The vaccination of children has unique ethical implications. This article examines the ethics of childhood vaccination from two different perspectives. First, vaccination is approached as a preventive medical decision involving a child, using the ethical framework of medical decision-making for children. Second, vaccination is considered from a social and societal perspective, drawing on arguments from justice. From both these perspectives it is apparent that an ethical obligation exists to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases by the appropriate use of vaccination. These ethical considerations have implications for policy, and in the paper a three-tiered approach to vaccination policy is defended: judicious use of mandatory policies, educational interventions, and building of trust. (DIPF/Orig.
