Legal Obligations in Mandatory Vaccination in Schools: A Public Health Law and Ethics Perspective
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Abstract
This study analyzes the legal and ethical legitimacy of mandatory vaccination policies in schools from a public health law perspective. It focuses on the relationship between the state’s responsibility to protect public health, children’s right to health, and the boundaries of parental autonomy in making medical decisions for children. The study applies public health theory and legal certainty theory to examine the normative and ethical foundations underlying mandatory vaccination. A mixed-methods approach with a sequential explanatory design is employed, combining normative legal analysis with an empirical review of secondary data. The legal analysis examines national regulations concerning health, immunization, and child protection, while the empirical component reviews scholarly literature addressing public acceptance, implementation challenges, and ethical concerns surrounding school-based vaccination programs. The findings indicate that mandatory vaccination policies have strong legal justification as preventive measures aimed at controlling infectious diseases and protecting children’s health. From an ethical perspective, such policies may be justified when implemented proportionally, transparently, and on the basis of scientific evidence, while providing appropriate parental consent procedures and medically justified exemptions. The study further demonstrates that policy effectiveness depends not only on legal authority but also on regulatory clarity, effective risk communication, institutional accountability, and public trust. One important limitation is the restricted availability of primary empirical data concerning the experiences of parents, teachers, healthcare workers, and policymakers involved in school-level implementation. Therefore, future policy development should strengthen legal regulations, improve public health education, and establish transparent communication mechanisms. This study contributes to health law literature by integrating legal and ethical perspectives to develop a balanced framework for protecting collective health, children’s rights, parental autonomy, and legal certainty.
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