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Refugees, humanitarian aid and the right to decline vaccinations
  1. A L Caplan,
  2. David R Curry
  1. Population Health, Medical Ethics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Arthur Caplan, Population Health, Medical Ethics, New York University School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, New York, NY 10016, USA; Arthur.Caplan{at}nyumc.org

Abstract

Recent instances of governments and others refusing humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs (internally-displaced persons) unless they agreed to polio immunization for their children raise difficult ethical challenges. The authors argue that states have the right and a responsibility to require such vaccinations in instances where the serious vaccine-preventable disease(s) at issue threaten others, including local populations, humanitarian workers, and others in camps or support settings.

  • Ethics

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