Expert Insights on COVID-19
How are decisions such as who receives COVID-19 vaccines made? What is the process for approving and accessing drugs to treat COVID-19? Come to Ethics, Policy, and COVID-19 to find answers and insights from the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy.
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Current Content
Vaccine Incentives: Behavioral Economics and Ethics
States are designing incentives, including lotteries, to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Kevin Volpp examines the behavioral economics angle, while Emily Largent and Holly Fernandez Lynch consider the ethics issues.
“Understanding and Mitigating Health Inequities” by Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA; Richard E. Besser, MD; and David R. Williams, PhD, MPH
Fifty years of research on health disparities has increased understanding, yet systems of structural racism that contribute to poor health outcomes persist. This NEJM reflection calls for action.
“Minimal SARS-CoV-2 Transmission After Implementation of a Comprehensive Mitigation Strategy at a School” by Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD; Bruce H. Kraut, MD, PhD; et al.
Kevin Volpp designed a strategy that minimizes COVID-19 transmission at a high school with both residential and commuter students in Fall 2020.
Opinion: Age-based vaccine distribution by Emily A. Largent, JD, PhD, RN; Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD; and Govind Persad, JD, PhD
Equity and other risk factors, rather than just age, should be considered in vaccine distribution policy, recommends this Washington Post op-ed.
Disadvantage Indices and Equitable Vaccine Allocation by Harald Schmidt, PhD
Disadvantage indices, Harald Schmidt explains, bring data to decisions about vaccine allocation and can help address both public health and social justice needs.
Strategies for National COVID-19 Vaccine Promotion by Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD; George Loewenstein, PhD; Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA
This JAMA Network viewpoint recommends approaches to promoting COVID-19 vaccine uptake and explores implementation issues.
COVID-19: Transmissions, Risks, and Reopenings by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD
Zeke Emanuel explains how COVID-19 spreads, ways to reduce risk, and safe practices for reopening schools and businesses.
COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization with Holly Fernandez Lynch, JD, MBe
Ethicist Holly Fernandez Lynch discusses the regulatory issues of authorizing COVID-19 vaccines for use in this Penn Today article.
Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty and Change with Michael Useem, PhD, and Atul Kalanuria, MD, FACP, MHCI
Wharton’s Mike Useem draws on research to discuss the impact of decisions made by leaders during times of uncertainty and change, in this interview with MHCI alumnus Atul Kalanuria.
Additional Content
Ethics and COVID-19 by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD
Ethics, COVID-19, and Caring for Children: A Panel Discussion moderated by Holly Fernandez Lynch, JD, MBe
COVID-19: A Primary Care Perspective with Aimee Ando, DO, MHCI and Jennifer S. Myers, MD
Controlling COVID-19 with Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD; Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA; Vivian Lee, MD, PhD, MBA; Christina Roberto, PhD; and Mark Smith, MD, MBA
Optimizing and Implementing Contact Tracing through Behavioral Economics by Rinad S. Beidas, PhD; Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA; Rachel Feuerstein-Simon, MPH, MPA; Austin S. Kilaru, MD; David A. Asch, MD, MBA; Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD; Hannah G. Lawman, PhD; and Carolyn C. Cannuscio, ScD
Reimbursing Hospitals for COVID-19 Readiness by Christian Terwiesch, PhD; Kevin B. Mahoney; and Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD
Narrative in an Epidemic by Lance Wahlert, PhD
Queering the Quarantine by Lance Wahlert, PhD
Community Health Workers: Social First Responders
The Struggle of Dementia Patients and Caregivers by Sara Manning Peskin, MD: Allison K. Hoffman, JD; and Jason Karlawish, MD
Research in Emergency Settings by Jill M. Baren, MD, MBE, FACEP, FAAP
Population Health and the Economy by Atheendar Venkataramani, MD, PhD, and Rachel Werner, MD, PhD
Disability, Rationing, and COVID-19 by Emily Largent, JD, PhD, RN
Behavioral Science Tips on Distancing by Harsha Thirumurthy, PhD, and Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA
Implications of COVID-19 for the Field of Bioethics by Jonathan D. Moreno, PhD
COVID-19: FDA Drug Regulation by Holly Fernandez Lynch, JD, MBe
Other Relevant Resources
Free online continuing education courses:
Ethics and Trial Design, from Penn MEHP Online
Telemedicine and Telehealth, from Penn’s School of Nursing