The same principle should apply to Hepatitis B and other immunizations, with patient and doctor balancing the severity and likelihood of the risk against the severity and likelihood of complications. A number of public health officials have admitted that vaccines for illnesses such as chickenpox were recommended because government officials calculated that the cost and inconvenience of parents' lost time from work taking care of children with chickenpox was greater than the costs of chickenpox vaccination. Some of the impetus for mandated vaccination reflects a concern for fairness. If only some children are vaccinated against chickenpox, the argument goes, other children are also at least partially protected because the likelihood of the spread of chickenpox is decreased. On the other hand, if exposed to the infectious agent the nonvaccinated children are more likely to suffer the infection.
Vaccines can and do save lives.
But we are concerned about pressuring or even forcing physicians to violate their responsibility to keep the patients' benefit uppermost in their minds. As a result, vaccine mandates put a significant number of children at unnecessary risk in addition to violating the patient-physician relationship. Because of these concerns, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, recently voted unanimously for a moratorium on vaccine mandates. We think the safety of every child and patient's civil rights should be the first considerations. Cihak, based in Aberdeen, Wash., is president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.