Read on Twitter
1/ For those who want less detail, all 
in one sentence: “The vaccine isn’t near so do what you can control.”
For those who want detail:
I’ve received a number of questions about vaccine distribution. I’ve been confused why people expect the vaccine anytime soon.
in one sentence: “The vaccine isn’t near so do what you can control.”For those who want detail:
I’ve received a number of questions about vaccine distribution. I’ve been confused why people expect the vaccine anytime soon.
2/ As you know, I don’t watch tv news so when there’s a disconnect, I assume it’s there. So, I spent my New Year’s morning researching what has been said.
Unfortunately, President Trump & his Admin has over promised ...
Unfortunately, President Trump & his Admin has over promised ...
3/ On Sept 18, Trump stated, "Hundreds of millions of doses will be available every month and we expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April.” Earlier in the week he stated by March.
Continuing the over promise, on Oct 8, HHS Sec Azar stated, “We project having ..
Continuing the over promise, on Oct 8, HHS Sec Azar stated, “We project having ..
4/ enough for every American who wants a vaccine by March to April 2021.”
(I’m not going to get into the allegation that the Administration turned down more Pfizer doses in October.)
On Nov 18, HHS Sec Azar stated, “By the end of Dec, we expect to have about 40m doses of ...
(I’m not going to get into the allegation that the Administration turned down more Pfizer doses in October.)
On Nov 18, HHS Sec Azar stated, “By the end of Dec, we expect to have about 40m doses of ...
5/ these two vaccines available for distribution pending FDA authorization - enough to vaccinate about 20m of our most vulnerable Americans.”
Vaccinations started occurring on Dec 14 to great fanfare. However, since, weekly doses to states have been slashed ...
Vaccinations started occurring on Dec 14 to great fanfare. However, since, weekly doses to states have been slashed ...
6/ For ex: Missouri’s 180k allocation has dropped to 51k. Maine’s 36k allocation has dropped to 12,675. North Carolina’s 85k of Pfizer & 175k of Moderna has dropped to 60k of each through end of Jan.
40m doses was obviously incorrect as the latest figures only show 12.5m ...
40m doses was obviously incorrect as the latest figures only show 12.5m ...
7/ have been delivered. Worse, only 3.1m have been administered. So, as we enter today, only 1% of the US pop has received their 1st shot & only 26% of the vaccines distributed have been administered. (SC has vaccinated 0.82% of the pop w 37.5% of the doses received administered.
8/ The natural question is why is this after months to plan & 3 wks to administer?
First, it’s an obvious failure by the Trump Admin to over promise. The reality is we don’t have enough doses. Even w President-Elect Biden’s optimistic goal of 100m people in his first 100 days,
First, it’s an obvious failure by the Trump Admin to over promise. The reality is we don’t have enough doses. Even w President-Elect Biden’s optimistic goal of 100m people in his first 100 days,
9/ that only gets us to 30% of the pop. So, an optimistic goal is 30% of the pop by May (meaning it’ll prob be later & the general public needs to have a summer hope/fall expectation of receiving).
Not completely on point but I took the time to look at Trump’s tweets ...
Not completely on point but I took the time to look at Trump’s tweets ...
10/ starting w his Dec 11th tweet, “Trump must get the credit for the vaccines. It is a miracle.” On Dec 21 & 22, he tweeted, “Very smooth distribution!” His latest blames states, “The Fed Govt has distributed the vaccines to the states. Now it is up to the states to administer .
11/ Since Dec 11, he tweeted 15 times about vaccines. However, he tweeted 163 times over the “rigged” election. Obviously, the past election has more priority than vaccine distribution.
Second, the decision to place distribution on states’ health agencies was a poor one ...
Second, the decision to place distribution on states’ health agencies was a poor one ...
12/ To be clear, I don’t blame DHEC. They were & are not resourced for a pandemic or mass vaccination distribution. Just like testing (which still needs vast improvements), they are in over their heads but it’s not their fault. Blame me if anything. I’ve been in state govt ...
13/ for 6 years & didn’t advocate for pandemic resources.
But since distribution falls on states, expect distribution issues. The critique that we have had months to prepare for vaccine distribution is a legitimate critique ...
But since distribution falls on states, expect distribution issues. The critique that we have had months to prepare for vaccine distribution is a legitimate critique ...
14/ I know well because our little saliva testing team made a bid to DHEC way back in Sept to help deliver not only saliva tests but also the vaccine to our ability. To me, anything less than 100% administration after months to prepare is a failure ...
15/ I told someone it’s like preparing for D-Day but only having 1/4 of the troops arrive on H-Hour bc we’re still working out details.
I’m really glad DHEC publicly stated yesterday, “the vaccines expected to become avail for the gen public during the summer & fall of 2021.” .
I’m really glad DHEC publicly stated yesterday, “the vaccines expected to become avail for the gen public during the summer & fall of 2021.” .
16/ Third, the bottlenecks for testing are frustrating. One needs the ability to collect samples efficiently, deliver to lab, have a staffed lab competent to report timely, report results to DHEC that ultimately report to person. Bottlenecks of supplies range from PPE to ...
17/ storage to vials. It’s the same myriad of bottlenecks for the vaccine: supply of raw materials seems to be the biggest issue now but other supplies (ie needles), transportation, refrigeration, etc are all org issues that at times are controllable & other times are not ...
18/ Finally, it’s on us to understand vaccine distribution instead of listening to politicians’ bluster (including mine). We have over 5m people in SC. After 3 wks, we have only received 112,125 doses of Pfizer (so max of 61k people) & 84,500 doses of Moderna vaccine ...
19/ (so max if 42k people). Do the math, it’s going to be a while.
We need to understand that a vaccine is not near. Like Sisyphus, I’ll continue to beat the drum to do what we can control - distance & test ...
We need to understand that a vaccine is not near. Like Sisyphus, I’ll continue to beat the drum to do what we can control - distance & test ...
20/ I’m becoming more confident that doing what we can control will save more lives in 2021 than the vaccines. Look at IMHE projections. What we do determines more than anything.
Fwd looking ... my vaccine concerns: (1) w scarcity, will we forego the 2nd shot to spread out ...
Fwd looking ... my vaccine concerns: (1) w scarcity, will we forego the 2nd shot to spread out ...
21/ shots for more people sacrificing more efficacy? (2) how long will immunity last for the sick & vaccinated? (Such a huge issue that isn’t on many radars.) (3) so far, the vaccines have covered mutations. What’s our plan if a strain isn’t? ...
22/ My testing hope for 2021: We either have very easy access to wkly testing or, even better, at home testing available. If college athletes have access to 3 tests per wk, college students have access to 1 test per wk, why can’t every citizen?
END
END
