30 July 2025
Event Date(s)/Period(s)
30 Jul 2025
Organised by:
School of Public Health
This rigorous ethical debate took place during an event titled 'How to Agree and Disagree about Vaccine Mandates', featuring world-renowned bioethicist Professor Daniel Wikler.
Co-organised by the Medical Ethics & Humanities Unit and the Department of Emergency Medicine of School of Clinical Medicine, School of Public Health, and the Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), the debate addressed a pressing contemporary issue using an Oxford-style debate format on the proposition: 'Mandating COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers is ethically justified'. Student debaters brought the scenario to life, with some advocating for the policy's public health benefits while others putting forward counterarguments.
Professor Daniel Wikler, Mary B. Saltonstall Professor of Ethics and Population Health, Emeritus, at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, then elevated the discussion with a masterclass on ethical persuasion in public health. His insights shed light on how institutions can approach difficult decisions while maintaining trust and inclusivity.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session on stigma prevention and professional discourse, fostering dialogue on medical ethics, and equipping future healthcare leaders with key frameworks and practical communication skills.
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