Exploring Bioethics - NIH Office of Science Education - National ...

Organizer for Day 1: Exploring VaccinesActivity 1: Setting Vaccination Policies: What Is the Ethical Question?Estimated Time: 10 minutesGive each student a copy of Master 2.1. Introduce the story on the master, andelicit initial reactions to it from students.Review the four key questions for approaching a bioethical issue (see the ExploringBioethics poster), and ask students, “What ethical questions does the story raise?”Display students’ questions, and ensure that they include this one: Under whatcircumstances, if any, should a state grant exemptions to its school vaccinationpolicy? Tell students that they will be making a recommendation to their state’spublic health department about the state’s vaccination policy.Explain that this module focuses on diseases that traditionally occur in childhoodand are readily transmitted between people.As a lead-in to Activity 2, ask students what other kinds of information they needto answer the ethical question.Page 2-7, Steps 1–2Page 2-8, Steps 3–4Page 2-8, Steps 5–6Page 2-9, Step 7Page 2-9, Step 8Activity 2: Gathering the Relevant FactsEstimated Time: 35–45 minutesReinforce the importance of gathering relevant facts when considering an ethicalquestion, and give each student a copy of Master 2.2.Divide students into groups of three or four. Ask them to work with their group aseach student fills in Master 2.2.Point out the four stations you made from Masters 2.3–2.6. Allow each group tospend 5 to 10 minutes at each station.Reassemble the class, give each student a copy of Master 2.7, and ask them torecord the main ethical question and the relevant facts on it.Page 2-9, Steps 1–2Page 2-9, Step 3Page 2-10, Steps 4–5Page 2-10, Steps 6–8Debrief Station 1. Ask, “How many people have had, or know someone who hashad, these diseases?” Students should record important points on Master 2.2.Debrief Stations 2 and 3. Ask why people might not be vaccinated. Page 2-11,Steps 11–13Debrief Station 4. Review the difference between exemptions and opting out. Page 2-12, Step 14Page 2-10, Steps 9–10Closure: Ask students to reflect on these questions: Are some reasons for wanting Page 2-13to opt out of vaccination more acceptable than others? Is refusing a vaccinationbecause of fears about health risks as acceptable—or as unacceptable—as refusingbecause of fears of needles?Extension: See vaccine information and questions online. Page 2-13Involves copying a master2-14 Exploring Bioethics