Covid 19 Vaccines – the Calvary is Coming, but be Patiently Persistent and Safe
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/11/vaccines-end-covid-19-pandemic-sight/617141/
The two first vaccines across the finish line have 95% efficacy. The Pfizer Bio N Tech vaccine has to be transported and stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius, and the Moderna vaccine has to be stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius. They are being manufactured as fast as possible such that 20 million doses will be available in the US before New Year’s. The FDA is starting its emergency authorization reviews so they can be approved for safe distribution. By next summer if not before, many of us should be able to be vaccinated.
Distribution may be contentious. As I understand it, the first responders will be the first to be vaccinated – e.g. doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, police and firefighters and others. Then the high-risk individuals such as the elderly and those with particular types of pre-existing conditions that make them most susceptible to Covid 19. After that the general population will be vaccinated. The vaccines are not yet tested on children so that needs to be done before kids can be vaccinated. There will likely be those trying to push to the head of the line, cut the queue, due to their sense of their own self-importance. How are we going to get these vaccines to people living in remote areas of the country with limited access to medical care and limited access to the high tech cold temperature facilities required? To be determined.
There is a lot of distrust of vaccines – some from anti-vaxxers, some from anti-Trumpers, some from African Americans who have often been badly treated in past medical experiments. We will need a big and highly effective public health education campaign once the FDA has given its approval for safety and efficacy of the vaccines. What sort of a campaign will be effective? To be determined.
For the President’s own self-interested reasons (he wants to stay as President despite his defeat), his administration is blocking President-elect Biden’s access to the federal agencies and inside information necessary to make a smooth hand-off to the incoming administration. The Medical Association, Hospital Association, Nursing Association, Manufacturing Association and Chamber of Commerce have urged the President to start and open up the transition process right now. When will GSA “ascertain” that Biden won? To be determined.
We’ll need to wear masks and socially distance until we can get vaccinated. The economy will likely begin to take off once the public health restrictions can be safely lifted. Stay safe and stay well.
Do let your local elected Representative know that our lives and our jobs will depend on getting the transition process happening right now.
Lucien