NASEM Releases the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine
Oct 06, 2020
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Kimberly Sharpe-Scott
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a consensus study recommending a four-phase framework to inform national and local guidelines for equitable COVID-19 vaccine allocation.
TheFramework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine offers recommendations to assist policy makers in the domestic and global health communities. Built on widely accepted foundational principles and recognizing the distinctive characteristics of COVID-19, this report’s recommendations address the commitments needed to implement equitable allocation policies for COVID-19 vaccine.
The goal of the committee’s framework was to reduce severe morbidity and mortality and negative societal impact due to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The committee used four risk-based criteria to set general priorities among various population groups: (1) risk of acquiring infection, (2) risk of severe morbidity and mortality, (3) risk of negative societal impact, and (4) risk of transmitting infection to others. Within the framework, the committee developed four COVID-19 vaccine allocation phases based on the risk-based criteria. To facilitate the equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccine, the committee also issued seven recommendations:
Recommendation 1. Adopt the committee’s framework for equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccine.
Recommendation 2. Leverage and expand the use of existing systems, structures, and partnerships across all levels of government and provide the necessary resources to ensure equitable allocation, distribution, and administration of COVID-19 vaccine.
Recommendation 3. Provide and administer COVID-19 vaccine with no out-of-pocket costs for those being vaccinated.
Recommendation 4. Create and appropriately fund a COVID-19 vaccine risk communication and community engagement program.
Recommendation 5. Develop and launch a COVID-19 vaccine promotion campaign.
Recommendation 6. Build an evidence base for effective strategies for COVID-19 vaccine promotion and acceptance.
Recommendation 7. Support equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccine globally.
The full report is available for download. Additional resources detailing key points are listed below:
