Preventing Sin: The Ethics of Vaccines Against Smoking

Abstract

Advances in immunotherapy are paving the way toward vaccines that target unhealthy behaviors, such as a vaccine that blocks the action of nicotine, reducing the pleasure caused by smoking. Such a tool could prove to be an effective tool for preventing children from taking up smoking. Would it be permissible?

Nicotine Vaccines for Smoking Prevention and Treatment from Utilitarian and Deontological Ethical Perspectives

“…Pharmaceutical companies have developed and tested three nicotine vaccines: NicVAX, CYT002-NicQb, and TA-NIC (Cornuz et al, 2008;Goniewicz & Delijewski, 2013;Lieber & Millum, 2013). Clinical trials have been carried out to study the effectiveness of these vaccines on adults as a smoking cessation tool.…”

“…Clinical trials have been carried out to study the effectiveness of these vaccines on adults as a smoking cessation tool. They have passed phase I and II testing by showing a positive efficacy, identification of side effects, and by determination of appropriate dosages (Lieber & Millum, 2013). Experimental studies indicated that after 12 months of providing the nicotine vaccines for adult smokers, smoking cessation rates were between 16-42%, depending on the type and dose of vaccines (Cornuz et al, 2008;Lieber & Millum, 2013).…”

“…However, no studies (e.g., longitudinal studies) could be found showing the effect of these vaccines on adults, adolescents and children who have never smoked tobacco. Reseachers only speculated that using vaccines as a preventative method for smoking behaviour if it is given to adults, adolescents and children who never smoked would prevent those poulations from involving themselves in smoking behaviour in the future or quit smoking if they currently smoke (Lieber & Millum, 2013).…”

“…Vaccinating adults who smoke with the nicotine vaccines is likely going to be accepted by the majority of smokers who are willing to quit. Whereas vaccinating adolescents and children to immunize them against smoking behavior will have critical and needed ethical scrunity by the parents/legal guardians (Lieber & Millum, 2013). Consequently, ethical analysis is required before policy-makers and health professionals make any decisions about offering nicotine vaccines for adults, adolescents and children.…”

“…Many researchers are looking forward to investigating nicotine vaccines as an immunological therapy to prevent and treat smoking. Nicotine vaccines provide protection against tempting pleasures that lead to smoking addiction (Lieber & Millum, 2013). These vaccines stimulate the production of antibodies that bind to nicotine molecules and prevent nicotine from reaching the brain (Cornuz et al, 2008;Goniewicz & Delijewski, 2013).…”