How the ‘pox’ epidemic changed vaccination rules
In “How the ‘pox’ epidemic changed vaccination rules,” Michael Willrich presents an interesting perspective on the use of subject matter experts as tools of the state. The discussion of Jacobson v Massachusetts also illustrates how rulemaking and the implementation of policy play an important part in outcomes.
For this discussion, post a well-constructed “gotcha” question (see discussion in Module 1 for explanation) intended to address the coercive and unregulated nature of vaccinations from 1880 to 1905. This could include questions about vaccination raids, the requirement to be vaccinated in order to travel, the self-fulfilling prophecy of racial profiling in diseases as described by Willrich, and/or the use of public health authorities as agents of the state.
In two of your response posts, provide a rebuttal to two of your peers’ questions. Evaluate these policies for their impact on public health and health equity. Be sure to include some of the key points from Chapter 5 in your textbook.
For this discussion:
- Initial post: 350 words
Competencies:
4. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
5. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and societal levels.
6. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health.
7. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
10. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
11. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
12. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
13. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
14. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
15. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision making.
Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the role of the individual in policy implementation.
2. Appraise how the suppliers, demanders, and providers of health impact policy implementation.
3. Examine how social relationship can be a determinant of health.
