Taking Risks to Protect Others—Pediatric Vaccination and Moral Responsibility

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic during 2020–2022 raised ethical questions concerning the balance between individual autonomy and protection of population, vulnerable individuals healthcare system. Pediatric vaccination differs from, for example, measles in that children were not as severely affected. main question pediatric has been whether parents outweighs population. When are seen mature enough to be granted autonomy, arise about they have right decline who should make decision when disagree with each other and/or child. In this paper, I argue encouraged only take responsibility themselves, but others. discussion cases where kind risk–benefit ratio exists extends beyond pandemic. entailed a is crucial future public health global problem, is, what extent responsible decision-makers capable contributing its management potential solution. conclude society encourage cultivate such responsibility, conceived virtue, context health.