Two weeks ago, we were told 20 million of us would be vaccinated by the end

[Atticus]

of December. With 3 days left in 2020, only 2 million have been vaccinated.

People, we need to start SCREAMING at any Republican we can reach: "WTF IS GOING ON? THOUSANDS A DAY ARE DYING!"

This is no time for nice, no time for polite, no time for "indoor voices".

"WTF IS GOING ON?"

[FarPoint]

1. Let's backtrack...

Who in authority claimed we would have 20 million vaccinated by end of December? Was that goal for the USA or global?

[634-5789]

6. I saw that on CNN, and Bloomberg had a medical group on there to say the same thing.

[RazzleCat]

7. It only says US officials

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/health/vaccine-rollout-slow-data-lags/index.html

[Hugin]

8. Here's one who said it...

"Americans can expect that about 25 to 30 million people could be vaccinated each month afterward, said Moncef Slaoui, co-lead of Operation Warp Speed."

"Roughly 20 million people could be vaccinated against the coronavirus in December, the head of the Trump administration's vaccine and drug accelerator said Friday."

From: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/13/trump-covid-vaccine-december-436481

Article dated: 11/13/2020 05:46 PM EST

[FarPoint]

15. I realized that this was unrealistic since there was no logistics established.

I want this doe safely with focus and organization.... So, I probably immediately discounted the claim " could get 20 million people vaccinated"...

I also never take anything from this tRump administration to heart...always the used car salesman pitch they give...

20 million would be nice...but it has QA guidelines to adhere to and I prefer safety first....We did this in Dayton Ohio...day 3 of 3 is today...for A-1 level frontline workers...Pre-register, screening, use a safe venue to administer the vaccine with asepsis and multiple health/allergy screening...they did it 3 times! Then post-injection wait area with medics available and practice covid-19 Prevention Protocols through the gauntlet...Ours was amazingly smooth, safe and enjoyable.

So, I prefer caution over mass rush to get it thru the drive thru at McDonalds.

[Hugin]

18. This is the timeline which was widely promoted by the administration.

Your personal realization that it was unrealistic is not the point. There are 330,000,000 Americans out there who rely on accurate information being issued from government representatives and the media about the COVID pandemic. This is a DELIBERATE and substantial instance of misinformation being circulated. Propaganda, much?

[FarPoint]

20. Every day had been outrageous with this administration..

My focus is mitigation of this virus. Applying realistic expectations is a start... Let's move forward and save lives...We are doing thing safely...that is important...each day is progress....

Like I said... Outrage is common with this administration...I move beyond that now . .

[Demsrule86]

28. Trump is hoarding half the vaccine. He is incompetent. If Joe Biden was in, he would do what

it takes.Trump doesn't give a shit.

[FarPoint]

56. Even if he, tRump is hoarding...

We don't have the logistic distribution/administration aspects set up yet... We don't have staff available to administer this much, this fast and then the storage requirements for the Pfizer to meet 20 million doses even in 2 weeks from mid December thru 12/31/2020...We can't do this thru the McDonald's Drive-thur...

Correct, Trump does not give a shit...I prefer to ignore him, look forward and make positive steps with this vaccine plan....

[FarPoint]

17. Yea....

I never use anything these grifters say....so I probably immediately discounted them and used my own professional background to bring this into reasonable expectations...

[Atticus]

23. Thank you for that. nt

[Hugin]

26. ...

No problem.

Accuracy is my goal.

[dlk]

36. The operative word was "could"

“...could be vaccinated...” This gave them an out.

[DFW]

46. All the out they needed

Like the condemned man in the old Arab fable: "or the horse COULD talk!"

[Javaman]

43. Slaoui sold his soul

Moncef Mohamed Slaoui[1] (English: /ˈmɒnsɪf ˈslaʊ.i/; French: [mɔ̃sɛf slawi]; Moroccan Arabic: منصف السلاوي‎, IPA: [ˈmonsˤəf ˈsːlæwi]; born July 22, 1959) is a Moroccan-born Belgian-American researcher and former head of GlaxoSmithKline's vaccines department.[2] He worked at the company for thirty years, retiring in 2017. On May 15, 2020, President Donald Trump announced that Slaoui would manage the U.S. government's development of a vaccine used to treat coronavirus disease in Operation Warp Speed.[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncef_Slaoui

[Yonnie3]

9. Azar in early December

Multiple news sources:

https://wlos.com/news/local/pence-at-greenville-vaccine-roundtable-20-million-americans-to-get-covid-19-vaccine-by-years-end

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-pence-participates-in-covid-19-vaccine-roundtable

“Twenty million Americans could be vaccinated just before the end of this month,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who traveled with Pence to the Palmetto State.

