With a system practically begging to be gamed, how immoral is it to lie in order to get the vaccine as soon as possible?
According to NPR, over 58.1 million people, or 17.5% percent of the US population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Although vaccine distribution rules vary widely from county to county, in general, the first groups eligible for shots are essential workers and those with comorbidities. These groups are either most likely to be exposed to the coronavirus and spread it or are most likely to have serious health outcomes if they contract it. Getting these groups inoculated with urgency is crucial for driving down hospitalization rates and making it safer to reopen. But some citizens are taking advantage of their privacy rights under HIPAA and lying about having comorbidities in order to receive a vaccine before they’re officially eligible (all Los Angeles county residents over age 16 are eligible for the vaccine starting April 15th). These line jumpers have been decried on social media and in public health advisories for taking a dose from someone more deserving, but a quick search on myturn.ca.gov reveals a plethora of appointments, even for the same day. So, is it truly morally reprehensible for Angelinos to lie in order to get the vaccine as quickly as possible? Or is it more likely that our government has created an inefficient system that incentivizes “bad” behavior? If reaching herd immunity is the overall goal, then at this point in the pandemic, it seems more immoral for an individual to wait until everyone is eligible than to lie about having a health condition and getting the vaccine as soon as possible.
LA Public Health states that there are “not yet enough doses to vaccinate everyone that is eligible,” but with appointments so readily available, clearly there is a significant portion of eligible residents who have not scheduled their doses, even after weeks or months of being able. The cause of this may be apprehension, or perhaps the fact that securing an appointment requires considerable technical savvy. If the county is serious about making their distribution plan work, more efforts must be made on macro and micro levels to help people book appointments. Still, with this evidence in mind it’s very unlikely that anyone is “taking a vaccine” from someone more deserving. And in order to keep distribution operations running as smoothly as possible, it seems that getting an appointment by any means is more preferable for healthcare workers than trying to secure a dose headed for the trash by waiting around pharmacies at dusk like a seagull.
Appointment availability is not as limited as it used to be, and those eligible to receive the vaccine already have had reasonable time to do so. It’s likely that in a month or two, the biggest issue surrounding vaccine distribution will be convincing those who aren’t so eager to get vaccinated. If possible, consider getting your shot at a drive-thru only site so that there is more availability at walk-in sites. It’s unfortunate that the government has created yet another system that incentivizes lying, but if you do choose to claim a pre-existing health condition and get the vaccine in the next two weeks, hopefully you can rest easier knowing you’re not harming anyone else.
Eliana, I had firsthand seen the appointments that had been available when only minimal groups were eligible to get the vaccine. Many people who were not eligible took these appointments, and I never once heard of a shortage of vaccines. The appointments are made in regards to how many vaccines are available. In the morning, because of the temperature, the vaccines have to be kept at, they defrost them. If they have some leftover at the end of the day, they essentially have to throw them out. My stance on this is as followed if they are going to throw away the access vaccinations, those who may not be eligible at the time should be able to get it. If…
Living in Missouri where there are so many available vaccines, I think you make a good point. I agree that at this point in the administration of the vaccine in the US, many of the people who are at extreme risk have had enough time to get a vaccine. While I don't think it would be the moral thing to lie about your comorbidities, I understand the sentiment of wanting to feel secure and safe in society again. The most important thing now is to focus on the group of people who are at risk and haven't gotten the vaccine and either focus on assisting them in getting it or convincing them that it is safe. Hopefully we as a…
Hi Eliana great post, I think I am on the side of the people who cut the lines at this point, at least in the United States, we haven't necessarily seen a vaccine shortage, and had adequate supply to vaccinate most people who wanted vaccines. The main problem in my opinion is actually convincing people TO GET vaccinated, we shouldn't in the slightest be worried about these people cutting lines, unless we start to notice vaccine shortages begin to approach on the horizon. This is subject to change.
My mom has been working for the vaccination effort with FEMA for the past several weeks. From what she's described, there has never been any overages or extra vaccines to just give away at the numerous mobile sites she's worked at. I don't think it's morally acceptable to just assume that most immunocompromised individuals have already received the vaccine when people in their 90's are still getting vaccinated. People who, as you said, more than likely are in need of assistance in setting up the appointment. If they were just throwing vaccines away then I'd understand but this is just not the case in California, and making up preexisting conditions undermines the system that the government has put in place…
Great post and topic Eliana. I think if you have the opportunity to get the vaccine, do it, especially since the majority of the more vulnerable people have likely gotten their vaccine. Many states have seen that places administering the shot are throwing away unused vaccines simply because people did not show up to their appointment. However, I did have mixed feelings about some of my friends getting the vaccine months ago before the people who were deemed vulnerable could get it. But this pandemic was something that none of us have ever experienced, so I do not blame people for getting it because we are all trying to survive and do our best during this challenging time.