States grapple with vaccine plans
NYC tries 24/7 vaccine sites, new cases are surging in nation's capital area, and Trump officials make first invitation to Biden team to attend vaccine development meetings
U.S. leaders promised 20 million people vaccinated by the end of 2020, then changed it to 20 million vaccine doses shipped by the end of 2020, and now… we are two weeks into 2021 and about 9 million shots have been given. Another 16 million doses have been distributed to states, according to the CDC. The vaccine programs in Europe are moving slower than expected, too.
Politico reports that Biden transition team members can attend their first Operation Warp Speed vaccine development meeting this week. They were not invited previously.
Two scientists have sound advice on what the USA can do to prevent the highly transmissable variant of the coronavirus from dominating the United States. In addition to a much stronger testing strategy, the researchers suggest targeting vaccination programs to locations where the new strain has started to spread.
Florida has given shots to 3% of its population but the New York Times reports that its distribution has been “haphazard.”
California plans to open vaccine sites at sports stadiums as part of a new plan to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination program.
New York is going to set up all-night shot locations.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Washington, DC, area was rising even before the events last week. One member of Congress tested positive last Wednesday night, suggesting that other members who were sheltering with him during the riot were likely exposed to the infection. At least one other member has since tested positive. Public health officials worry that a new surge of cases is likely among the rioters, who mostly eschewed masks or other face coverings.
The global death toll from COVID-19 is nearing 2 million, with the USA rapidly approaching 400,000.