[Hugin]

10. +1

I remember calculating based on that statement it wouldn't be until at least July before everyone who wanted the vaccine would be vaccinated at the rate of 20,000,000/month.

[uponit7771]

45. +1,

[spanone]

72. They are speaking about this on CNN right now. the Gov't. promised 20million doses administered by

years end.

[dem4decades]

2. so they reached 10%, another Trump failure

[USALiberal]

3. Where did you see that? Nt

[Atticus]

5. Heard both the 20 million and 2 million numbers on CNN 10 minutes ago. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

11. I Think They're In Error

Pfizer only had a total of 20 million doses, a good portion already bought by the UK. (Remember the maladministration turning down the chance to add to their order?)
Moderna is around the same (a bit higher because they were generating product while approval was pending.)
I don't see how there was ever a chance that any single country was going to have 20 million people vaccinated by the end of December.
Pfizer is now estimating 110 million doses per month for at least the next quarter. I can't fund Moderna's most recent projection, but they've been pretty close to Pfizer all along.
Assuming they don't increase throughput (they probably can & will) this is only 1.32 billion people vaccinated in a year, after manufacturing has been ramped up and distribution lanes have been tested & solidified.
Thinking we'd be at 20 million Americans in less than the first full month seems a pipe dream, that nobody knowledgeable would ever embrace.

[pnwmom]

13. It wasn't a pipe dream. It was a deliberate deception, beginning before the election,

to help Trump get elected -- and continuing along with Trump's efforts to overturn the election.

[Hugin]

14. Definitely, deliberate deception.

Definitely.

To obfuscate their bumbling of a Pfizer deal to insure sufficient vaccine was in the pipeline.

It even has the trademark Trump up-charging of a factor of 10 added to the more realistic 2,000,000.

[ProfessorGAC]

48. Yes It Was

Nobody credible promised 20 million people vaxxed in December.
The manufacturers would have rebuked such a promise. They already had their first shipments paid for, and they weren't all for the US.
That information has been available for quite some time and the manufacturers' "if it proves out" estimates of supply never suggested any such number.
Anybody who did it was promising a pipe dream.

[pnwmom]

61. Why does that fact that it wasn't credible make it a pipe dream -- instead of a deliberate lie

pushed by Trump and his PR team?

[634-5789]

4. Also, according to Fauci yesterday on Tapper's show...

It will probably be September-October before 75-85% of Americans will be vaccinated. Going to be another year before we can put a stop to the virus, I am afraid. Also, expect an annual virus shot when you get your flu shot.

[FarPoint]

21. Makes perfect sense..

This is a realistic expectation without bloopers.

[LovingA2andMI]

27. 75-85% of the population

Does not take an annual flu shot (it's more like 35%) so if the COVID Vaccine is annual - which it is likely to be based on what is known so far, that is going to be an issue in itself with a expectation 75-85% of the population will take any annual shot.

[Irish_Dem]

29. I kept hearing June as the date for most Americans being vaccinated.

So the timeline has changed.

[KewlKat]

31. A dr on CNN this morning said at the current rate of vaccination it would

take 5 years to reach the 75-85% of population which is unacceptable. They must engage all venues to get this done quickly, like drug stores, etc to reach us all.

[Irish_Dem]

32. 5 years, good god. We will all be dead by then.

Yes totally unacceptable.

[LovingA2andMI]

33. Also....

75-85% of the population will NOT take any annual shots (there are two shots required in the two PEG based vaccines and two shots required in the vaccines upcoming with diluted virus). That is reality.

[Irish_Dem]

41. Unreal isn't it? nt

[moonscape]

62. The Johnson & Johnson one is

one vaccine and doesn’t have to be kept at low temps. A friend is in their trial.

[LovingA2andMI]

63. Okay...

Thanks for that update. One shot as oppose to two shots would be more efficient for the long term.

[Irish_Dem]

51. I agree with your stated plan. We need to markedly ramp up distribution

and administering the vaccine.

In 5 years there will be staggering deaths, illness, total economy devastation.

[KewlKat]

67. Keep in mind...yes we must speed up, but we can only do that if the vaccine is available. So that

also needs to be out in the field for the drs/nurses/pharmacists to give the shots. We can have everyone ready to go, but we need the vaccine! We can do that war production act maybe? we will also need the vials to put the vaccine in, the syringes, swaps, etc, etc....lots of pieces to get these in the arm.

[Irish_Dem]

68. I read that Biden is planning to use the WPA for vaccine production.

Don't have a link but I read it here on DU somewhere.

