About Us

VaccineEthics.org is a production of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics.

The Penn Center for Bioethics is a leader in bioethics research and its deployment in the ethical, efficient, and compassionate practice of the life sciences and medicine. Under the leadership of founding director Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D., the Center has over 35 senior fellows and associates with appointments in a number of University of Pennsylvania schools and departments including medicine, law, nursing, business, education, philosophy, psychology, sociology, religious studies, public policy, and public health.

Faculty members have spoken at community meetings, testified before Congress and the United Nations, and provided commentary to journalists. The Center sponsors public lectures, symposia, and workshops on timely ethical issues.

The Center’s educational mission includes a Master of Bioethics program; an undergraduate bioethics concentration through Penn’s Health and Societies program; teaching in the medical school; teaching and advising in others schools within the University of Pennsylvania; continuing and executive education courses, conferences, and seminars; clinical consultation; and a high school bioethics program.

The study of ethical issues associated with vaccines and vaccination programs has been a research focus of the Center for Bioethics since January 2005. The Center has identified and studied ethical challenges present throughout the vaccine life-cycle; organized regional, national, and international meetings; and contributed to the scholarly and public dialogues on vaccine ethics and policy.

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VaccineEthics.org Staff

Funding Source

All funds used in relation to VaccineEthics.org come from a grant from The Greenwall Foundation. (“The Ethical Challenges of Vaccines: Teaching and Learning Initiatives”: AL Caplan, Principal Investigator; JL Schwartz, Project Director.)

The Greenwall Foundation was established in 1949 by Frank K. Greenwall, CEO of National Starch Products, Inc., later to become National Starch and Chemical Corporation, and his wife, Anna Alexander Greenwall. Begun as a family foundation with an initial capital of $13,500, Greenwall is today an independent foundation awarding approximately $3 million annually and recognized nationally for its interdisciplinary program in bioethics and for supporting innovative artistic work in New York City.

Since 1991, The Foundation's program in bioethics has provided funding for physicians, lawyers, philosophers, economists, theologians and other professionals to address micro and macro issues in bioethics, providing guidance for those engaged in decision making at the bedside as well as those responsible for shaping institutional and public policy.

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This website is for general information purposes only. While every attempt has been made to ensure that all information is accurate and up-to-date, this site should not be considered a replacement for consultation with a health care professional. If you have questions or concerns about your health or medical treatment, please contact your health care provider.