Johns Hopkins releases framework for who should receive COVID-19 vaccines first

While we’re still waiting on a comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security released an ethics framework Wednesday for who it says should be prioritized.

COVID-19 VACCINEDISTRIBUTION PLAN.NBC 26 TODAYANCHOR BROOKEHAFS JOINS US WITHWHAT WE KNOWABOUT THOSE PLANSSO FAR.JOHNS HOPKINSCENTER FOR HEALTHSECURITY RELEASEDAN ETHICSFRAMEWORK FORWHO IT SAYS SHOULDGET PRIORITY.THERE ARE TWOTIERS OF GROUPS ITSAYS SHOULD GOBEFORE THEGENERAL PUBLIC.NO SURPRISE--FRONT LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERSTAKING CARE OFCOVID PATIENTS--PEOPLE OVER 65--AND THOSE WITHUNDERLYING HEALTHCONDITIONS ANDTHEIR CAREGIVERS.ALSO NOTED AREPEOPLE WHO WORKIN THE VACCINEINDUSTRY AND WILLBE ADMINISTERINGTHEM.

SCHOOL--FOOD SUPPLY-- ANDPUBLICTRANSPORTATIONWORKERS WEREALSO ON THE LIST.ONE ISSUE WITHTHAT FIRST TIER ISTHAT'S A LOT OFPEOPLE.MORE THAN 90MILLION BY SOMEESTIMATES."."so its quite possiblewhen a vaccine isavailable there wont beenough available foreverybody in this top tier724 and so there mayneed to be prioritizationwithin this top tier.."THE TIER TWOGROUP INCLUDESOTHER HEALTH CAREWORKERS-- PEOPLELIVING IN REMOTELOCATIONS WITHOUTACCESS TO QUALITYCARE-- AND OTHERESSENTIAL WORKERSLIKE DELIVERY,MILITARY, AND FIRSTRESPONDERS.IT ALSO INCLUDESPEOPLE WHO LIVE INPLACES WHERE THEYCAN'T SOCIALLYDISTANCE...SOINMATES AND PEOPLEIN SHELTERS.

THEFRAMEWORK ALSOMENTIONS THIS IS ADECISION THATSHOULDN'T ONLY BEMADE BY EXPERTSAND OFFICIALS.SOT TRT: 10sec "thepublic needs anopportunity to weigh in onthis because after all theyare the ones who are therecipients of the vaccinesand whether they get itour not"THE GOOD NEWS ISTHE SCHOLARS DON'TSEE COST AS ABARRIER TO THEVACCINE.

AND WHILEA VACCINE IS THEBEST HOPE FORCONTROLLING THEPANDEMIC..

IT WILLNOT BE A MAGICBULLET RIGHT AWAY.SOME DECISIONSABOUT WHO GETSTHE VACCINE FIRSTCAN'T BE MADE UNTILONE IS READY.

THAT'SBECAUSERESEARCHERS NEEDTO KNOW HOW IT MAYIMPACT GROUPS LIKETHE ELDERLY-- ORPREGNANT WOMEN.BROOKE HAFS.NBC26.COMING UP..WHEN THE