Overcoming doubt in vaccinations. The end justifies the means?

Overcoming doubt in vaccinations. The end justifies the means?

Authors

  • Rosella Ciliberti
  • Marta Licata
  • Omar Larentis a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:19:"Insubria University";}

Keywords:

Vaccine, religious and moral beliefe on vaccine, abortion, ethics, fetal issue, COVID-19

Abstract

Controversies and skepticism about vaccination have existed as long as vaccination itself. Today and yesterday, the authority of religious leaders has a fundamental role to convince members of their congregations to accept or reject vaccination. Our contribution tells of the stratagem used by the Italian doctor Luigi Sacco to make the faithful lean towards the vaccination using their faith as a means. The history of yesterday's end of today opens a current debate on the role and responsibility of religion around vaccination practice. As COVID-19 vaccine mandates grow, so are requests for religious exemptions.

References

Ciliberti R, Siri A, Petralia P, Bonsignore A. COVID-19 immunisation practices and religious-related hesitation. Med Hist 2021; 5(1):1-8.

Wadman M. Vaccines that use human fetal cells. Science 2020; 368:1170-1.

Pontifical Academy for Life. Moral reflections on vaccines prepared from cells derived from aborted human fetuses. Natl Cathol Bioeth Q 2006; 6(3):541-7.

Durbach N. They might as well brand us: Working class resistance to compulsory vaccination in Victorian England. Soc His Med 2000; 13(1):45-63.

Porter D, Porter R. The politics of prevention: Anti-vaccination and public health in 19th century England. Med Hist 1988; 32:231-52.

Sacco L. Omelia sopra il Vangelo della XIII domenica dopo la Pentecoste in cui si parla dell’utile scoperta dell’innesto del vajuolo vaccino recitata dal vescovo di Goldstat dalla tedesca nell’italiana lingua trasportata di Luigi Boni. Pistoia, stamperia degli Eredi Manfredini, 1805.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day, 1987.

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Published

31-08-2022

Issue

Section

MEDICAL HUMANITIES

How to Cite

1.
Ciliberti R, Licata M, Larentis O. Overcoming doubt in vaccinations. The end justifies the means?. Acta Biomed. 2022;93(4):e2022244. doi:10.23750/abm.v93i4.13196