Which principle best justifies prioritizing vaccines for healthcare workers in a scarce supply scenario?

Which principle best justifies prioritizing vaccines for healthcare workers in a scarce supply scenario?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Distributive Justice
• D. Non-maleficence

Answer: (C)

Focusing on fair allocation of scarce resources is what this question tests. Distributive justice asks how to distribute limited goods in a way that yields fair and beneficial outcomes for society as a whole. Prioritizing healthcare workers fits this principle because they are essential to maintaining the health system and are at higher risk of exposure. Vaccinating them helps protect patients, reduces the risk of outbreaks in care settings, and keeps medical services available to those in need. This approach aims to maximize overall benefit and protect the functioning of healthcare delivery, which is the core idea behind distributing scarce vaccines fairly. Autonomy emphasizes individual choice and may support vaccination decisions, but it doesn’t dictate who should get the vaccine first when supply is limited. Beneficence is about doing good, which supports vaccination in general, but distributive justice specifically justifies who receives it first in a scarce scenario. Non-maleficence focuses on not causing harm, which is relevant to vaccination safety, but it doesn’t directly determine prioritization in allocation.

Focusing on fair allocation of scarce resources is what this question tests. Distributive justice asks how to distribute limited goods in a way that yields fair and beneficial outcomes for society as a whole. Prioritizing healthcare workers fits this principle because they are essential to maintaining the health system and are at higher risk of exposure. Vaccinating them helps protect patients, reduces the risk of outbreaks in care settings, and keeps medical services available to those in need. This approach aims to maximize overall benefit and protect the functioning of healthcare delivery, which is the core idea behind distributing scarce vaccines fairly.

Autonomy emphasizes individual choice and may support vaccination decisions, but it doesn’t dictate who should get the vaccine first when supply is limited. Beneficence is about doing good, which supports vaccination in general, but distributive justice specifically justifies who receives it first in a scarce scenario. Non-maleficence focuses on not causing harm, which is relevant to vaccination safety, but it doesn’t directly determine prioritization in allocation.