The Covid-19 vaccine is one of the most popular topics in the world right now. The current rollout has been questioned, but it has worked to some degree. With Biden going into office, what is his plan for the distribution of the vaccine?
Joe Biden wants to use FEMA as well as the National Guard to set up Covid vaccine clinics throughout the country. Biden also is pushing for vaccines to be distributed by local pharmacies. “The group estimated that the country’s retail pharmacies could administer at least 100 million doses of vaccines each month, which would exceed the incoming administration’s promise of 100 million shots in 100 days” (CNBC).
So far, just over 3% of the U.S. population has received the first of two Covid vaccine doses. Under 1% of the population has been fully vaccinated (CNBC).
The vaccine rollout has, unfortunately, not been as smooth as hoped for. There are different issues in different parts of the country. The Los Angeles area, specifically, is having a lot of issues. Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer was quoted saying, “We’re not done with our health care workers, and we actually don’t have enough vaccine right now to be able to get done more quickly.” (AP).
Different areas are getting more creative with how they are going to distribute the vaccine. State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, has been set up to help give the vaccine (AP). Gillette Stadium, home to the New England Patriots, is also equipped to handle vaccination distribution. Beginning on Monday, 300 hundred vaccines will be given daily at Gillette. The goal is to get up to 5,000 a day soon. Even legendary Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Sox play, is attempting to become suitable for vaccine distribution as well. Just recently, around two-thirds of the entire state of Massachusetts is at a very high risk for coronavirus transmission (NBCBoston).
Lovelace Jr., Berkeley, and Noah Higgins-Dunn. “Biden to Deploy FEMA, National Guard to Set up Covid Vaccine Clinics across the U.S.” CNBC, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2021, http://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/15/biden-to-deploy-fema-national-guard-to-set-up-covid-vaccine-clinics-across-the-us.html.
Peltz, Jennifer, et al. “Expanded Vaccine Rollout in US Spawns a New Set of Problems.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 14 Jan. 2021, apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-vaccine-problems-24cc4724457f3f682b7c3e8414deb565.
Reports, Staff. “Mass Vaccination Site at Gillette Stadium Opens for Soft Launch.” NBC Boston, NBC10 Boston, 15 Jan. 2021, http://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/mass-vaccination-site-at-gillette-stadium-opens-for-soft-launch/2281129/.
