Čes. slov. farm. 2022, 71(1):3-12 | DOI: 10.5817/CSF2022-1-3

Ethical and legal requirements for vaccination against COVID-19

Aleš Franc^1,*, Vladimír Bíba²

¹ Farmaceutická fakulta MU, Ústav farmaceutické technologie, Brno

² Advokátní kancelář, Praha

In the current context, there is an extraordinary interest of states in vaccinating the population to prevent Covid-19. In the Czech Republic, gene mRNA and vector DNA vaccines are approved only with conditional marketing authorization, for which a complete and long-term safety assessment is currently lacking. Vaccines show some potential risks, such as penetration of lipid nanoparticles into surrounding tissues, incorporation of DNA into the host genome, ADE syndrome, development of resistant mutations, myocarditis, pericarditis, and thromboembolic events. Since the level of antibodies after vaccination is soon decreasing, immunity after the disease persists longer, and the disease's fatality rate is very low, especially in adolescents, only voluntary vaccination is ethically acceptable, without any direct or indirect restrictions on the unvaccinated. The conclusion is in line with the principles of medical ethics of nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice.

Keywords: ethics; COVID-19; gene vaccines; risks; voluntariness

Received: October 19, 2021; Accepted: January 7, 2022; Published: January 1, 2022  Show citation