"We Should Be at the Back of the Line": A Frame Analysis of Old Age within the Distribution Order of the COVID Vaccine

This study involves a frame analysis of 440 online comments on an article published by The New York Times on December 1, 2020 about the U.S. recommendations for distributing the coronavirus vaccine.RESULTS: Older adults were referenced as belonging to one of three groups: older long-term care residents, older workers, and older adults retired and/or isolating at home. Two frames emerged from the data as criteria for prioritization: social contribution and vulnerability. Older commenters themselves frequently stated that they should be deprioritized so that others can be inoculated earlier.DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The findings may be interpreted as demonstrative of pervasive ageism throughout the pandemic; older commenters' sacrificial remarks may reflect generativity, internalized ageism, social pressure from online forums, or some combination thereof.PMID:34272964 | DOI:10.1093/geront/gnab094
Source: The Gerontologist - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: research