Young Adults

Introduction

Traditionally, vaccine distribution procedures have prioritized those most at risk. This seems intuitive -- give the vaccine to those who need it. Many scientists and most allocation frames are on board with that proposal. However, there does exist some controversy with that statement, especially with the nature of the COVID pandemic where groups of young adults often act as superspreaders responsible for a disproportionate number of infections.

Arguments in Favor

Dana Goldman, David Conti, and Matthew Kahn, scientists at Johns Hopkins and USC, argue that we should anticipate that the young will not social distance and allocate vaccine to them first.

Those scientists draw on several statistics to make their point. They state that 10% of those infected lead to 80% of infections and that 40% of people who carry the virus are asymptomatic carriers who are more likely to be young (Goldman et al).

Arguments Against

This issue comes with a lot of controversy. Although vaccinating superspreader people might lead to decreased overall mortality rate, it does essentially constitute a reward for not following correct safety protocols while leaving vulnerable people unvaccinated.

My Take on a Solution

Young adults should be prioritized at a rate slightly above the general population, but not above the elderly. There doesn't exist enough government support programs for vulnerable people in the pandemic to justify keeping them at a disadvantage for longer, even if vaccinating superspreaders would lead to decreased infection rates. This solution is in line with NASEM's framework, which dictates the NYT quiz you've already taken.