Social and legal norms of vaccination in the context of biopolitical processes, medicalization, and law as social engineering

Abstract

Among the numerous duties imposed on individuals by the state, vaccinations constitute a particularly intriguing area of study due to their close connection with the biological aspects of individual life. The medical rationale behind the vaccination duty—related to public health protection—raises little doubt regarding its legitimacy in law as an obligation to undergo injection. This article analyzes the process of strengthening the social norm of vaccination within public consciousness, as well as the societal support for its legal enforcement. The influence of biopolitics and medicalization on the shaping of mandatory vaccinations is examined, showing how law, as a tool of social engineering, reinforces social and legal acceptance of vaccinations, relying on the authority of medical knowledge and health practices. The article also reflects on the potential tightening of regulations in this area, taking into account the current framework of legislation.