Covid Vaccine Update: Distribution Groups and Speed

Since March 2020, a lot of our daily routines have been flipped upside down. With schools online, businesses closing, people losing their jobs and most importantly doctors overwhelmed with covid patients we all need a light at the end of tunnel or something to look forward to. Recently, Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines for covid-19 were approved. 

 So far, in the United States there have been 6.25 million shots of both vaccines in total have been administered giving an overall rate of 1.9 in 100 vaccinated. Most of these patients have been healthcare workers who have been fighting covid on the frontline for months. Recently, however there has been a changes made in the demographics of vaccine recipients as a large fraction of healthcare workers start to decline vaccinations. Because of this, Newsom and Cuomo both recently announced that any vaccines that are sitting still and are at risk of "going waste" can be administered to the next group of people waiting which includes elderly, education workers, and child care workers. The main priority however still remains healthcare workers. 

 In addition, there are concerns at the rate at which vaccines have been distributed in the United States. Currently, half of the supply of vaccines are being held back because both the vaccines in the market right now require two doses to reach it's full efficacy potential. However Biden recently announced that he plans on releasing all vaccines available and distribute them to states. Many bring up a concern that we still need to make sure there will be a second dose available for those who get their first shot. Health officials say the only way these goals are feasible is if there is an increase in vaccination production speed not only distribution. 

 Getting vaccinated however does not mean masks can come off and everything is back to normal. Those who are vaccinated can still act as potential carriers and give the virus to those unvaccinated. However, it seems like it will give us some legroom and space to meet people vaccinated or start to see some aspects of our regular routine return. Even though the CDC and Fauci predict there is a significant amount of time before we will see any normality or heard immunity, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 I have a tremendous amount of respect for all frontline and healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly this past year and thanks to them, everyone behind vaccine production and many more we will see an end to this!

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