The Tragedy of the Commons.

[CTyankee]

This economic and moral issue of the vaccine is what is happening in New Haven, CT, even as I write this.

The medical people all have been vaccinated, including pharmacists. Our Dem governor, Ned Lamont, and his team have been hard at work setting up access stations across our little state. Doctors, such as ours, have set up safe and secure access in their offices. It feels like we are ready and able to fight WW2 but lack the bullets.

As seniors, we are among the first in line, unlike some other New England states. Since we are in the elderly patient category I expected that we would be called, appointments set up, and then getting the shot in an orderly fashion.

However, our online system produces one disappointment after another. We use the online site to register, only to find that avenue is blocked because they cannot take any more appointments. Gov. Lamont, who has done everything he can, has sent out the call to the federal government to GET MORE VACCINES.

We are keeping as safe as we can. Out daily online experience is frustrating as doors are being shut in our faces. Our doctor's office is five minutes from our house and an orderly process has been set up with him: we are called when our appt. is ready and we can wait in our car for the call. We are ready and willing. The doctor is vaccinated, ready and willing.

WE NEED THE VACCINE!

[FBaggins]

1. I don't see how the title fits the body of your post

The vaccine distribution is the opposite of each person acting in their own interests. Whether each state is making the best possible decisions or not, they are explicitly trying to manage the limited commons in the best interests of the overall society. That’s just the opposite of the tragedy of the commons.

If the commons were larger, then more livestock could graze on it... but the “tragedy” isn’t that the commons is too small.

[CTyankee]

4. I see your point and I am aware of the history of the tragedy of the commons.

For a bit of time, it was "first in, first served" by category or phase. But the supply now is limited due to the rush of all the people in the first category getting in line. Back when toilet paper was sold out, supply was there at first. Then people in droves rushed to their supermarkets only to find they were too late: the shelves were bare!

My point is that the tragedy is that everyone WANTS the vaccine, but the supply (for whatever reason) has become limited by that initial rush. Of course, people seeking the vaccine are acting in their own best interests! It is also in the interest of the community that they be vaccinated.

I think about this a lot, as an 81 year old with an 80 year old handicapped husband. We cannot wait in line for long hours in the cold at pre dawn at the announced site for access. The plan says we ARE eligible, our doctors are vaccinated and standing by to help with distribution. But the demand, understandably the frontline workers, at the same time as the elderly, resulted in a shortage. It was an humane policy, but the demand overwhelmed the system.

[Mosby]

6. It's a free for all with poor planning.

That's how I read your OP.

[CTyankee]

8. No. It was not a free for all with poor planning.

It was including the elderly in the first phase of the rollout. The elderly category was was included in the first served. However, our neighboring MA did not include the elderly in their first rollout.

Our entire congressional delegation and our governor are either in on a wicked plot or they were misinformed as to fulfillment of the demand. They aren't stupid.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Weird... Your post says nothing for or against or explaining the title

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Vaccine development and production is not an open unregulated resource.

[CTyankee]

5. see my response above.

[Turin_C3PO]

3. Here in NM

our system seems to be messed up. Vaccines are getting thrown, some people who aren’t elderly, high risk or frontline workers are getting their vaccine before they should. It’s a complete clusterfuck.

[CTyankee]

7. Gov. Lamont set up a humane plan. The problem is in fulfilling the demand, not making the

product in demand. In that way, it differs from the "classic" definition of the tragedy of the commons.

Or perhaps it doesn't. There is always the possibility that we are being told one thing, when something else is the real reason.

I do expect the supply to catch up with the demand, but lives will be lost in the meantime. We have great Dems in office: both senators and our governor and our entire congressional delegation. They are more than willing to do what they can.

[Hugin]

9. NM was only allocated 17,500 doses of vaccine under the previous administration's plan...

Or enough to cover 0.4% of the State's population with a two dose application. Assuming it all arrived.

It takes 80% of any area's population to be vaccinated for it to be a means to stop the spread of a disease.

I'm guessing it's punishment for going Democratic in the last three elections.

Write Trump a letter if you have problems with how it's turning out.

[CTyankee]

12. What a goddam outrage!

I won't waste my valuable time (nor my "beautiful mind&quot on that piece of shit. That's done, he's gone, end of story.

Ineptitude is one thing, what you are describing is a crime against humanity!

[Hugin]

13. No kidding.

I've floated the words negligent manslaughter or even genocide several times.

Nobody seems to be willing to go there. It's all kumbayah and unity out there.

That's why I personally don't have much faith Trump will be held accountable or suffer any consequences.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Or it's a question of the limitations of production

According to this, Connecticut had administered 258,000 doses by Thursday, for a state population of 3,565,000. That's 7.24 per 100 people; the USA average by Thursday was 5.30. So Connecticut has been getting its fair share, it seems, and administering them well.

Maybe it's a question of the mass production of a novel type of medical product.

[CTyankee]

11. I think you are right. I not pointing my finger to anyone (well, except Trump).

Under an enlightened (Democratic) president, the engines of medical production would have been encouraged and enhanced and a faster resulting vaccine would have been produced. You have described it perfectly as a "novel type of medical product."