Abstract
Although COVID-19 vaccines are becoming increasingly available, their ability to effectively control and contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly contingent on an array of factors. This paper discusses how limitations to vaccine accessibility, issues associated with vaccine side effects, concerns regarding vaccine efficacy, along with the persistent prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among the public, including health care professionals, might impact the potential of COVID-19 vaccines to curb the pandemic. We draw insights from the literature to identify practical solutions that could boost people’s adoption of COVID-19 vaccines and their accessibility. We conclude with a discussion on health experts’ and government officials’ moral and ethical responsibilities to the public, even in light of the urgency to adopt and endorse “the greatest amount of good for the greatest number” utilitarian philosophy in controlling and managing the spread of COVID-19.
Highlights
How would we as a society remember COVID-19 after the postpandemic realities become the new normal? The destruction it caused, or the construction it motivated? The fears it inflamed, or the hopes it inspired? The transmission it kindled, or the determination it fanned? The sickness it roused, or the human solidarity it helped cement? As COVID-19 is still evolving, it might be difficult to determine how the pandemic might fold or the contours of the finale
JMIR Public Health Surveill 2021 | vol 7 | iss. 8 | e26111 | p. 4 people to have access to COVID-19 vaccines without improving COVID-19 production rates; an important caveat is that there is a lack of data on what might be the health consequences of administering one or halved dose of COVID-19 vaccines, rather than the clinically validated dosing regimen
Even before data from Israel become available, making it the first country that has managed to vaccinate over 20% of its population and en route to inoculate the entire nation [65], the US Food and Drug Administration, for instance, warned public health officials of the danger associated with tempering with vaccine doses, citing that the idea is not supported by scientific evidence and “may be counterproductive to public health” [66]
Summary
How would we as a society remember COVID-19 after the postpandemic realities become the new normal? The destruction it caused, or the construction it motivated? The fears it inflamed, or the hopes it inspired? The transmission it kindled, or the determination it fanned? The sickness it roused, or the human solidarity it helped cement? As COVID-19 is still evolving, it might be difficult to determine how the pandemic might fold or the contours of the finale. 4 (page number not for citation purposes) people to have access to COVID-19 vaccines without improving COVID-19 production rates; an important caveat is that there is a lack of data on what might be the health consequences of administering one or halved dose of COVID-19 vaccines, rather than the clinically validated dosing regimen. The exact impact of changing the COVID-19 vaccine dosing schedule on personal and public health amid the pandemic is still unclear, what is clear is that governments need to make sure they base their decisions on scientific evidence rather than hopeful assumptions [73]. Obtaining informed consent from potential vaccine receivers has been a tricky task [11], and the violation of informed consent—a contractual trust between individuals and health organizations and governments—may further exacerbate vaccination hurdles for all other immunization efforts
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