Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Perspectives
  • Published:

Science and society – vaccines

Ethical issues for vaccines and immunization

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 2, pages 291–296 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Vaccination is the only type of medical intervention that has eliminated a disease successfully. However, both in countries with high immunization rates and in countries that are too impoverished to protect their citizens, many dilemmas and controversies surround immunization. This article describes some of the ethical issues involved, and presents some challenges and concepts for the global community.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Number of children's vaccines used routinely in developing and industrialized countries.
Figure 2: Measles global annual reported incidence and immunization coverage, 1980–2000.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ten great public health achievements — United States, 1900–1999. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly Rep. 48, 241–243 (1999).

  2. Impact of vaccines universally recommended for children — United States, 1990–1998. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly Rep. 48, 243–248 (1999).

  3. Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations. Global immunization challenges [online], 〈http://www.vaccinealliance.org/reference/globalimmchallenges.html〉

  4. Rice, A. L., Sacco, L., Hyder, A., & Black, R. E. Malnutrition as an underlying cause of childhood deaths associated with infectious diseases in developing countries. Bull. World Health Organ. 78, 1207–1221 (2000).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Hinman, A. Eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases. Annu. Rev. Public Health 20, 211–229 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. World Health Organization. State of the World's Vaccine and Immunizations (in the press)

  7. Feudtner, C. & Marcuse, E. K. Ethics and immunization policy: promoting dialogue to sustain consensus. Pediatrics 107, 1158–1164 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Foege, W. in New Generation Vaccines (eds Levin, M., Woodrow, G., Kaper, J. & Cobon, G.) 97 (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wilson, C. B. & Marcuse, E. K. Vaccine safety–vaccine benefits: science and the public's percepion. Nature Rev Immunol 1, 160–165 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Henderson, D. A. Eradication: lessons from the past. Bull. World Health Organ. 76, 17–21 (1998).

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Henderson, D. A. Primary health care as a practical means for measles control. Rev. Infect. Dis. 5, 606–607 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ada, G. in New Generation Vaccines 2nd edn (eds Levine, M. et al.) 13–24 (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wakefield, A. et al. Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet 351, 637–641 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Birmingham, K. UK immunization highs and lows. Nature Med. 7, 135 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Duffell, E. Attitudes of parents towards measles and immunisation after a measles outbreak in an anthroposophical community. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 55, 685–686 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bazin, H. The ethics of vaccine usage in society: lessons from the past. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 13, 505–510 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hinman, A. Eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases. Annu. Rev. Public Health 20, 211–229 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Instussusception among recipients of rotavirus vaccine— United States, 1998–1999. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly Rep. 48, 577–581 (1999).

  19. Wilde, H. What are today's orphaned vaccines? Clin. Infect. Dis. 33, 648–650 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jimenez, J. Vaccines — a wonderful tool for equity in health. Vaccine 19, 2201–2205 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Vandermissen, W. WHO expectation and industry goals. Vaccine 19, 1611–1615 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Department of Vaccines and Biologicals. WHO Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Monitoring System 2001 Global Summary (World Health Organization, Geneva, 2001) 〈http://www.who.int/vaccines-documents/GlobalSummary/GlobalSummary.pdf〉

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank C. Wiley and, in particular, R. Ingrum for their assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vaccines Research, Chiron Corporation, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, 94608, California, USA

    Jeffrey B. Ulmer

  2. Transgene, 11 rue de Molshelm, Strasbourg Cedex, 67082, France

    Margaret A. Liu

Authors
  1. Jeffrey B. Ulmer
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Margaret A. Liu
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret A. Liu.

Related links

Related links

FURTHER READING

Public–private partnerships

Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

Mectizan Donation Program

Medicines for Malaria Venture

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development

Governmental and professional groups

Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunization

National Network for Immunization information

World Health Organization

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ulmer, J., Liu, M. Ethical issues for vaccines and immunization. Nat Rev Immunol 2, 291–296 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri780

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nri780

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing