Spotlight on the New Administration’s Plans for Vaccine Rollout - What You Need to Know
With the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden on the horizon, the focus has turned to his plan for the coronavirus vaccine rollout. He has been calling the nationwide effort to distribute vaccines his ‘number one priority’ and is planning to unveil his path forward soon.
We already know that he plans to break somewhat from the Trump administration's strategy so far, instead releasing nearly all available doses as quickly as possible. The Trump administration, by contrast, has previously held back many doses because of the recommendations that people get two doses within a certain time frame.
There are concerns that if all doses are released, there may not be enough produced to accommodate those important second vaccine doses in time. Here’s what you need to know:
Why Increase the Speed?
When the vaccines initially received FDA approval and began to roll out to individuals, many were concerned that there would be chaos. Experts worried that those receiving the first dose would not be able to receive the second, due to limited supplies. But with more than 4,000 people dying every day according to recent numbers, the United States is clearly in crisis.
As the pandemic continues to worsen and two new and faster-spreading variants have been discovered, experts now believe a faster vaccine rollout is essential. FDA officials still note, though, that trying to stretch vaccine supplies by simply taking one dose is not recommended.
Trump Administration Also Changes Tune
On January 12, Operation Warp Speed under the Trump administration has announced that they plan to release all available doses of the vaccine to speed up inoculation of those individuals at highest risk. Holding half the doses in reserve no longer seems to make sense, since it does not appear that there will be any kind of shortfall in the manufacturing process.
Some researchers also point to the fact that a first dose of either vaccine appears to reduce symptomatic COVID-19 cases by as much as 85 percent. However, the FDA still recommends both doses of the vaccine for full protection.
Mass Vaccination Sites
This shift would also change the current guidelines and allow individuals aged 65 and older immediate access to the vaccine. It will also assist states in setting up sites to provide vaccination en masse if necessary and focus on adding more accessible sites, like pharmacies. Many states have had issues with hospitals and medical providers who simply do not have the resources to issue vaccines on such a scale.