Making Decision About Vaccines for Minors. Health Policies, Individual Choices and Legislative Interventions: The Italian Case

Abstract

In Italy, as in other Countries around the world, there is a strong debate about vaccines for children. This paper highlights the legal, ethical and social reasons for the mandatory vaccination practice, both in public decision-making and in private choices. In Italy there are no penalties for non-vaccination. Starting from important recent institutional and legal interventions, attention will be given to arguments in favor of combating deviant behavior. We will therefore propose arguments and reflections, to clarify an issue that is often very confusing, especially in the era of the global health problems.