As demand for vaccines continues to outstrip supply, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist has made an impressive forecast. “When we get to April, that would be what I call the lack of better writing, public bidding. In other words, practically everyone and anyone in any category can start getting vaccinated ”, said Dr. Anthony Fauci.
But vaccination sites still need doses and that is a big problem for Maryland. “We need more vaccines,” said Gov. Larry Hogan. “We have no control over this supply problem.”
It’s the same in Los Angeles. “It’s a little bit of Hunger Games out there,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This week we received just 16,000 new doses. This is 90,000 below the previous week. This is unacceptable.”
The shortage is forcing several Los Angeles vaccine locations to close for two days, starting Friday. A website at the iconic Crenshaw Christian Center has sold out. The surrounding area includes some of the city’s most affected communities. The battle at the Crenshaw Christian Center is personal – founder Frederick KC Price is now battling the COVID-19.
In Alabama, which ranks last in the US in vaccination per capita, all sites are now reserved until April.
Irene Cozad, 70, beat colon cancer and says she is desperate for the vaccine. “I’m on the computer, checking and I don’t know how much more I can do,” she said. “Discouraging, it’s almost as if I think there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Now I’m getting depressed about it.”
Some relief is on the way, as the federal government has started sending doses of vaccines directly to pharmacies On thursday.
Also on Thursday, President Biden emphasized the need to increase the supply of vaccines during a visit to the laboratories of the National Institutes of Health, where the Modern vaccine was developed.
“It really ended up being a huge logistical problem for us,” he said. “My predecessor – I will be very frank about it – did not do its job in preparing for the huge challenge of vaccinating hundreds of millions.”
Biden announced that the United States has just signed contracts for an additional 100 million doses of each of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Vaccines would arrive in late July, he said.
How far some are willing to skip the line is evident in a Craigslist ad offering to get 75-year-olds to get the vaccine. In Massachusetts, the governor announced that seniors who attend vaccination appointments can also get the vaccine.