There’s a vaccine.
But the majority of us can’t get it yet. Because it’s not our turn.
From all I’ve been reading, my turn should start in February, as I’m in the same category as the majority of the population. In fact, more people will be qualified for the vaccine in Phase 2 (for Massachusetts) than any other phase. So come April, we still won’t be done vaccinating Phase 2. Because remember, we need two doses. I know people who had their first dose three weeks ago but weren’t able to get an appointment for their second dose until after Valentine’s day. So that’s cutting into Phase 2.
So today the first people in Phase 2, those over age 75, could start signing up. But the websites weren’t working. Or they were and there were no appointments available. Because there are only so many locations and many of them are only open a few days a week. How many people do you expect to be able to vaccinate at two, maybe three days a week? In my general area, the most days I saw any location open was five. And for how many hours? And if you make an appointment and there’s a snowstorm that day? Then what? Because that happens in February in Massachusetts.
If you want to vaccinate 50 million people within 100 days nationwide, you have to have more than twenty locations statewide and you have to be open more than five days a week. Now I understand that retail locations such as CVS, Walgreens and Big Y are to be doing vaccinations. But I have yet to see any information about them doing them in Massachusetts. Maybe soon. Who knows?
Another thing nobody (or maybe nobody) has taken into consideration are the group of people turning 16 this year who will be qualified for a vaccination. I have one turning 16 in September. Will there be a vaccination for her? What about the children turning 16 in 2022? 2023? 2024? Will there be vaccinations for them? Because if someone is missed, there’s going to still be a problem. Also, we still don’t know if we’re going to need to be vaccinated every single year.
I guess time will tell. But who knows if we’ll be ready.
michellemchatton.com 