in the community including people living with

disability, non-English speakers, women and others. (Halcomb et al, 2007, 1000-1011). this is

important in order to increasing community engagement in education of vaccination of the

childhood. Community engagements various interactions ranging from information sharing to

capacity building. She should provide information to the public about importance of

vaccinations, procedures to followed and the impacts of not taking vaccinations in a way that

is understandable and appropriate to everybody.

Furthermore, she should seek views and feedback from CaLD communities in order to

specifically address all their individual issues without leaving out others, being sensitive to

complexities of communicating with people from culturally and linguistically diverse

backgrounds, will aim to communication ties which can involves use of first language,

interpretation and multicultural media. Finally, recognition of prior and informed consent and

respect for an individual’s autonomy and right to participate (or not) in engagements and to

nominate appropriate support person/s (Chauhan et al, 2021, 1747)

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Conclusion

In this scenario, in order for Anahita to effectively carry out her task as a health promoter, she

should consider key ethical principles; respect for autonomy nonmaleficence, beneficence

and justice in her quest. Furthermore, she should uphold cultural principles of a CaLD

community which involves respect to the community’s norms and beliefs, finally the

inclusivity principles, this will aid the culturally and linguistically diverse engagements. By

her practicing all these, she be able to demonstrate her understating in providing education

around the importance of childhood vaccinations in a community.

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