Cannovo Nunzia, Scendoni Roberto, Fede Marzia Maria, Siotto Federico, Fedeli Piergiorgio, Cingolani Mariano
Federico II University Ethics Committee, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Law Department, Legal Medicine Section, Macerata University, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Apr 24;9(5):429. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9050429.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have begun vaccination campaigns, with different methods and timelines, with the goal of vaccinating over 75% of the population and thus achieving herd immunity. Initially it was necessary to identity the categories of citizens who should be the first to receive the vaccines, on the basis of scientific evidence. On the basis of this information, elderly residents in nursing homes and the staff who care for them should be the highest priority subjects for vaccination. In this context, obtaining informed consent to Covid-19 vaccination presents a considerable challenge, as the advanced age and frequent comorbidities of a significant number of the residents may mean that they are incapable of expressing consent themselves. The legislation of various Western nations substantially agrees on the general principle that those capable of judgement must be asked for their consent for healthcare services, and that even those with psychological weaknesses that limit their full ability to decide must be involved in these decision-making processes. The article can help systematize the processes to be implemented to protect the health of individuals as members of a close and fragile community.
自新冠疫情开始以来，许多国家已启动疫苗接种运动，采用了不同的方法和时间表，目标是为超过75%的人口接种疫苗，从而实现群体免疫。最初，有必要根据科学证据确定应首先接种疫苗的公民类别。基于这些信息，养老院的老年居民以及照顾他们的工作人员应是疫苗接种的最高优先对象。在这种情况下，获得新冠疫苗接种的知情同意面临着相当大的挑战，因为相当一部分居民年事已高且常有合并症，这可能意味着他们无法自行表达同意。西方各国的立法在一般原则上基本一致，即必须征求有判断能力者对医疗服务的同意，而且即使是那些心理弱点限制其充分决策能力的人也必须参与这些决策过程。本文有助于将为保护作为紧密且脆弱社区成员的个人健康而需实施的流程系统化。
