Let’s talk about this piece in conjunction w/the concept of UNFORCED errors starting w/2 premises

The elderly/those w/comorbidities r esp. vulnerable.

Minority communities have been hit hardest due to comorbidities & socio-economic realities.
1/ http://nytimes.com 

One assumes that the vaccine priority should be reducing DEATHS by targeting the vulnerable [or so says the WHO/NASEM/etc] AND it MAY WELL BE that this goal coincides w/prioritizing minority communities. BUT a # of ethicists want to prioritize social justice.

2 examples
2/

"'Older populations are whiter'[...] Society is structured in a way that enables them to live longer. Instead of giving additional health benefits to those who already had more of them, we can start to level the playing field a bit.'"--Harald Schmidt, UPenn ethics expert
3/

“Teachers have middle-class salaries, are very often white, and they have college degrees,” he said. “Of course they should be treated better, but they are not among the most mistreated of workers.”-Marc Lipsitch, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at Harvard
4/

Now IMAGINE that these two reframed their discussion around vulnerabilities & likelihood of death rather than social justice.

After all, IS a wealthy/healthy black person more vulnerable than a poor/unhealthy white person?

Therein lies the rub!
5/

"'Historically, the committee'" [panel advising the C.D.C.] 'relied on scientific evidence to inform its decisions. But now the members are weighing social justice concerns as well'"--Lisa A. Prosser, UMich. health policy/decision sciences prof

Quite an admission!
6/

COULD they have achieved the SAME ENDS w/out poking the sharp stick in the eye? Soft-pedaled the impression that their goal is fairness, not human lives? Focused on scientific evidence that INCLUDES socio-economic health-related realities w/out giving RACE the starring role?
7/

CUZ"[S]ome people believe it is wrong to give racial and socioeconomic equity more weight than who is most likely to die."--Chuck Ludlam, a former Senate aide and biotech industry lobbyist

8/8