After reading “Playing Favorites? Hospital Boards, Donors Get COVID Shots,” I was reminded of the uncertainty and fear that surrounded the world during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article connects directly to the real events we all lived through in 2020, an experience that changed countless lives and reshaped the way we think about health, fairness, and responsibility. The pandemic disrupted my high school years and affected millions of people around the world, leaving lasting impacts on education, employment, and social trust.

The article highlights how certain hospital board members and donors were offered COVID-19 vaccines during the early phases of distribution, even when eligibility was meant to be restricted to essential workers, first responders, and elderly individuals. This situation closely mirrors the real-world debates about who should have access to limited medical resources. During that time, vaccines represented hope and safety, but also raised difficult moral questions about equity and privilege. Many believed that older adults and healthcare workers deserved priority because they were at the highest risk of severe illness or death.

However, as the article shows, those with influence or financial power were sometimes given early access, creating public outrage and ethical concerns. It revealed how privilege often plays a role in decisions that are supposed to be fair and impartial. Because vaccine distribution guidelines varied across states, it was often unclear where the line between fairness and favoritism was drawn.

This article reminded me of how social inequality can surface even in times of crisis, when unity and compassion are needed most. It reflects how moments of global struggle often expose deeper issues within systems of power and how important transparency and accountability are in rebuilding public trust.

Bynum, Russ, et al. “Playing Favorites? Hospital Boards, Donors Get Covid Shots.” AP News, AP News, 20 Apr. 2021, apnews.com/article/technology-washington-coronavirus-pandemic-russ-seattle-c453fc84e9378ba4259715d3e0ad50d9?fbclid=IwAR0f5KQatkPEoDv64vUzJLY1qg24st1qSKop4uZI8XaU9HOS4PnXHdAdskA.