[DeminPennswoods]

78. Fauci moved the goalposts and admitted it

upon questioning by either Tapper or another CNN anchor. Fauci explained his estimate was based on the experience with measles, the most contagious disease in the world, then he used his own experience on some other parameters and came up with a number. Bottom line, Fauci gave a SWAG. Then he said he upped his SWAG for some reason I can't recall exactly but along the lines of feeling he could do it now.

There's nothing inherintly wrong with doing that. I did it during my career at DoD, but everyone has to understand how you came up with the number and agree your assumptions are reasonable. If you don't explain how you arrived at a number, that number tends to get set in stone.

This kind of thing is what now makes me take Fauci's pronouncements with a grain of salt.

[Miigwech]

12. Yes!!!!!

Biden team is needed ASAP!!!

[we can do it]

16. Good point!

Seemed to me that not many have been vaccinated so far.

[malaise]

19. What is going on?

The president is pissed off that he lost and has been preoccupied trying to sell some other bullshit story rather than dealing with a pandemic under his watch that has killed 341,156 and infected 19,577,847.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
He wins at killing people - and he and his enablers and supporters don't give a flying fuck how many more die.
It's all about him.

[cwydro]

22. I never believed that for a second.

Who did?

[uponit7771]

47. +1, if the Trump admin says water is wet then check anyway

[Fiendish Thingy]

24. Why on earth would you believe anyone from this administration not named Fauci? Nt

[LovingA2andMI]

25. Maybe Some Folks

Don't want to take one of two mRNA vaccines that has PEG in it which is a component used to make antifreeze. Maybe some prefer to wait for the Astra Azteca or Johnson and Johnson Vaccines that uses a form of the virus without PEG.

And Maybe the Trump Administration lied about "warp speed".

[USALiberal]

34. OK, you are really confused......

You are mixing up Polyethylene Glycol Vs. Ethylene Glycol.

Polyethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are two very different substances with very similar names, which may cause confusion. One compound is helpful for medical applications while the other compound is fatal if ingested.

Please delete your post!

[LovingA2andMI]

55. ....

"After the cases of allergic reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine surfaced, researchers are trying to identify the compound that could be behind such reactions.

According to the scientists, the compound polyethylene glycol, also known as PEG may have caused allergic reactions. PEG is also found in other drugs and is known to trigger anaphylaxis on rare occasions."

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/researchers-speculate-peg-compound-behind-allergic-reactions-to-covid-19-vaccine-report/article33430045.ece

Also...

The synthesis of PEG is done by polymerizing ethylene oxide, the main ingredient in antifreeze, using a ring-opening technique, which allows for PEGs of a range of molecular weights and molecular weight distributions to be constructed. This range in weights is what makes it suitable for several uses.

https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-Polyethylene-Glycol-(PEG).aspx

[USALiberal]

57. LOL, you said it was in anti-freeze! IT IS NOT!!!!! Nt

[LovingA2andMI]

58. Updated....

The whole article is not allowed on DU as that is a copyright issue, however, the link is there if anyone would like further information.

Have a Great Monday!

[USALiberal]

59. PEG has nothing to do with anti-freeze.....

Many drugs have PEG!

Your post is really misleading!

[LovingA2andMI]

60. The Second Link Says Otherwise

And lays out additional information including what you were attempting to point out by a inbox message and on this thread. Again, the second link is available for anyone who prefer to read it.

Also, curious....you did not add any additional information outside of your reply however, that is neither here or there. Just pointing out that fact.

Have again, a great Monday!

[USALiberal]

65. Stop drinking water, it has hydrogen in it! Nt

[LovingA2andMI]

66. We are going on a Merry-a-go-Round

Back and forth unnecessary and frankly, I don't have the time. The link was provided, anyone can read it if they so wish. You wrote in inbox the same information for some reason that has been repeatedly added to this thread. Maybe there is a point here for your behalf, however presently - none has been properly presented.

With that -- for the last time -- have a Great Monday!

[NickB79]

74. The chemical synthesis pathway breaks the ethylene ring open

Creating a very different chemical (PEG) with substantially different properties.

It's like being afraid of eating salt, because it's made from two elements that individually are highly toxic. Or thinking water is dangerous because it can be derived from hydrogen peroxide.

[USALiberal]

76. Great point!! Nt

[Chakaconcarne]

73. PEG is not in antifreeze

and the article says just that "The synthesis of PEG is done by polymerizing ethylene oxide, the main ingredient in antifreeze.

the article goes on to say that PEG allergic reactions are rare.. and equally rare with this vaccine based on the trials so far.

it's a poorly written article and probably not helpful.

