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Medical Ethics

The potential role of vaccine certificates in the next phase of the pandemic
a person wearing a mask with a QR code on their phone scanning their ticket in an airport

The potential role of vaccine certificates in the next phase of the pandemic

Public health law expert Eric Feldman and medical ethicist Emily Largent discuss the legal and ethical implications of companies and organizations requiring proof of vaccination to reengage with different sectors of the economy.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Racial bias in mortality prediction scores
African American COVID patient wearing a respirator in a hospital bed.

Racial bias in mortality prediction scores

In mass casualty situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality prediction models alone could divert scarce critical care resources away from Black patients.

From Penn LDI

Amid record pandemic travel, what’s safe? And the debate over vaccine passports

Amid record pandemic travel, what’s safe? And the debate over vaccine passports

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel spoke about so-called “vaccine passports” and privacy. “In public health there’s a principle that you should use the least restrictive method necessary,” he said. “This allows us to say, ‘Those people who’ve gotten vaccinated, you don’t have to adhere to certain restrictions because you are now immune.’”

Vaccines are about to become a free-for-all. Here’s how to ensure it’s done equitably

Vaccines are about to become a free-for-all. Here’s how to ensure it’s done equitably

Harald Schmidt of the Perelman School of Medicine co-authored an op-ed calling for equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution. “Three things are central: prioritizing more vulnerable communities; conveying that doing so is good for both public health and equity; and making clear that equity is not the enemy of efficiency,” Schmidt and his co-authors wrote.

Reflecting on a year shaped by COVID-19
Overhead view of a medical worker in full PPE discussing a COVID spit test with a student on campus.

Reflecting on a year shaped by COVID-19

Penn Today brings together noteworthy stories and images from the past year and highlights ways for individual members of the Penn community to share their personal experiences.

Erica K. Brockmeier , Katherine Unger Baillie

No, vaccine seekers, your condo is not a congregate living facility

No, vaccine seekers, your condo is not a congregate living facility

Emily Largent of the Perelman School of Medicine explained why apartment buildings and condo associations shouldn’t encourage their residents to cut the COVID-19 vaccine line by claiming to live in “congregate settings.” “I would also like to be vaccinated,” she wrote. “But each of us has an ethical obligation to wait our turn.”

Age-based vaccine distribution is not only unethical. It’s also bad health policy

Age-based vaccine distribution is not only unethical. It’s also bad health policy

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel and Emily Largent of the Perelman School of Medicine collaborated with Govind Persad of the University of Denver on an op-ed about equity in COVID-19 vaccine distribution models. “Age-only distribution is unethical, likely illegal and bad health policy,” they wrote.