Allocating vaccines in a pandemic : strategic and ethical aspects

Abstract

The issue around the allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and who deserves priority on a local and global level is a question of justice, best addressed by keeping the entire population's health as the primary objective. The benefits of vaccination during a pandemic extend beyond preventing mortality and morbidity since it effectively protects and promotes health within populations by eradicating and eliminating diseases. Moreover, globally it directly impacts public welfare, health and the economy whilst extending life expectancy. A comparative analysis of the three most prominent strategies recommended by the World Health Organisation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Commission will be discussed and analysed. The study briefly outlines the underlying ethical aspects of the respective strategies before comparing the frameworks. However, as observed during the pandemic, whether the allocation and distribution of vaccines are done justly is a point of contention, often due to conflicting interests. In an unprecedented effort to tackle the global crisis, governments, international institutions, and pharmaceutical companies created a milieu to develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Nevertheless, instead of making the vaccines available to everyone on a fair and equal basis, vaccine nationalism was prominent, where rich countries stockpiled vaccines instead of redistributing them to undeveloped countries. Hence, it is argued that if vaccines are allocated and distributed justly, with the common good in mind, then viral transmission is curbed more effectively. Consequently, the health and quality of life within any given population would improve significantly.