Vaccine rollout error?

[Sousuke]

The US shipped about 20 million doses after approval but as of today, per the NYT, only 2.8 million were administered. For the state of California, only about 21% have been used over the past two weeks.

From my point of view, the Tier system seems to be the failure here right? At the moment, all of these doses are concentrated in hospitals.

Someone in the medical field can correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like the Federal government should make an adjust and if hospitals can't run through their stocks faster, shipping to places like CVS, Safeway, Walgreens etc should get priority now until states start reporting their dose stockpile dropping to 20%. At the moment I don't think they gain access until March.

Am I wrong? It seems like a win/win in that private pharmacies can administer the doses much more efficiently and it might spur states to take more action when they realize they aren't getting their full supply. Sort of a use it or lose it plan.

[Misterclick]

It’s not as straight forward as a routine vaccine. It requires two doses at a specific interval so unlike other vaccines a patient scheduling and recall system must be used. Also the reporting requirements by the CDC for this vaccine are quite strenuous. Many clinics are not prepared to do an automated interface for reporting so they have to log everything into a federal database called VAMS manually.

[Misterclick]

[Sousuke]

Not to mention the packaging makes mass distribution difficult. You have to schedule 10 patients per vial (if Moderna) and 5 (up to 7) for a Pfizer. They are both frozen and must be thawed, so once open it must be given or massive waste will ensue. It’s complex for sure

All of this seems to point to a miscalculation not in production but distribution. Originally the CDC was thinking by week 3 they would start to burn through production at about a 1:1 ratio. I think we are entering week 3 now aren't we?

If you look at CDC guidelines (which are clearly optimistic at this point) they would ramp up to deliver 10 million doses a week by week 3. Current conditions are probably about ~ 1 million? They note that once phase 2 allows mass distribution capacity doubles.

If we assume that maybe hospitals can ramp up to 2 million by January, it would take until next winter to hit phase 2. If we skip to phase 2 now and assume mass distribution can add an additional 2 million to the system at least by next fall they might get 200 million doses out

Otherwise, by summer it appears that the current system will be lucky to get to 50m doses.

[FatCity67]

So OP if you would be so kind as to share with us your Logistics Bonafides for Nationwide Immunization rollouts.

[duenor]

So OP if you would be so kind as to share with us your Logistics Bonafides for Nationwide Immunization rollouts.

The man is putting forth a topic and idea for discussion, which is the whole purpose of this board. Surely there are better ways to conduct discussions than to demand the OP present credentials to justify his right to a discussion?

[cleonard]

It is all about controlling who gets it. They are in a tizzy to make sure only those who are supposed to get it, actually get it. If they can't do that in a timely manner, they should just start administering it to whoever wants it. There are plenty who would take it right now.

Typical bureaucratic nightmare.

[Jongage]

In our perspective. We have 20y/o's with BS degrees, who keep asking if they are allowed to move a table two feet, and dont know how to light a propane heater.

[SAN compnerd]

Slowing the vacc distro allows the extension of lockdowns.

[bigbossman]

Slowing the vacc distro allows the extension of lockdowns.

I'd be willing to bet that the distribution foul up is at the state level, rather than federal.

[Sousuke]

I think as I look into it more, there may also be a high rate of refusal.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/many-frontline-workers-refuse-covid-19-vaccines-distribution-rollout-struggles-n1252617

[Dan_Eastvale]

Slowing the vacc distro allows the extension of lockdowns.

I'm certain they'll continue with ALL the overabundance of caution nonesense after completing the vaccine distributions.

[AZoneZenSeeker]

[duenor]

I think the assumption is that if you are 70+, but not in a position of high exposure, then your risk is much lower than that 20 year old who is bagging groceries for hundreds of people every day.

Right now, California is in Phase 1A of vaccine distribution, which covers:

Health care workers
Workers and residents at skilled nursing facilities
Workers and residents at other congregate living facilities

Phase 1B, Tier One includes:

People 75 and older
Workers in education, like teachers, and childcare
Emergency services workers
Food and agriculture workers, like farm workers and grocery workers

Next up comes Phase 1B, Tier Two:

Anyone 65 or older with an underlying health condition or disability
Workers in transportation and logistics
Industrial, residential and commercial sectors
Critical manufacturing workers
Incarcerated individuals
Homeless individuals

If you do not qualify for 1A or 1B1, then you will be in 1B2.

[bohoki]

yea they should have been sold out in 24 hours they need to say "totally free vaccines" and accept anyone who can come the goal should be dispersal