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:
- Influenza D Virus Infection in China, 2022-2023 1 days ago
- Evidence of reassortment of avian influenza A (H2) viruses in Brazilian shorebirds 1 days ago
- Epitopes in the HA and NA of H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses that are important for antigenic drift 3 days ago
- Assessment of CD8+ T-cell mediated immunity in an influenza A(H3N2) human challenge model in Belgium: a single centre, randomised, double-blind phase 2 study 3 days ago
- Dual N-linked glycosylation at residues 133 and 158 in the hemagglutinin are essential for the efficacy of H7N9 avian influenza virus like particle vaccine in chickens and mice 3 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]