[PLUG-TALK] Pole replacement antix, vaccination kvetch

[Paul Heinlein]

On Thu, 2 Dec 2021, John Jason Jordan wrote:

> I have been upset throughout the current pandemic about the 
> eligibility requirements. Health care workers were first, and then 
> according to age. None of the pre-existing conditions were 
> considered. I have four massive pre-existing conditions, but I had 
> to wait until my age group finally was listed as eligible. Vaccines 
> arrived in Oregon on December 12, 2019, but I couldn't get 
> vaccinated until late March, 2020.
>
> Luckily I survived, but I hope when the next virus arrives we'll get 
> more logical about the priorities.

Without excusing the evident disarray of the vaccination rollout, I 
will note that the batching and refrigeration requirements for the 
Pfizer and Moderna products presented some unique challenges. 
Transportation options were somewhat limited and very time-sensitive. 
Large-scale distributions (e.g., at OHSU to employees) were much 
easier to manage than those on smaller scales (e.g., to your local 
pharmacy).

There is no doubt the process was confused and inefficient, but it's 
also fair to say the physical requirements surrounding the mRNA 
products presented some new challenges.

It's also true that huge political battles were faced by policy 
makers. Some were of the nauseating partisan variety the COVID 
outbreak saw repeatedly, but others were quite important, such as 
ensuring that communities traditionally underserved (or even 
malserved) by the medical and pharmaseutical industries got a fair 
shake this time around.

-- 
Paul Heinlein
heinlein at madboa.com
45.38° N, 122.59° W