This is a fair method of distributing the vaccines. The reason being that it recognizes that the resources are limited in number. This recognition then makes the distribution to proceed in a manner that is based on who is at a higher risk and who is not. Thus, the people at a higher risk than the others are the first in line to be given the vaccine. The virtue theory as an ethical method that supports this method of distribution (Chakrabarty et al. 2015). The virtue theory is based on the characters of a person, where it is who a person truly is that determines the kind of actions that he or she does. Thus, a person will do the right thing not because the society or rules require him to do that, but simply because that is who he or she truly is. This also applies in the case of individuals as they discharge duties. In the scenario, the virtue ethics applies because the people in charge of the distribution are caring to the people who are at a higher risk of getting severely affected by the flu. Hence, their reaction is to be truthful to themselves and the society, and decide to start with those who are at a higher risk. The deontological theory does not see to support the move by the people in charge (Barrow et al., 2020). This is because it judges actions based on what is generally accepted as the good or the bad thing. In this case, the good thing would be a case where everyone gets the drug, while in the reals sense, some people may even die because others got the drug simply because the societal dictates dictate that everyone should get the drug.
People with money should not buy the drug, especially when they are not at risk. The drug is already scarce, and it should not be something that only the rich can get. The most important things are that the person who gets the drug should be the one who is at a great risk. This is the most important thing as it is about health and life, not about the money that one has. As regards whether the old man should get the vaccine, I think he should get the vaccine. This is despite the fact that he does not have money. However, going back to the aforementioned statement, it should not be a matter of who has money or who does not have it. The idea of the health of the people should be the one to guide each and every move that the people in charge of the process make (Pozgar, 2013). The virtue theory would look at the issue based on the idea of not sticking to the rules where if one has to pay if he or she does not have the Medicare but is vulnerable. On the other hand the deontological theory would want the person who has no Medicare to pay even if he or she is very vulnerable (Barrow et al. 2020). The reason why the deontological theory would approach it that way would be because it is based on the strict adherence to the rules. Thus in the event that a person has done something that is not as per the rules, then it is considered as a wrong act. Which should might not always be truly wrong in all circumstances.
Indeed the government has the moral responsibility of ensuring that the vaccine is supplied adequately. It also bears the moral responsibility of ensuring that the vaccine is distributed in an appropriate manner (McCombs School of Business, 2018). The reason why the government should beat these responsibilities is the mere fact that governments are elected to act on behalf of the people. The people elected are the ones who are supposed to serve the sovereign who donate their sovereignty to them, so that these few individuals can make decisions for them. The idea is that when they make decisions such as on this issue, then fights are prevented and order prevails where people know what the deserve in the society (Zhong, 2016). This idea of government being at the center of deciding the supply of the vaccine and its distribution can be seen from deontological theory. This theory thrives on what is considered a norm in society. Governmental responsibilities are usually listed in various laws where people keep referring to always, when the government is acting in the wrong way. Thus, the mere fact that government operates on rules that are written makes the approach taken as far as role of government is concerned to be inclined greatly to the deontological theory. It is not inclined to the virtue theory as the virtue theory mainly looks at the character of the person. Government is made up of many people who nay nit all have the same characters. This is why rules are r usually made to govern how the government conducts its activities. This then goes to show that the virtue theory prevails, which then informs the approach taken.
References
Chakrabarty, S., & Bass, A. E. (2015). Comparing virtue, consequentialist, and deontological ethics-based corporate social responsibility: Mitigating microfinance risk in institutional voids. Journal of Business Ethics, 126(3), 487-512.
Barrow, J. M., & Khandhar, P. B. (2020). Deontology. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459296/
Pozgar, G.D. (2013). Legal and ethical issues for health professionals (3rd ed.) Jones and Bartlett Learning
McCombs School of Business, (2018, 18 December). Ethics Defined: Virtue Ethics [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMblKpkKYao
Zhong, L. (2016). A Confucian Virtue Theory of Supererogation. Philosophy East and West, 66(1), 328-341.