Vulnerability: a contentious and fluid term.

摘要

To the Editor: As governments and public health officials respond to H1N1, important ethical considerations remain unaddressed regarding the inclusion and recognition of persons and populations designated as "vulnerable" in pandemic planning and response. Therefore, we were pleased to see Anna C. Mastroianni highlight the importance of understanding how social context adds to the potential effectiveness of pandemic response ("Slipping Through the Net: Social Vulnerability in Pandemic Planning," Sept-Oct 2009). Rather than relying on static, predetermined categories of vulnerability, Mastroianni proposes a robust evaluation of social vulnerabilities that may impact an individual's or community's capacity to respond to public health directives, thus drawing attention to the shifting and contextual nature of vulnerability.