Easing Restrictions During Vaccine Scarcity. How Mitigation Measures Help Tackling Associated Moral and Behavioral Challenges

Tretter M, Ehrlich DB, von Ulmenstein U (2021)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2021.1604269

Open Access Link: https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/phrs.2021.1604269/full

Abstract

Background: When vaccines became first available during the Covid-19 pandemic, their demand significantly exceeded their supply. In consequence, the access to vaccines, initially, was distributed unequally. At the same time, governments started easing pandemic restrictions for vaccinated and recovered persons and restoring their freedoms since their risk of transmitting the virus is significantly reduced.

Evidence: We show that restoring freedoms for vaccinated and recovered persons – while upholding restrictions for the rest of the population – is morally unfair during vaccine scarcity. Further, it may yield unintended side-effects, including perverse incentives, growing rifts in society, and the expansion of marginalization.

Policy Options & Recommendations: We recommend accompanying easing for vaccinated and recovered individuals by mitigation measures for those who are neither vaccinated nor recovered. We propose, first, to temporarily lift the same restrictions for negative-tested individuals, as for vaccinated or recovered people. Second, the state must ensure broad and easy access to testing for everyone – free of charge.

Conclusion: If done right, these mitigation measures create (at least temporarily) equal access to freedom for everybody – solving the moral problem of unfair access to freedoms and counteracting possible negative consequences.

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How to cite

APA:

Tretter, M., Ehrlich, D.B., & von Ulmenstein, U. (2021). Easing Restrictions During Vaccine Scarcity. How Mitigation Measures Help Tackling Associated Moral and Behavioral Challenges. Public Health Reviews. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2021.1604269

MLA:

Tretter, Max, David B. Ehrlich, and Ulrich von Ulmenstein. "Easing Restrictions During Vaccine Scarcity. How Mitigation Measures Help Tackling Associated Moral and Behavioral Challenges." Public Health Reviews (2021).

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