Covid ethics, episode 2: rights, justice and vaccination

This second episode of this two-part Covid ethics series focuses on how we can translate what we have learned so far to the future. As before, the focus is on the *ethical* frameworks for future policies, but this time with an emphasis on vaccination. Is there a right to refuse to be vaccinated, and is there a convincing analogy with the generally accepted right to refuse treatment - even for life-threatening medical conditions? Is there a duty to prioritise those in the greatest need for the vaccine, regardless of national boundaries? How does a reasonable notion of justice apply to these questions? Aristotle said we should treat equals equally and unequals unequally. But does equality of need do the necessary work? In the UK, why are the elderly given priority for the vaccine, but not for health care in general? More generally, what are the best ways to deal with the often angry disagreements about policy that first emerged during the early stages of the pandemic? How can we cultivate 'ethical preparedness' for the next pandemic or similar crisis?
With me to discuss these questions, as before, are three distinguished guests:
Raanan Gillon, Emeritus Professor of Medical Ethics at Imperial College London, former GP, former editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics and President of the British Medical Association, 2019-20.
David Archard, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Queens University Belfast and Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
Timandra Harkness, writer and broadcaster, presenter of the recent BBC Radio 4 series 'How to Disagree' and 'Steel-manning', and data expert.
Anyone puzzled or frustrated by the public discussion and/or the policies we have lived with should listen eagerly to this discussion - it will be worth your 40 minutes! Be assured, the spirit is Socratic, not polemical.
I would like to thank the Nuffield Council on Bioethics for its assistance with this project. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the Council.
Dr Piers Benn, philosopher, producer and host.