Question Author
@Magsmay
This instance does highlight some interesting moral and ethical dilemnas. To me the life threatening condition he suffers, which could be alleviated and more aggressive treatments given should he receive a blood transfusion do outweigh the religious beliefs of the family, and him, since he is technically still a minor - although I do feel a bit uneasy given how close he is to being legally competent in his own right.
Vaccination raises a different set of issues. The objection here has nothing to do with religious beliefs as such, but is based upon a calculation of benefit versus harm, and with a component of social responsibity to the children of others. And for me at least, the benefits of vaccination, the protection they offer against a host of communicable diseases, is so great that administering such vaccines should be entirely uncontroversial.
I would be quite happy actually were mandatory childhood vaccination be introduced to the UK, much as they do in the USA.