Healthcare Professionals’ Ethical Responsibility in COVID-19 Vaccination Decision-Making

Abstract

Healthcare professionals’ decision about whether to receive COVID-19 vaccination is grounded in fundamental ethical bases. This paper considers some of the ethical responsibilities surrounding vaccination. While healthcare professionals have the right to refuse the vaccine, they are urged to reflect on three key responsibilities in making the decision: i) professional responsibility; ii) social responsibility and iii) personal responsibility within the ethical dimension. This paper also argues that, in promoting vaccine acceptance, healthcare organisations have a greater institutional responsibility to be transparent and keep their staff informed about the vaccine to the best of their ability. A balanced and harmonised ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals must be critically considered in making vaccination decisions.