COVID-19 vaccines are out, but how soon will you get able to get yours? According to the CDC, 13 million doses have shipped and 4.2 million Americans have been vaccinated so far. However, 24 million healthcare workers and long-term care residents are eligible in Phase 1a, 49 million frontline essential workers persons age 75 and older in Phase 1b, and 129 people with high-risk medical conditions, age 65 million or older or other essential workers are eligible in Phase 1c before healthy young and middle-aged non-essential workers will be eligible. Don’t like those numbers? Here’s my advice if you want to get yourself to the front of the COVID-19 vaccine line.
- Keep wearing masks,
- Keep social distancing,
- Keep washing hands,
- Do something that makes you happy,
- Talk with someone empathetic, and
- Keep waiting along with the rest of us.
The New York Times, Washington Post and other media outlets have reported that corporations and interest groups have been lobbying to get themselves and their workers to the “front of the line” for early access to COVID-19 vaccines. If you ask me, that is shameful. There are nearly 20 million nurses, doctors and healthcare providers on the front lines of the pandemic who haven’t had a shot yet. Nearly 90 million other essential workers have been putting their health at risk for nearly a year now to keep our society functioning. Over 100 million people at high risk due to their age, medical condition or residence in a long-term care facility need this vaccine! And some people want to jump the line ahead of them? Those aren’t my values, and I hope they aren’t yours.
The COVID-19 vaccine supply is still limited. There aren’t even enough doses available yet for everyone in Phase 1a, let alone for the entire United States. Jumping the line isn’t a victimless crime; it means that people with a more critical need than you will be deprived of potentially live-saving vaccine because you diverted it to someone who didn’t need it as much as they did.
Eventually, there will be enough vaccine for everyone, but we are not at that point yet. If you aren’t in one of the current priority groups, then I beg you to wait and continue following all public health guidance to minimize your risk of COVID-19.
If you’re thinking about lobbying, pulling strings or otherwise jumping in line to get the vaccine before you are eligible for it, then I beg you to stop, take a deep breath, reassess your priorities, and wait along with the rest of us.
🛑 Dr. B