Since several COVID-19 vaccines were developed and approved by the World Health Organization, people started receiving immunizations on the way to beating the pandemic. However, today the number of shots is limited worldwide, thus the problem of choice occurred and forced governments to prioritize some social groups above others. Some countries chose to vaccinate people who represent the highest risk groups first, while others decided to provide the most transmitting ones with immunizations above all. Both approaches are reasonable and address the need to decrease the number of coronavirus cases and prevent individuals with disparities from developing more severe health conditions.
In my opinion, the priorities should be set depending on the highest risk of catching the virus. For example, when individuals test positive, they spread COVID-19 to their family and closest circle where they might have friends or relatives with disparities. Indeed, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2021) states that “healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities should be offered the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines” (para. 3). Moreover, vaccination for care provides would help remain enough workforce for treating ill people.
As governments are responsible for maintaining the society operational, the priority to receive COVID-19 vaccines should also be given to the essential frontline workers. Police, food manufacturers, emergency staff, and educational institution representatives must be immunized as they interact with many other individuals, and many social functions depend on them (CDC, 2021). Besides, people older than 75 years old should also be in the priority group to receive the vaccine because they are at the highest risk of developing the severe disease (CDC, 2021). When the representatives of that age group are immunized, the hospitals’ overload will ease, and their lives will be safe. It is optimal for society to prioritize giving the COVID-19 vaccination to those who interact with the most people and transmit the disease.
Reference
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). When vaccines are limited, who should get vaccinated first? Web.