Ethical issues of parental vaccine hesitancy and resistance to the MMR vaccine

In this thesis I present a brief history of vaccination, the anti-vaccine movement, the measles virus, and the associated risks to children and adults. I then discuss the factors contributing to parental vaccine hesitancy and resistance, consider issues of undervaccination, herd immunity, and the underlying ethical issues. Finally, I address exemptions to school-required immunizations and argue for the elimination of both religious and philosophical exemptions, while examining parental moral responsibility when it comes to the health and safety of one’s own children and those with whom they may come in contact. I will also recommend potential methods for addressing the anti-vaccination movement.