To Vaccinate, or Not to Vaccinate

By Caren D. Shapiro

Abstract

The case was prompted by a newspaper story about a couple who refused on religious grounds to have their son vaccinated even though vaccination is a requirement for admission to the public schools. It explores the issues surrounding the necessity and consequences of vaccination. The case is suitable for both non-majors and allied health biology courses.

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Date Posted

08/07/2001

Overview

Objectives

To understand the difference between infection and disease.
To understand the consequences of vaccine-preventable microbial diseases.
To understand the purposes of different vaccines (e.g., lowering the risk of serious disease versus prevention of infection).
To understand that vaccines differ in their efficacy.
To understand the side-effects of vaccines.
To understand how infections are transmitted as well as risks associated with infection transmission from and to unvaccinated individuals.
To gain an understanding of the notion of risk vs. benefit in decision making about being vaccinated (in general and for particular vaccines).
To become acquainted with the various sources of information available about vaccine efficacy, side-effects, etc.

Keywords

Vaccine; vaccination; infectious disease; bacterial disease

Subject Headings

Biology (General)

Medicine (General)

Microbiology

Public Health

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

Ethics, Social issues

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Dilemma/Decision, Discussion

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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