Ethics and immunization policy: promoting dialogue to sustain consensus.
The societal consensus that has supported the United States' universal childhood immunization programs for the past 50 years shows signs of eroding. This article proposes a systematic approach to evaluate immunization policy options. Through a unifying framework that combines epidemiologic, economic, and ethical concerns, this approach promotes a clearer understanding of underlying issues and inherent tradeoffs between alternative policies. Such a systematic examination of policy options could facilitate the public dialogue necessary to continually recreate a broad consensus on immunization practices and enable us to choose policies most in accord with our fundamental values.
Feudtner
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Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Marcuse
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D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000592:standards*; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000592:standards; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D011050:Policy Making; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States