e-Bulletin August 2025

Oxford Debate and Ethical Deliberations on Vaccine Mandates
A Thought-Provoking Forum Featuring Professor Daniel Wikler on Public Health Ethics and Discourse

On July 30, 2025, a forum for 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 Medical Ethics & Humanities Unit and Department of Emergency Medicine of School of Clinical Medicine, School of Public Health and Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D²4H), the debate addressed a pressing contemporary issue using an Oxford-style debate format, centering 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 raised counterarguments.

Professor Daniel Wikler, Mary B. Saltonstall Professor of Ethics and Population Health, Emeritus at Harvard 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.