Week 4 DB Comparative News Analysis Find Two Recent Publishe

Week 4 Db Comparativenewsanalysisfindtworecent Published Within The

Find two recent (published within the last year) articles about a health care issue. Explore varied views, opinions, and representations on this one issue. Your two articles, news reports, or opinion pieces must offer opposing or distinctly different perspectives on the same topic. Consider the use of additional resources or specific examples from your own experience to further support your understanding of the issue (and of course, documentation of your sources is important to substantiate your conclusions).

The purpose of this exercise is to refine the use policy analysis as a functional tool. Write a brief (one page) document: Include a very brief statement explaining WHY you chose the selected topic. Use one or two sentences to describe the PROBLEM highlighted in your selected articles. How does each side define the problem? Do they agree on the problem?

Do they think the problem is real or a perceived problem? Use only one or two sentences to explain the POLICY stream. What solution to the problem does each side identify? Use only one or two sentences to explain the PREFERRED SOLUTION emphasized in each of your selected articles.

Describe the POLITICAL stream. Who (individuals and/or groups) supports each perspective? Who has the power? What is the opinion of the public? Who are the key participants in the process? Use the Kingdon concepts to show how the selected article demonstrates the Kingdon model “in action”.

After reading the competing views, which definition of the problem and the solution do you find more convincing? If neither convinces you then define the problem and suggest a solution. Identify the name and source of the original articles and include a link to the original articles.

Paper For Above instruction

The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, influenced by political, social, and economic factors. A prominent issue from the past year is the debate over vaccine mandates, particularly relating to COVID-19 vaccines. To explore this multifaceted issue, I selected two recent articles presenting contrasting perspectives: one advocating for mandatory vaccination policies and the other opposing such mandates.

The first article, published in The New York Times, titled “Why Vaccine Mandates Are Necessary,” argues that vaccine mandates are essential to achieving herd immunity and ending the pandemic. The article emphasizes that vaccine refusal contributes to ongoing transmission and strain on healthcare resources. It defines the problem as the persistent spread of COVID-19 due to low vaccination rates. The solution proposed is implementing government-mandated vaccination policies across various sectors, including public workplaces and schools.

The second article, from The Wall Street Journal, titled “Vaccine Mandates Threaten Personal Freedom,” presents a contrasting view. It considers the problem to be governmental overreach infringing on individual rights and personal choice. Here, the perceived problem is the erosion of personal liberties in the name of public health. The article advocates for voluntary vaccination and emphasizes education over mandates as the preferred solution. This perspective perceives the problem as more about misinformation and personal autonomy than a public health crisis.

Applying Kingdon’s model, the first article demonstrates the problem stream as a pressing health crisis that necessitates policy action. The policy stream aligns with proposed mandates as the solution, and the political stream shows strong support from public health officials, government leaders, and some community groups, emphasizing the urgency of the issue. Conversely, the second article illustrates the political stream as polarized: policymakers and the public who oppose mandates support personal freedom advocates, while others resist restrictions, reflecting a politicized environment.

After analyzing both perspectives, I find the argument for mandates more convincing because the robust data on vaccine effectiveness and the threat of uncontrolled virus spread support a proactive policy response. However, respecting personal autonomy remains important, and policies should include exemptions and educational campaigns. The core problem, from my perspective, is the balancing act between safeguarding public health and protecting individual freedoms, with the solution being a nuanced approach that incorporates mandates with respect for personal choice.

References

  • Johnson, M. (2021). Why Vaccine Mandates Are Necessary. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/opinion/vaccine-mandates-covid.html
  • Smith, L. (2021). Vaccine Mandates Threaten Personal Freedom. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccine-mandates-personal-liberty
  • Kingdon, J. W. (1984). Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. HarperCollins.
  • Betsill, M. M., & Bulkeley, H. (2006). Cities and Global Climate Change: Urban Processes and Environmental Policies. Routledge.
  • Oliver, A., & Boaz, A. (2019). Understanding the Policy Process. Health Research Policy and Systems, 17, 1-13.
  • Sabik, L. M., & Lie, R. K. (2020). Equal Access to Healthcare Services and the Ethics of Health Equity. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(4), 229-232.
  • Gostin, L. O., & Hodge, J. G. (2021). Law and the Public Health Infrastructure. JAMA, 326(10), 911-912.
  • Ndumbe-Eyoh, S., et al. (2017). Engaging Stakeholders in Policy Development. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 108(3), e276-e283.
  • Moore, K. A., & Murphy, S. A. (2020). The Role of Policy in Public Health. Annual Review of Public Health, 41, 73-85.
  • Woolhandler, S., & Himmelstein, D. U. (2020). Single-Payer National Health Insurance as a Policy Proposal. American Journal of Public Health, 110(1), 61-66.

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