We should not vaccinate the young to protect the old: A response to Giubilini, Savulescu, and Wilkinson

Abstract

A recent article by Giubilini, Savulescu, and Wilkinson posed a timely question: should we vaccinate children to save the old? According to the authors, this option could be acceptable if a number of conditions applied. In this piece, I hold that its main claim- that using children to fight epidemics is morally acceptable if this only causes them little harm-is fair. However, this is only true if the idea of 'small risk' does not equate to high risk to a small number of children. On the other hand, my reply shows that the acceptability of vaccination of children should not be based on making exceptions to the Kantian categorical imperative, but to the simple fact that we can rely on a presumption of consent to altruistic behavior by children. Nevertheless, I also state that this option would be the best strategy in the COVID-19 scenario. Isolating children through the performance of tests in schools and institutes could be a better alternative, since it would hinder their spreading of the disease without depriving the elderly of a scarce resource, namely the vaccine.