Poster Session 4, 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM: Room 163 [C9]

Hell, Hegemony, and Human Papillomavirus: An Exploratory Piece Reckoning Parental Autonomy, Political Distrust, and Religious Beliefs with Children’s Rights in Vaccine Refusal

Presenter: Abigail Sullivan

Faculty Sponsor: Jonathan Bennett

School: Middlesex Community College

Research Area: Sociology and Anthropology

ABSTRACT

This research piece is an exploration of the various ethical questions surrounding parents who refuse vaccination for their children, guided primarily through an interview with the author's anti-vaccine parents. The project is written in a narrative style and delves into topics including the history of anti-vaccine sentiments in the United States, religious objections to vaccination with an emphasis on Christian and Catholic ideologies, an exploration of the rights of children and how this may apply to vaccine debates, potential limits to parental autonomy, and an examination of protective legal infrastructure for U.S. vaccine manufacturers. Additionally, the uniquely vulnerable and stigmatized position of non-medically exempt unvaccinated minors is brought to light. Ethical questions are primarily examined through utilitarian and rights-based frameworks. While specific anti-vaccination claims are mentioned for context, exploring or debunking these concerns is decentered in order to prioritize ethical debates rather than debates of facts. The broad consensus from the medical and scientific communities about vaccine safety and efficacy is taken as a baseline to inform these discussions. Due to the limited sample size and inevitable bias involved, this project stands not as a traditional academic argument, but more as an interdisciplinary view into the complex family dynamics and moral conundrums that can surround this increasingly politically relevant public health measure.  

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