Compulsory Vaccination: The Limit between Public and Private - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Compulsory Vaccination: The Limit between Public and Private |

The first vaccine was created by the British physician Edward Jenner in 1796 to prevent smallpox, demonstrating that inoculating material from a lesion could protect against a subsequent infection, thereby beginning a new era. A century later, new vaccines were developed with a relevant impact on the occurrence of a large number of infectious diseases, many of them eradicated, and the collective effect of achieving high vaccine coverage became evident. The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) declared that vaccines represent one of the ten most valuable purchases of the 20^th century, compared to drinking water.

Brazil has one of the most complete population vaccination programs and, mainly, accessible. In recent years, the refusal to receive vaccination and the consequent decline in herd or population immunity have contributed to the return of infectious diseases already under control, through numerous outbreaks with harm to public health, causing polarized debates among groups in favor and against vaccines. In the meantime, in order to protect the individual and the population and justify the continuation of the current vaccination program, the Brazilian Justice has been called several times. Currently, there is jurisprudence for the compulsory vaccination of children according to the vaccination schedule of the National Vaccination Program of the Ministry of Health.

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