Ethical concerns surrounding mandatory vaccination: Perspectives of healthcare practitioners

Objectives Poor vaccine uptake is often seen in countries without policies demanding the mandatory vaccination of citizens. The policy to compulsorily get people vaccinated for the common good of the general public can be considered an ethical decision. This study was aimed at evaluating the ethical concerns surrounding vaccination mandates from the perspective of Nigerian healthcare practitioners. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out among healthcare practitioners practicing within the Uyo metropolis in Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used in recruiting participants for the survey. Study participants were interviewed using a suitably designed, pre-piloted, structured, self-administered questionnaire. The interview session focused on identifying ethical concerns surrounding vaccination mandates by the government from the perspective of healthcare practitioners. Data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Program and Service Solutions version 25.0 computer package. Results Three hundred and two healthcare practitioners participated in the study. The majority of the healthcare practitioners (221; 73.2%) were of the view that mandatory vaccination was justifiable provided the safety and efficacy of the vaccine was established. About 68.9% (208) of the healthcare providers alluded that vaccination mandates by the government can be ethically justified, as they may be crucial to the protection of the health and well-being of members of the public. Conclusion In the opinion of the majority of the healthcare professionals who participated in the study, vaccine mandates can be ethically justifiable if it is safe and effective in protecting the public against an infectious disease.