When is it ethical to skip the line?
During this painfully slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout, many people are confronting that question.
Stories of so-called “vaccine hunters” are becoming more and more common, some going across state lines to find a pharmacy or vaccine site that might have an extra dose at the end of the day.
The hunters, many of whom are young and healthy, say they’re just making sure no doses ever go to waste.
So, is what they’re doing ok?
“It is a balance,” said Melissa Goldstein, a professor of health policy at George Washington University.
She told KCBS Radio that the practice brings up the issue of fairness.
“Essential workers who are public facing will probably have fewer resources in terms of time – not only money, but also time – they can spend digging up extra vaccines,” Goldstein said. “While the person standing outside a clinic for several hours at least has devoted that day.”
On the other hand, of course, the professor noted that nobody wants vaccines to go to waste.
So, as she said, it’s a balance.
In response to vaccine hunters, Bay Area health officials are trying to work out a better process for assigning extra doses when they become available.
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