So true.
I don't understand how is it that the vaccine companies have been announcing their progress all year, and yet so many governors acted as if it were some pipe dream? It's not like the progress was kept top secret.
Why didn't they start prepping until after the FDA gave the green light?
I was reading that WV has already administered more vaccines than NY.
Ok so maybe the deep freeze issue was not anticipated but they could have had a website up and running where people could sign up for it and then have software that could filter or prioritize people based on occupation, age, risk factors, etc. They could have staked out some locations of where it could be administered. Or they could just sit and wait until it's approved and then scramble frantically which is what NJ seems to have done. It's sad that some vaccine has had to be disposed of because once defrosted, it must be given within 5 days.
That is crazy. They need to eat a slice of humble pie and ask advice from corporations who are known for getting the job of People Moving done efficiently. Look at how Disney knows how to move people. Sure they have their moments when it's less than stellar but overall given the scope of size of WDW, they're pretty amazing. (Land, boat, monorail, skyliner) They use a variety of methods to get it done. Some resorts have more than one method.
Look at Chick-Fil-A. Their drive throughs are sometimes 2-4 lanes wide, and full. So they put people out on foot with ipads to take orders and pay in advance instead of making everyone wait to get to the squawker on the loudspeaker to order, then pay at the window. I've been in line with 30 cars and we're still through it with hot food in 15 mins.
Here is your initial solution in 5 mins:
- Contact all regional/primary hospitals and regional Walgreens/CVS/Walmart offices
- Request each locations freezer capacity they will set aside for COVID19 vaccines or they are willing to create
- In counties without a primary distribution node request the county capital to either create or get a business to provide the service
- Approve vaccine injection sites based on medical groups/pharmacy groups approval (start with national/region chains pre approved)
- Finalize list of Injection sites
- Finalize list of distribution nodes
- Finalize rollout tiers of who should receive injections (Front line, 65+, ect)
- Schedule rolling 3 day schedule of pick-up by injection sites
- Require submission of all injections provided by injection site for previous 72 hours 24 hours prior to scheduled timeslot, documentation is reviewed and if injections went to waste or provided to non primary groups for vaccine then reduce capacity to that site
- Upon all injection sites not using full capacity of vaccines for current rollout tier then shift to the next tier
I honestly don't understand how it could be that hard to figure this out. Heck coordinate with the state guard as well for help with the concept of logistics.
The underlying issues are quite different.
A lack of funding to the state health departments meant staffing and site shortages. The states had been pounding the table for more than six months. The promised $9bn federal funding was finally released late in December.
A lack of visibility into the supply meant lining up the arms and the shots would be a challenge. The deep freeze, double dosing schedule, and transport logistics mean you have to get the demand and supply right like a thread through a needle. The held-back supply was finally released yesterday.
A lack of a coherent national vaccination message meant you would overestimate the number of people showing up for the shots. Instead, you had a leadership bent on dancing on the campaign trails and lodging election lawsuits. If your headlines are still about the elections, your vaccine demand just isn't going to be there.
Those mega-sites should have been opened up earlier. That's partly where the states fell behind - but it's learning by doing. They are still figuring it all out by themselves.