With Over 3 Millions Shots A Day On Average, We Should Have Herd Immunity By June...

[TomCADem]

...since herd immunity has been defined as about 70 percent of the population being generally immune or highly resistant to COVID-19.

However, I think we are starting to see in red to purple states a growing number of available vaccine appointments being left unfilled. For example, while some states have bragged about how they are now dropping tiers in terms of who is eligible for a vaccine, this is not because they are more efficient at distributing the vaccine. Rather, this is because of growing vaccine hesitancy among the remaining population.

In California, it is still a bit tough to find available appointments, and I had to drive about 20 miles to find an open appointment once I became eligible. Also, I wanted the J&J since I just wanted to take one shot, but could not find it, so I took the Pfizer vaccine.

So, it is just crazy when I hear that in some areas, appointments are going unfilled. This is why I think that by mid-May, the story will switch from people struggling to find available appointments to available doses being left unfilled as the anti-vaxxers/anti-maskers continue to insist that the whole thing is a hoax.

[brush]

1. Here's hoping so. If we can get the vax hesitancy crowd to wake up.

[roamer65]

2. The 16 and under crowd is going to keep the virus going.

Especially when they open all the schools for in person in the fall.

[LisaL]

6. Pfizer applied for authorization of its vaccine for 12-16 year old crowd.

NT

[Storybook612]

3. Hope that's the case, but even if it's not...

70% is amazing considering we probably don't get 70% take up on the flu vaccine (I don't actually know, but I'd be surprised) and considering that this is so easily transmissible, the key is to influence those in your sphere to do the responsible thing.
Tell them what Secretary Buttigieg said,"Maybe the vaccines are part of God's plan."
Can't hurt!

[Johonny]

4. This is why I didn't jump the vaccine queue in SoCal

Or drive out to the conservative district where the age queues are already gone. I think after next weeks vaccine frenzy, I'm suddenly going to see lots of extra vaccine all over my area. (My city is already well past 50% vaccinated). People panicking from Mid-March to now, don't realize at current vaccination rates how fast it's going to go from scarce to no appointment necessary, just walk up to the pharmacy.

I'm not sure in the wealthy parts of SoCal it's not already swung. In anticipation of Thursday's queue dropping I've been scouting appointments and there are a lot of appointments near me. I signed someone 50+ up yesterday and found one within a mile of where they live no problem. Not sure that will be true after Thursday, but by May 1st I have no doubt I'll be vaccinated. By mid-May all the March queue jumpers are going to look like silly fools. Meanwhile, the inner city needs a lot of help here. The numbers there are shameful.

[TomCADem]

8. Same Here. Some Folks I Know...

...we’re telling me about sites that we’re doing walk in vaccines on the honor system, but I was like what is the point in trying to get a few weeks early, and all we are doing is delaying folks who are vulnerable from getting vaccinated.

Still, I think we will start to hit a ceiling soon even with J&J being paused, because most folks who are willing to be vaccinated will have been vaccinated.

[rickyhall]

5. i was wondering about that with so many refusals.

[Kaleva]

7. Rural Northern and Upper Michigan is doing pretty good with vaccination rates.

My home county, close to 50% of the population has received at least one shot.

"and I had to drive about 20 miles to find an open appointment once I became eligible."

In rural areas, that distance and longer would be pretty much the norm in my opinion. I've already had both my shots and it was a 90 mile round trip for each.