Biden issuing pandemic plan that aims to expand access to testing and vaccines, reopen schools

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Yes - that is what states have been doing, but in a hodge podge and inconsistent fashion

THAT is one of the problems of not having a "national" plan.

You have an issue right here in PA with pharmacies (Rite Aid is on) that are fulfilling vaccination requests outside of the state's phased priorities, because of their own company "ethics" policies. I.e., if someone basically "asks for one" and it is available, they will not "turn them away" and there is no checking/verification if that individual fits that state priority phases.

What that means is that you may have people in need who might normally have challenges either with scheduling (due to their work shifts) and/or getting to a location where the vaccines are given, and they end up getting continually shoved to the back of the line by those with more resources. At that point, they won't even bother.

An example down in D.C. is here - https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/coronavirus/dc-man-vaccinated-for-covid-19-after-getting-on-pharmacy-waitlist-for-no-shows/2530182/

And in the case of who the virus impacts the most, it's the most vulnerable communities, who are also the ones who have the hardest time accessing the treatments and vaccines due to socioeconomic issues, including few or no supermarkets or pharmacies in their communities, and if they have a city or federal clinic nearby, those facilities are strictly following the eligibility guidelines and may end up getting allocated less to dish out if a pharmacy is able to pull strings and get more doses, but are not accessible to the right people.

This is a manufactured heath care divide.

And I agree that a prudent way to "use up" vaccine each day, could be having something like "first come/first served walk up" access at the end each day. Or it could be handled with "waiting lists", etc. However from what I gather, at least from Philly's pressers, is that most non-retail organizations who are providing vaccines and have an advanced scheduling process - if they have 500 people scheduled for a Saturday, then they request 500 doses for that day, but they might only have 470 actually show up, leaving 30 extra doses left. So for them, it will always be a hassle for how to handle this other than hodge podge -

"Well can I get my healthy 15 year old sister here to get vaccinated?""

while there are teachers and other frontline workers, let alone those who meet the severe underlying health criteria who need it and can't even get an appointment for any place near them (I have 2 sisters going through this right now - one who is immuno-compromised with rheumatoid arthritis and another a cancer survivor - they live in 2 different counties outside of Philly), and it is already causing not only angst but anger. And it's more difficult because this vaccine can't be treated like standard vaccines and just thrown in the fridge for another day.

As an example of a non-hospital/non-clinic-related organization that does rotating "location-based" testing and vaccinations for the underserved, we have the "Black Doctor's COVID Consortium"

Black Doctors Consortium push for greater COVID-19 vaccine distribution
By Jeff Cole
Published 2 days ago
Coronavirus Vaccine
FOX 29 Philadelphia

FAIRMOUNT - There is growing concern over the COVID vaccine and the issue is the vaccine is taking longer than anticipated. Some are trying everything they can to keep it moving and get as many people vaccinated as possible. One group actively participating in moving the vaccine along is the Black Doctors Consortium. They came on foot, in cars and in large numbers to Girard College in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday for COVID-19 testing. "I lost my mother-in-law last year to COVID. It’s personal and real important for me to know what’s going on. Know what I mean," asked Tony Mapp.

In any other day, on the MLK holiday, Girard would be a place for ceremonies marking the achievements of the slain civil rights leader. Instead the focus turned to the deadly virus ravaging communities of color. 500 were tested, but the head of a group of Black doctors battling the virus for months believes vaccinations are the way out among people where skepticism is high. "It really depends where you’re giving it, who’s giving it and the trust that they have in those individuals," stated Dr. Ala Stanford, Founder of the Black Doctors Consortium.

The Black Doctors Consortium began vaccinating in North Philadelphia over the weekend of January 15 and found concerns over taking the vaccine slip away as 1,000 took the shot over two days and 9,000 people signed up. "It’s access. It’s trust. It’s all the things that widen health disparity gaps that are so pervasive in our nation," Dr. Stanford remarked.

Vaccinations are also being limited by a sluggish national rollout of doses, leaving large vaccination sites with just a few hundred doses to inject. Tracie Taylor is a diabetic who tested for COVID Monday and wants the vaccine as soon as she can get it. "I’m a little anxious because you don’t know what the side effects are. Everybody’s different, but I will get it. Better safe than sorry," Taylor explained. The Black Doctors Consortium expect to vaccinate twice this week with at least 1,000 doses.

https://www.fox29.com/news/black-doctors-consortium

They have been able to battle the city to initially get registered as a non-profit, and then finally get a contract with the city for COVID-19 testing and now vaccinations. But again, that is why a thoughtful, researched, and detailed "plan" needs to be developed to take into consideration the unique circumstances and contingencies so that the usual "wealthy" aren't ahead of the "poor".