COVID-19 Vaccines as a Public Health Tool
Submitted by Brittany Kavcar, Student Representative, Executive Committee, Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics
It is hard to believe that March 11th marked the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this past year, many have worked tirelessly to protect the health and safety of individuals, families, and communities. The universal goal of ending this pandemic has been infused with hope for the development and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines. However, vaccination against COVID-19 has become a hot topic of discussion in the media and the public health sector. Dr. Chris Kaposy, a bioethicist from Memorial University in Newfoundland, reminds us that there are a number of ethical issues that have arisen surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination.
Dr. Chris Kaposy, image submitted by Brittany Kavcar
Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics (CHCE) is pleased to introduce this month’s Encounters in Bioethics session, titled “Ethical Issues in COVID-19 Vaccination.” We are honoured to have Dr. Kaposy help us to navigate through tricky ethical discussions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and resource allocation. In addition to addressing problematic perceptions surrounding vaccine prioritization and mandatory vaccination, he will also explore:
What are some ethical issues that might arise from the development and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines?
How can these ethical issues be addressed by applying the principle that vaccines are a public health tool?
How can we recognize and support difficult ethical choices in order to end the pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our perspectives of almost every facet of our lives. Dr. Kaposy encourages that we must also alter our perspectives on vaccinating against COVID-19 to one that understands vaccines as public health tools for advancing population health and ultimately ending the pandemic.
Please join us as Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics and Dr. Chris Kaposy navigate the uncharted territory of the tough ethical questions surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. This free webinar will take place on Thursday, March 25, 2021, 12:00-1:00 pm (ET) via Zoom link: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/97141584254.
All are welcome! No registration required!
For further information please email chce@lakeheadu.ca or call 343-8126.
