The Legal Framework for Vaccination in France: From Public Distrust to the Politics of Coercion and Persuasion
Akhlāq-i zīstī i.e., Bioethics Journal,
Vol. 15 No. 40 (1404),
14 July 2025
,
Page 1-15
https://doi.org/10.22037/bioeth.v15i40.47846
Abstract
Background and Aim: France, as one of the countries with the highest levels of vaccine hesitancy in the world, has faced specific challenges regarding vaccine acceptance. This distrust is rooted in the country's history and social structure and is influenced by past public health crises. Accordingly, the present research analyzes France's legal framework concerning vaccination, the reasons for public distrust towards it, the social and legal dimensions of decisions regarding states of emergency and the extension of vaccination mandates, as well as the legal developments and policies adopted to address this challenge, particularly in the context of COVID-19 vaccination.
Methods: The present study is descriptive-analytical in nature and has been conducted using library resources, namely authoritative books and articles relevant to the subject, in order to analyze the problem.
Ethical Considerations: In this research, the ethical aspects of a library study, including the authenticity of texts, honesty, and integrity, have been observed.
Findings: The findings indicate that France, relying on the principle of the rule of law and the government's duty to protect public health, has always sought to advance mandatory vaccination within a democratic framework based on scientific consultation. However, the historical resistance of a segment of society and concerns about medical side effects led the legislature to adopt hybrid mechanisms (a combination of coercion and persuasion).
Conclusion: France's experience during the COVID-19 crisis offers three key lessons for global health law: the priority of collective interests in extraordinary circumstances, the role of judicial oversight in moderating executive power, and the necessity of transparency and trust-building. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that preparing flexible legal frameworks, with an emphasis on transparency, judicial oversight, and compensation for damages, is not merely a choice but a necessity. Iran, too, by emulating the French model, can establish flexible and transparent legal frameworks for the implementation of vaccination in order to manage public health crises.
- France
- Covid-19
- Fundamental Rights
- Public Health
- Vaccine
How to Cite
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