Time for the ethical management of COVID-19 vaccines

The result of the exploitation of vulnerable groups is distrust and hesitancy towards potentially life-saving medical interventions. If minority groups distrust big pharmaceutical companies, researchers, policy makers, and the judiciary system, it is because they might see these cynical players, even in the most respected democracies, as unapologetic accomplices to various human rights violations and to the perpetuation of structural violence. This hesitancy is evident when considering the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed in the USA and Europe, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey

has shown that 35% of African Americans would probably not or definitely not get the vaccine. One of the explanations for this finding was the lack of trust in the vaccine development process, with only 11% of African Americans and 16% of Latinx very confident that the development process accounted for their needs.

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Most Americans will likely get a Covid-19 vaccine, Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds.

A similar survey done by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (London, UK), in 15 African countries shows that, on average, 21% of the population is not willing to take the vaccine, with reasons ranging from distrust of the vaccine to perceptions of its importance and efficacy.

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Africa CDC
Majority of Africans would take a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine hesitancy caused by unethical exploitation of vulnerable groups increases the risk of death and unnecessary pain from a disease. Such unethical practices remind us that as we continue to test, develop, and distribute the needed vaccines, the rush for a so-called magic bullet should never undermine individuals’ rights to health. We need to ensure the transparency of clinical trial results to approve a safe and effective vaccine for all.