[ad_1]
In the post “Ethics experts on the wrong track” in the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association, the six board members of the Norwegian Association of Anesthesiology react strongly to recommendations made by a committee of experts, writes Aftenposten.
At risk, elderly and sick
The committee believes that people at risk, the elderly and the sick should be first in line when vaccinated in a scenario where the spread of infection is largely controlled by authorities.
– We want FHI to take a look at the recommendations of the World Health Organization and other major international organizations. Then they get the recommendations back on track, board chair Jon Laake tells Aftenposten.
«The proposal of the group of experts is contrary to the usual practice in epidemics. It is common for health personnel in an advanced position (with a high risk of infecting themselves and infect others) have the first priority when the population is going to be vaccinated, ”the post states.
No it’s not christmas
Lower risk
Ole Frithjof Norheim, a member of the expert group, tells Aftenposten about the priority as follows:
– The expert group recommended that the high-risk group be given priority over health personnel because health personnel, as far as we know, have a lower risk of serious illness and death.
Norheim also emphasizes that priority should also be given to healthcare personnel at increased risk due to age or an underlying disease.
It will be decided before December 1
It is the government that makes the final decision on the prioritization of vaccine doses. This should be ready by December 1st.
The committee, which was appointed by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), has also looked at other scenarios. In case of generalized infection where there is no control, health workers should be vaccinated first. Then come people at risk and people in critical social roles, it is said.
– We work like crazy
The committee also advocates for geographic prioritization since infection pressure has been higher in some regions than others.
– Areas with high infection pressure are more exposed to an overloaded health service, infection control measures are stricter and more onerous in those areas, and a vaccine will be more useful where the infection is greatest, the report states..
