Zimmerman RK. Rationing of influenza vaccine during a pandemic: Ethical analyses. Vaccine. 2007 Mar 1;25(11):2019-2026
Rationing of scarce vaccine supplies will likely be required when the next pandemic occurs, raising the questions about how to ration and upon what principles. Because influenza pandemics have differing mortality patterns, such as the 1918 pandemic´s "W" shaped curve that effected healthy young adults, the particular pattern should inform rationing. Competing ethical principles for vaccine rationing are utilitarianism and egalitarianism. Vaccine manufacturers and essential healthcare workers can be justified with either principle. Utilitarian principles of choosing based on social worth or those in whom vaccination is most likely to medically succeed raise substantial justice issues. Egalitarian principles of medical neediness and random chance avoid justice concerns and are proposed. A framework that uses multiple principles to address influenza vaccine rationing in light of a shortage is recommended.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Structures of H5N1 influenza polymerase with ANP32B reveal mechanisms of genome replication and host adaptation 2 days ago
- Risk assessment of a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus from mink 2 days ago
- Detection of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in New York City 2 days ago
- Sequence-based epitope mapping of high pathogenicity avian influenza H5 clade 2.3.4.4b in Latin America 3 days ago
- Guanylate-binding protein 1 inhibits inflammatory factors produced by H5N1 virus through Its GTPase activity 3 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]