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The good news is that the rate of Covid-19 vaccinations in the United States is increasing, while the rates of new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are slowing. As of this week, more than 66 million doses have been administered to at least 42 million Americans, about 13 percent of the population.
But the disease is still spreading, and there aren’t yet enough vaccine doses to meet demand. And many who need a vaccine the most are having the hardest time getting one.
From signing up for appointments to securing transportation to clinics, many of the people at the highest risk for severe outcomes and death from Covid-19 older adults, essential workers, and minority communities are having trouble getting vaccinated when it’s their turn. At the same time, some wealthier people or people at lower risk have gamed vaccine registration systems to get to the head of the line.
Stretched vaccine timelines re-enter the spotlight
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As the pandemic drags on, experts are exploring ways to stretch still-limited vaccine supplies to get as many people protected as possible. One idea that’s resurfaced this week involves allowing more time in between the first and second doses of the two-dose vaccines. This time, though, there’s some additional data that suggests it might work.
Here’s the idea: two leading vaccines, made by Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna require two doses. But their early data showed pretty significant protection after the first dose. That got people thinking is it worth giving more people partial protection with just one dose? Or should they stick to the schedule and fully vaccinate fewer people?
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A calculator recently published at The New York Times estimates your place in line for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among the full U.S. population. It spits out a result based on your age, county of residence, occupation, and underlying health conditions. The calculator draws on vaccine priority recommendations issued by an advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, according to a story about it by Stuart A. Thompson (illustrations by Jorge Colombo). The calculator puts 268.7 million people ahead of me in line. To help readers grasp the logistical complexity of the vaccine rollout, the story lists the supplies required for every 100 doses: 105 needles and syringes, 210 alcohol pads, 4 surgical masks, 2 face shields, and 100 vaccine report cards to track patients’ vaccine histories.” In English; In Spanish.