Mandatory Vaccinations in the Age of COVID-19: A Clash of Autonomy and Beneficence

Abstract

A Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China that then spread to other parts of the world focused international attention to the pandemic which has so far claimed the lives of 0.0125% of Kenyans. This paper focuses on constitutional questions arising out of forced vaccinations by first discussing the ethical theories that guide medical practitioners. It argues that a person’s autonomy must be exercised to its greatest extent and it cannot be overridden by public interest beneficence for protecting the general population without laws being put in place in that regard.

Keywords: Mandatory, Vaccinations, COVID-19, Autonomy, Beneficence