Posted: April 24th, 2025

DB4

Because vaccines will be in short supply during a pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided guidelines in its Pandemic Influenza Plan based on advisory committee recommendations concerning the prioritization of vaccine distribution.

Imagine that you are a member of a National Advisory Commission appointed by the President to advise them and the public. Your specific charge is to determine whether the guidelines for prioritizing vaccine distribution proposed by HHS are ethically acceptable. You have been asked to do the following:

• Identify and discuss the public duties of health professionals to report communicable diseases and any potential legal charges for a provider who fails to report.
• Discuss any moral arguments in favor of your committee’s recommendations.