Ethical Issue with Covid-19 Vaccine: Who Should Receive It First?

Discussion 

In Oregon, the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out in December. However, an ethical dilemma exists on who should receive the vaccine first, considering the current increase in Covid-19 cases in the area. Some doctors, such as Dr. Cumming, in a news article, propose that essential workers should receive the vaccine first as well as other high-risk people in Oregon. Also, the vaccine will be given to communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. These communities include racial and ethnic minority groups. This raises the issue of equitable distribution of the vaccine in the region. Some argue that racial minorities such as the Latinos should be given special consideration because they were the hardest hit. 

On the contrary, another group argues that the high Covid-19 deaths in racial minorities is caused by underlying factors such as obesity and social factors that increase the risk of exposure, despite one's race hence the need to distribute the vaccine equitably in all populations regardless of race. The principle of justice emphasizes on equitable distribution of both benefits and risks. It also supports the vaccination of the least advantaged individuals in the community, such as those who are immunocompromised or with underlying medical problems. However, the principle of justice also prioritizes equitable administration of the Covid-19 vaccine to all Oregon residents regardless of a person's socioeconomic factors. This raises ethical concerns on the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Article link: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/the-first-doses-of-vaccine-could-reach-oregon-in-two-weeks/283-c901a97d-1990-4202-99a1-06318b55bdf 

Response 

Hello Felisha Benjamin 

Thanks for sharing. I liked the example you gave of the situation that healthcare professionals have been going through in deciding who should receive treatment first because of the high number of Covid-19 patients. Although the situation has improved now, healthcare professionals encountered an ethical dilemma. They had to decide on who to treat first with the few available resources.