We’re now in a race — a race for our lives as the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and escape our best defenses.
The latest competitors are variants of COVID-19, some of which are more transmissible and may cause more severe disease; and a public health community striving to get the virus under control by rapidly administering vaccines. Unfortunately, the vaccine rollout has been hamstrung by federal and state immunization campaigns that stumbled out of the gate.
In communities large and small, the playing field for vaccinating Americans is not level. People ages 65 and older living in multigenerational households can receive a vaccine in Washington state, for example, but that same group cannot get the vaccine a few miles away in Oregon.
Thankfully, we’ve gained critical ground over the past few weeks by getting millions of shots into arms while doubling down on mask wearing, hand-washing, and social distancing to prevent infection. Quickly vaccinating large numbers of people in the community reduces the opportunity for the virus to find new hosts.
At the finish line is herd immunity, the point at which most of a population is protected against an infectious disease, leaving the virus with nowhere else to go. Some have dubbed this “community immunity” because it calls upon each of us to do our part by getting vaccinated to keep our neighbors safe.
Winning the race against such an elusive opponent depends upon sufficient vaccine supply and effective distribution. The Biden administration is working to secure a total of 600 million doses to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer or early fall.
We can meet this mark, but it will take our best efforts.
The emergence of COVID-19 variants in the U.K., Brazil, California, and South Africa add to the challenge. Some will be insignificant, while others like the one first found in South Africa and now detected in the U.S., may be more resistant to existing vaccines. This is where the race becomes a sprint, as researchers flex to develop booster shots to ward off the threat.
To further speed U.S. immunizations, an accelerated FDA approval process for new vaccines in the pipeline will help. Most importantly, coordinating a distribution network that moves vaccine from manufacturers to healthcare providers is critical. People want and should be able to get their shots from familiar trusted sources, wherever they may be.
A well-managed distribution network runs more like a relay race, requiring a smooth hand-off of the baton between all the key players — drug makers, the public health sector, pharmacies, health systems, and government officials. Federal agencies and vaccine manufacturers must collaborate to increase domestic production capacity, accelerate procurement and delivery of critical manufacturing equipment, and work with suppliers to increase production capacity for critical materials.
Community healthcare providers play an essential role in vaccinating people of color and disadvantaged populations. These populations are more likely to work in frontline industries, often live in overcrowded housing, and are less likely to have access to quality healthcare. Broad-based public-private partnerships to create mass vaccination sites will play a critical role in improving access to vaccines.
Frequently changing tiers and differing priorities at the federal, state, and local levels — which in effect forces players to switch lanes mid-race — has caused tremendous confusion, frustration, and dismay.
The federal government’s recent decision to provide allocation estimates 3 weeks in advance is an important first step toward giving officials, the public health sector, and health systems the time and certainty they need to plan for and administer vaccines more efficiently.
Building a supply and distribution chain with transparency at its core will save lives.
With so much at stake, winning this race is the only option.
Stephen Parodi, MD (@StephenParodiMD), is an associate executive director for The Permanente Medical Group and national infectious disease leader for Kaiser Permanente.
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
