Certain people can’t be vaccinated (e.g. babies), they have to rely on herd immunity.
Re:Vaccines don't cause autism
by infinite8s on Friday September 17, 2010 @10:30PM
(#1703537)
Well, if the mother was exposed to either the disease or the vaccine, and she is breastfeeding the baby, then the baby will have protection (another strong argument in favor of breastfeeding babies) until they are old enough for the vaccine.
Re:Vaccines don't cause autism
by cubulgaria on Saturday September 18, 2010 @11:11PM
(#1705512)
Please provide references. Last I read in the literature there was only some immunity provided. Not every mom can breastfeed. Not every mom can breastfeed enough to constantly transfer antibodies. Not every mom who breastfeeds may have antibodies to the given illness.
Secondly, according to your interpretation of Kant's categorical imperative it's perfectly ethical for no one to get vaccinated because everyone can act in that way. You may not like the outcome, but your gedankenexperiment satisfies the categorical imperative because everyone holds the belief and thus it is ethical.
Kant's categorical imperative is merely a way for a large percentage of the population to force their ethics on others. Largely because the primary way it is used is to justify policies rather than have policies stem from it. Since not everyone can agree that everyone should be vaccinated policies to vaccinate everyone are unethical according to Kant.