The Turnstone: talking about vaccines #15
Talking about vaccine mandates
Welcome to The Turnstone: talking about vaccines. Here, I share resources to help you have kind and non-judgemental conversations with people who are uncertain about, or opposed to, vaccination. I send these resources out every Wednesday - if you’d like them emailed to you directly, you can sign up to my mailing list.
This week, I focus on vaccine mandates. I’ve written about mandates myself, and there are advantages and disadvantages. These resources give a range of different views on the complex issue of vaccine mandates, although they are united on the importance of getting vaccinated. The diverse opinions will help you have better conversations with those who are uncomfortable with vaccine mandates.
Image credit: Getty Images
Opposition to childhood vaccination mandates from 2015 (3 minute read)
In this article, a group of public health doctors argue against strict childhood vaccine mandates such as those in Australia and some states of the USA.
Mandates necessary because vaccines don’t work perfectly (4 minute read)
This article may help you in discussions with people who argue that if vaccines worked you shouldn’t care about them being unvaccinated.
The paradox at the heart of the vaccine mandate debate | TheHill
Ethical considerations for New Zealand’s vaccine mandate (5 minute read)
This article looks at the vaccine mandate in New Zealand from an ethical and philosophical perspective.
More from a philosophical perspective (6 minute read)
While this article is not strictly about mandates, it does offer a useful philosophical perspective on vaccination.
Combating COVID-19 anti-vaxxers: lessons from political philosophy (theconversation.com)
In depth
The following articles are longer and a little more academic, but may be useful if you need to discuss vaccination with people who are concerned about mandates rather than vaccination itself – or if you yourself are not in favour of mandates.
A case of impeccable timing (10 minute read)
This article looks at vaccine mandates in the USA and considers whether they would be appropriate during Ebola virus outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was published in January 2020.
Opinion of the World Health Organisation (15 minute read)
The World Health Organisation is neutral on the subject of vaccine mandates. This publication outlines their reasoning.
COVID-19 and mandatory vaccination: Ethical considerations and caveats (who.int)
NZ Council of Civil Liberties on the vaccine mandate (25 minute read)
Although long, this opinion from the NZ Council of Civil Liberties is well-considered and not a difficult read.
Let me know what you think in the comment box below. And if you know someone who might find these resources useful, please share The Turnstone with them.