Human Rights, Informed Consent, and the Influence of Gender in Compulsory Vaccination: A Qualitative Analysis to Mediate Public Policy in a Protracted Social Conflict

Author

Shannon Christine Rowles-McGighan, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Halmos College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Conflict Resolution Studies

First Advisor

Judith McKay

Second Advisor

Urszula Zanko

Third Advisor

Dustin Berna

Keywords

compulsory vaccination, conflict, gender, human rights, informed consent, mediation

Abstract

This research study sought to understand the perspectives and experiences related to theCompulsory Vaccination Policy and the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The research objective was to mediate the conflict between the public and the medical community by presenting what William Ury called the “third side.” Uri (1999) studied conflict and found another way to perceive conflict from a larger perspective that emphasizes a fair solution that meets both sides’ needs and the surrounding communities. This study involved qualitative analysis to triangulate the concerns in the conflict through an evaluation of vaccine injury cases, vaccine injury data collection methods, the influence of gender in the conflict, and issues related to the current public policy on compulsory vaccination. The mediation avenue presented is a vaccine safety policy initiative to mandate an active reporting system to address vaccine reactions. The population of focus includes children who sustained adverse vaccine events and their parents who filed a case through the United States Court of Federal Claims. Finally, the study concluded by developing a child welfare model for future data collection on vaccine efficacy and adverse events. Keywords: Compulsory vaccination, vaccine injury, Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, human rights, informed consent, conflict, mediation.

NSUWorks Citation

Shannon Christine Rowles-McGighan. 2024. Human Rights, Informed Consent, and the Influence of Gender in Compulsory Vaccination: A Qualitative Analysis to Mediate Public Policy in a Protracted Social Conflict. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Conflict Resolution Studies. (248)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/248.