Read the ethics case “Deciding Who Receives the Swine Flu Vaccine” at the end of Chapter 3 of your text and respond to one of the following questions: From a utilitarian point of view, who do you think should be in the priority group?
Topic: Read the ethics case “Deciding Who Receives the Swine Flu Vaccine” at the end of Chapter 3 of your text and respond to one of the following questions:
Question 1: From a utilitarian point of view, who do you think should be in the priority group? Explain your answer.
Direction: Class, Answer question in relations to the chapter passage below. Absolutely no plagiarism and use credible sources!
Please cite textbook as a source. Class, use APA 7 edition format. If you do not use this format, you will lose points!
Textbook: Brooks, L. J., & Dunn, P. (2021). Business & professional ethics for directors, executives, & accountants (9th ed.). Cengage.
Chapter 3: Defining of Utilitarianism
Yes, the vaccine to protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus will be the same for the entire 2009-2010 influenza season, which extends into the spring of 2010. The “2009” in the name only relates to the year the virus was first identified; it does not have to do with how long the vaccine will work or the year in which it should be administered. The 2009 H1N1 virus is not included in the 2009-2010 seasonal flu vaccine because it was identified after manufacturers had started making the seasonal flu vaccine.
When vaccine to protect against 2009 H1N1 first became available, supplies were limited. For this reason, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that people at highest risk for complications from this virus, or those caring for high risk individuals who cannot receive vaccination, receive the vaccine first.
These target groups included pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, anyone 6 months through 24 years of age, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 influenza because of certain chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems.
ACIP recognized the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local level. The committee further recommended that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups had been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years.
Studies at that time indicated that the risk for infection among people 65 and older was less than the risk for younger age groups so people 65 and older were not initially targeted to receive early doses of vaccine.
However, ACIP noted that as vaccine supply increased and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should also offer vaccination to people over the age of 65. At this time, many states have already opened up vaccination to anyone who wants it and while people 65 and older are still less likely to get sick with 2009 H1N1, severe infections and deaths have occurred in every age group, including older people.
CDC is now encouraging those who have been patiently waiting to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, including people 65 and older, to get vaccinated depending on local supply.
Separate recommendations are available for seasonal influenza, (Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Seasonal Influenza?)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of vaccine against 2009 H1N1 influenza virus for persons 10 years of age and older. For children who are 6 months through 9 years of age, two doses of the vaccine are recommended. These two doses should be separated by 4 weeks. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get any influenza vaccine.
The recommendation that children younger than 10 years old receive 2 doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine was based on studies of immune response to the vaccine as measured by levels of protective antibodies in the blood.
After 1 dose of vaccine, infants and young children do not make as many antibodies compared with older children and adults who get 1 dose.
In addition, effectiveness of seasonal flu vaccine is much less for young children who have never been vaccinated before and only get 1 dose, compared with young children who have never been vaccinated before and get 2 doses.
Persons who have some antibody from previous vaccination or exposure to infection with another related flu strain will have much greater increases in antibody to flu vaccines.
Studies that looked at blood samples taken from children before the pandemic indicate that very few children had any measurable immunity against 2009 H1N1 prior to the outbreak Therefore, all children younger than 10 should get 2 doses regardless of whether they ever have been given seasonal influenza vaccine