How Religion Shapes The Debate: Mandatory Vaccination In Israel

Abstract

It looks like religion, and specifically Judaism, is a troubling phenomenon bringing danger to the communal health of Israeli society regarding vaccination. In theory, mandatory vaccination could be a solution to get these religious Jews to vaccinate. However, as I have argued, mandatory vaccination will not bring a satisfying solution for multiple reasons. Firstly, the religious rhetoric used in attacking vaccination is complicated and does not have to be dangerous. Mandatory vaccination based on Western, liberal bioethics is not a properly equipped tool to disarm this religious rhetoric, as it only bypasses the ideological problems, but can not solve them. Secondly, to use fairness as a principle to underline the moral obligation to get vaccinated is a worthwhile strategy for some people, but Judaism already employs duties on reciprocal responsibility. Thirdly, there are alternative methods that will be far more beneficial for Israel than the installation of a framework of state-induced compulsory vaccination. Public healthcare strategies that weave themselves with Israeli principles such as the sanctity of life, social culture and religious tradition, will generate much more social support. It would not be in Israel’s best interest to exclude religious discourse, as it can not be severed from secular bioethics and Israeli identity.