Addressing Vaccine Inequality between Poor and Rich Countries: From a Utilitarian Perspective

초록

The inequality evident in COVID-19 vaccine distribution among rich and poor countries is one of the most serious ethical problems facing the world. Although a number of ethicists, philosophers, and spiritual leaders have promulgated the importance of a humane morality in order to overcome this inequality, their voices seem to be going unheard. This paper supports their position and focuses on the lessons of utilitarianism as a way to overcome the current catastrophe. By employing insights from game theory, it explains why vaccine inequalities exist and further proposes that cooperative actions (e.g., vaccine distribution through COVAX, an easing of intellectual property rights or the sharing of vaccine technologies, etc.) could be the solutions which can best maximize the utility values of all humanity, including in the rich countries where vaccines have been made fully accessible.

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