[Irish_Dem]

30. Delay in vaccine and Covid more contagious. What could go wrong? nt

[RazzleCat]

35. Read in an opinion in the Washing Post this am

I will link, here is the basics of the article. They are holding back 55% of what they have to ensure that they have the second dose for those who received the first dose plus 5% as an emergency reserve. The writer explains much better than I can why this is a stupid thing to do.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/24/trump-administration-is-holding-back-over-half-its-vaccine-doses-distribute-them-now/

[Nasruddin]

42. Using the wrong expertise

Holding back half the doses when the manufacturers are probably going to flood the space with doses .... it's completely awful thinking.

Of course it's now obvious that they have bigger logistic problems than that since the distribution is failing with the limited dosing they have now, so it's a secondary problem. A problem I wish we were having instead.

Since this administration has shown absolutely no ability to do logistics of any kind (Wall!) for the past 4 years there's no reason to think they suddenly got smart, is there?

[IronLionZion]

37. We were told this would all be over by April, then by summer

warm weather and sunshine would kill the virus. Dem governors are killing jobs with lockdowns. Masks make you sick and stop you from breathing. etc.

So why would any reasonable liberal believe the Trump administration's lies about the vaccine? They made sure to get it for themselves while many frontline healthcare workers still don't have it.

[ffr]

38. You speak for us.

The evidence would point to the fact that this is yet another GOP failure. They lied.

[Doodley]

39. More people won't mask during this long vaccination period. Infections and deaths will increase.

[FakeNoose]

44. I know for sure I won't get vaccinated until next July or later

I'm 69 now, I'll be 70 by next summer. I'm retired, not an essential health worker, and I don't have any Covid-related health issues. That means 118 million Americans are in line ahead of me.

All of this means that I'll be wearing a mask and social-distancing for a long time to come.

[Hortensis]

50. Well, don't forget "20M" here on DU claimed they'd refuse vaccination,

unwilling to trust what the Trump admin approved. On a few threads.

Now here are very predictable threads "SCREAMING" in outrage at not getting it fast enough.

Just an observation on the utility of being thoughtful instead of reactionary.

There really are all those people who are dying and will die completely unnecessarily, but it's way, way, way too late to become active by screaming at Republicans.

This is a time when being thoughtful is needed to save lives. So I suggest saving your breath for quietly asking friends and family to please be more careful for a while. Quietly, without spraying aerosolized exhalations across the room. Maybe find out when someone you care about can be vaccinated and helping that to happen.

[Irish_Dem]

52. I'll take my chances on the vaccine, but not on Covid.

[Atticus]

53. "Thoughtful" and "reactionary" are terms for which definitions are determined by the eye of the

beholder. I suspect that living in "MAGAville"--- as I do--- might also influence how and when they apply.

As always, i respect you opinion and appreciate your contribution.

[fescuerescue]

54. Wait 2 million people have already been vaccinated?

Thats a MUCH MUCH larger number than I would have guessed. Almost 1% of the US population already.

I don't know who said the number would be 10 times that (maybe thats a typo), but honestly I think that 2 million in 2 weeks is impressive out of the shoot.

I know that you are looking at this as bad news, but I find it extremely good news that out of 350 million people, 2 million have received this immediately.

Now they do need to ramp it up, they need to get it to at least 1 million a day so that we can get everyone by the end of the year. But honestly I think this is an amazing start given the massive logistics involved.

[Hortensis]

71. No, it's not going to take 12-1/2 years. And there's no WE in this,

you and I are dead weight, not among those who are making this happen. A current projection is that we can achieve effective herd immunity by mid to late 2021.

Those who are unhappy with that should take the opportunity for an important lesson -- to vote as if elections have real consequences. Both Trump and Sanders should have been discards before they got out of their neighborhoods. Though I have to believe Sanders would have eventually set aside his planned ideological war with Democrats in congress to do much better, he's a proven longtime nonachiever, and smart people don't turn a nation of 330 million people over to proven incompetents.

Stay cool, continue to stay safe.

[fescuerescue]

75. I did the math as well

But in scaling up large operations it's not useful to use the initial turnup time and scale it out as though no one gets faster and better. The first batch takes the longest by far.

That's why I said we need to quickly scale up (at least 1 million a day). But for the initial push pilot? not bad.

[ancianita]

64. It's daily logistics, dependable delivery, scheduling of vaccines, monitoring individuals,

distribution health organizations and vaccine recipients for fraud.

It's the understandable inertia of initial setups and systems.

Once it's efficient and black marketers are caught and prosecuted, things will run more smoothly.

[Mr.Bill]

77. As long as this administration is in control of distribution,

it would be folly to give someone the first dose unless the second dose is on hand and dedicated to that person. You can be sure the people dispensing the shots are aware of this.

[DeminPennswoods]

79. Some hospitals like UPMC said they wouldn't

give the vaccine out to their staff until they did their own testing on it.