BATAAN PENINSULA STATE
UNIVERSITY
BALANGA CAMPUS
Don Manuel Banzon Ave., Poblacion
BALANGA CAMPUS
City of Balanga, Bataan (047) 613-
5103
2100 Philippines
www.bpsu.edu
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Simsuangco, Dion Q October 22, 2024.
ETHICS BSED-English 2A
Who gets the vaccine first and who decides? 3 things to know
The article “Who gets the vaccine first and who decides? 3 things to know” delves
into who should the vaccine be given first. COVID-19 started circulating from 2019 to 2020,
and the urgent need for vaccines has been ramped up since then. Vaccines like Pfizer were
the first vaccine to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this vaccine
undergoes a standard process for reviewing the quality, safety, and effectiveness of medical
products. Based on results from the clinical trial, the vaccine was 91% effective in
preventing COVID-19 disease. But who should get the vaccines first in the midst of the
pandemic? In the article, it is said that the first dose or 'Phase 1a' of the vaccines is most
likely to be given to healthcare workers not only the doctors or nurses but also they
included the cleaners, the first respondents, and those who will face the patient. Is this
decision just or unjust? When we talk about justice it is where we think what is right is
right wrong is wrong and what is fair, but in the moral philosophy, justice is to have a
different perspective. In the article, the way they choose who should be given first
underscores the Need-based justice which implies that because of the moral obligation of
the healthcare workers they should be the first to receive the vaccine. Not everyone has
the same needs which is why not everyone should get the first phase of vaccine because of
prioritizing those who are in need or the least well off. It made sense to prioritize those
most exposed to COVID-19, as they are both at a higher risk and play a critical role in
ensuring the health and safety of others. By including frontline workers such as cleaners
and first responders, the article also broadened the definition of who qualifies as essential,
which I found to be a just and necessary decision. However, it raised deeper questions for
me about how justice is determined during a public health crisis. While the prioritization of
healthcare workers was a practical and moral decision, what about other high-risk groups,
such as the elderly or people with underlying health conditions? Should they not have been
given equal consideration? The concept of justice in vaccine distribution can be better
understood through John Rawls' Theory of Justice, which provides a structured approach to
fairness in the distribution of resources. Rawls’ theory is grounded in two key principles:
the Liberty Principle and the Difference Principle. These principles can be used to analyze
whether the prioritization of healthcare workers aligns with a just distribution of the
COVID-19 vaccine. Rawls’ Liberty Principle emphasizes that each person should have an
equal right to the most extensive basic liberties compatible with similar liberties for others.
In the context of vaccine distribution, this would suggest that every individual should have
equal access to the vaccine. However, given the limited supply at the outset of the
pandemic, equal distribution was not feasible, making it necessary to prioritize certain
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An inclusive and sustainable University recognized To develop innovative leaders and empowered communities by
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BATAAN PENINSULA STATE
UNIVERSITY
BALANGA CAMPUS
Don Manuel Banzon Ave., Poblacion
BALANGA CAMPUS
City of Balanga, Bataan (047) 613-
5103
2100 Philippines
www.bpsu.edu
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
groups by focusing on healthcare workers. Rawls’ Difference Principle is particularly
relevant here in the case of vaccine distribution, the article suggests that the healthcare
workers were prioritized because they were at the highest risk and had a moral duty to
protect others. This aligns with the Difference Principle, as vaccinating healthcare workers
first ensures that they can continue to provide care to the broader population, particularly
to those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly or inocompromised.
Our Vision Our Mission
An inclusive and sustainable University recognized To develop innovative leaders and empowered communities by
for its global and academic excellence by 2030. delivering transformative instruction, research, extension and
production through Change Drivers and responsive policies.
