The organization is recommending a framework to ensure ethical allocations of much-needed vaccines during the pandemic.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) is putting its weight behind a framework for ethical and phased allocation of much-needed vaccines in the battle against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
According to a news release, the ACP has released a new policy statement outlining the framework and says that the allocation of the vaccine must put a premium on saving those most likely to become severely ill or die without it. Mitigating health inequalities is a moral imperative of an equitable vaccine allocation framework.
The framework, as laid out in the release, is as follows:
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Phase 1a
High-risk health care workers in direct patient care, including trainees and workers in nursing homes, home health care and health care facility services
First responders
Phase 1b
Persons (all ages) with 2 or more underlying health conditions (as listed by CDC) putting them at significantly higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19
Older adults and individuals with disabilities of all ages living in congregate settings such as skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, prisons and group homes, and in multi-generational households
If availability of vaccine allows for it, individuals age 65 and older not already included
Phase 2
K-12 teachers and school staff; child care workers
Other critical workers in high-risk settings such as public transit and food supply
Persons (all ages) with 1 underlying health condition (as listed by CDC) putting them at moderately higher risk
Persons and staff in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons, jails and detention centers not included in Phase 1
All individuals age 65 and older not in Phase 1
If availability of vaccine allows for it, family caregivers of those age 65 and older
Phase 3
Young adults
Children
Critical workers at increased risk of exposure not included in Phases 1 and 2