The ethics of vaccine distribution

COVID-19 has led to two million deaths worldwide. With distribution of the highly anticipated vaccines underway, ethical questions about who should receive the vaccine first are of great significance. How should governments prioritise healthcare workers, seniors, people with pre-existing conditions, and racial minorities, who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19? How do international organizations develop guidance? And how do governments, policymakers and public health officials implement this guidance?

In the first episode of season 3, our host Sruthi Palaniappan is joined by University of Oxford Professor Jonathan Wolff, the co-author of a paper on ethical COVID vaccine distribution, to unpack these questions and more. To uncover how the vaccine distribution plan is implemented in practice, our correspondent Veniecia Laylor speaks with Dr. Ira Klein, the Chief Medical Officer of Health New England, who is leading the roll out of the COVID vaccine in Western Massachusetts.  

To keep up with the latest on our episodes, follow us on Instagram @OxfordPolicyPod_ and Twitter @OxfordPolicyPod.