The Importance of Politics: Equity and Public Health Agenda Setting

Aditi Rao, MSPH
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA

Review the readings:

Ethical dilemmas in current planning for polio eradication

Comment: Ethical dilemmas in current planning for polio eradication

In the video, the lecturer quotes from page 46 of the 17th report of the Independent Monitoring Board for Polio Eradication. The report reads:

Earlier in the year, it was announced that every member of the Bannu Chamber of Commerce and Industry would be boycotting the polio vaccination drive, resulting in thousands of refusals. The organization demanded that the newly elected Pakistani government withdraw a slew of new taxes that were, they say, crippling their ability to survive. The spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was the only way to get the government to listen.

He also said that he has no doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine and is aware of the dangers of creating a gap in the herd immunity that full coverage of the vaccine offers, but that he and members of the community felt they had no choice.

Reflect on the following question and post your response in the discussion:

What might you do in such a situation? Do you think this issue is related to health equity? How so?