The much-hyped vaccine “delay” that wasn’t
Tuesday, Dec 22, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We saw several stories like this last week…
The distribution plan for the first wave of the COVID-19 shots is frustrating some Chicago area hospitals and angering others.
The I-Team looked into the question of “Where are the vaccines?”
Monday was nicknamed “COVID-D-Day,” after the pivotal beginning of the end of World War Two.
By Tuesday, a day later for some suburban Chicago hospitals, the D in this day is disappointment. Because the vaccines that arrived in Illinois Monday have not yet arrived at their hospitals, or into the arms of their health care workers.
Not dramatic at all, though. Nope.
* But…
And if you click on the interactive map, you’ll see Illinois has vaccinated a higher percentage of its population than even most small states.
The state planned and rehearsed vaccine distribution for weeks. That preparedness paid off.
* Meanwhile, the coverage hype over members of Congress receiving vaccines ahead of some frontline health care workers ignores this…
Lawmakers and federal officials have indicated they have little discretion in the matter. The National Continuity Policy outlined in Presidential Policy Directive 40 in 2016 calls for any continuity-of-government action taken by the executive branch to be accompanied by parallel action in the legislative and judicial branches.
I mean, I get it. A whole bunch of folks who are members of one of the country’s least respected institutions and who’ve been sowing doubt about basic pandemic mitigations are being giddily vaccinated while nurses and doctors who deal with COVID-19 patients are waiting their turn. But this isn’t some ad hoc thing.
* I sure hope doctors and nurses are informing people when they get their shots that they could still spread the virus…
* Related…
* US Surgeon General to Visit Chicago, Discuss Vaccine Rollout
* Illinois expects to receive 234,450 more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week
* UIUC shares vaccination plan
- Dysfunction Junction - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 9:58 am:
Best news I’ve heard all day!
- walker - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:08 am:
We often have good reason to be proud of Illinois — we do better on many important things — but that’s counter-cultural politically.
- Frank talks - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:10 am:
Good news but if you got the vaccine you can still transmit the disease? That’s a wrinkle I hadn’t heard, thought I had stayed up to date on all this info.
Going to be rough if folks get lazy in the spring thinking most people are vaccinated and their good without having it..
- Vaccine - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:11 am:
This is great news. But how much of this number consists of nursing home vaccinations? I believe those will not even start until December 28. If the state really wants to put a dent in the number of deaths, hospitalizations, and improve quality of life that should be first priority. The state needs to supplement the federal CVS/ Walgreens program and ensure that nursing home vaccinations are completed as soon as possible.
- AB - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:14 am:
@Frank talks - They’re not saying you can spread the disease still. They’re saying they’re not sure whether or not you can. We’ll likely know more in the next couple weeks before most Americans receive their shots.
- Sox Fan - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:31 am:
As annoying as it is watching covidiots in congress jump the line, I can also see the benefit. Maybe more of these people’s constituents will be willing to recieve the vaccine after seeing this.
But once this thing is under control, all bets should be off in regards to criticism.
- muon - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:32 am:
As far as I know only the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has released studies of transmission rates. They looked at a two full dose group and a half dose followed by a full dose group. Asymptomatic transmission was only reduced by 4% in the two dose group, but by 59% in the half+full dose group. But even in that half+full dose group almost half are still spreading the virus when asymptomatic.
It will be very interesting to see what the other vaccines release regarding asymptomatic spread. If they find results like Oxford did, then there is going to be a significant period of risk as some populations have been vaccinated but others are waiting their turn.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:37 am:
I’ve been waiting to see if the disease is transmissible from vaccinated people for a while now. It’s perhaps the most important component to the strategy of herd immunity.
It is the way the flu vaccine works - you get the shot, you get that strain of flu, the flu virus dies inside of you and you DO NOT become contagious.
I’m surprised that we still don’t know that information yet. It could be withheld until more people have the shot so we don’t encourage wide spread masklessness. But if the shot only keeps you from getting very sick and doesn’t address transmission that is good, but far less than ideal.
I have heard some very smart scientists say they feel that the vaccine will interrupt transmission but they will have to wait and see.
- AD - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:38 am:
The virus still being carried by people vaccinated has me worried for our children since they are not allowed to be vaccinated at this point. If you are able to get the vaccine and choose not to, that’s your choice, but if you aren’t being given the option right now, that’s something we have to figure out.
- 1st Ward - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:41 am:
Even if you can spread after vaccination come summer if/when the vaccine is readily available isn’t this a mute point? If you are unwillingly to get vaccinated or tepid to it it’s not my problem if you get it. Your body your choice am I right….
- Froganon - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:48 am:
@Vaccine - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:11 am:
-This is great news. But how much of this number consists of nursing home vaccinations?-
Respectfully disagree, keeping a functional hospital/health care system is highest priority. Frontline heath care workers & support staff are the first priority. First responders, essential workers (those who can be exposed in order to keep vital services open) and those in congregant living places should be next. Folks (like me) who can isolate can wait. Kudos to Illlinois Dept. of Health and the Gov. for bening ready to roll this out.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:52 am:
@1st - It’s not in the public health sense. We are living through and with mitigations because of worries about sick people in hospitals and people dying. If a percent of folks still don’t take the vaccine and then wind up sick through asymptomatic spread then you have still have a public health problem.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 10:56 am:
=== come summer if/when===
That assumes it is summer. And it’s “moot,” not “mute.”
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:02 am:
The interactive map shows Illinois has vaccinated 0.57% of the population.
It will be a long time until the general public has received the shot. It’s a start. Better than nothing.
- southsider - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:21 am:
This is great, but there are still too many frontline nurses and doctors waiting for the vaccine, particularly in Chicago’s hardest hit hospitals. They’re watching as friends and family at suburban and downstate hospitals get vaccinated, while they wait. That takes a toll on.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:22 am:
===particularly in Chicago’s hardest hit hospitals===
Chicago gets its doses directly from the federal government. No state pass-through.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:42 am:
I’m rendered mute…atypically.
- A Guy - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:49 am:
Many med pros, Doctors, nurses, techs, and others I’m related to or know well were receiving this vax late last week. From Christ Hospital on the south, to Northwestern, CDH, Rush Copley, Loyola,
Lurie, Evanston, all of them. Been advised that nursing care pros I do volunteer work with at Catholic Charities are getting them now. Their residents are next. It’s moving around very quickly.
- Dutch - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:50 am:
While there will be permanent changes, I am so hopeful that we got back to relative normal by the Fall.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:57 am:
Something else to consider–both forms of the vaccine are 94%-95% effective and requires two doses. People will still be very much at risk after the first dose. After the second, roughly 5 out of every 100 who are vaccinated will still get the virus. That why it will be imperative to continue masking, social distancing, and hand washing until we achieve herd immunization. No one yet knows when that will be achieved with this virus.
- Essential State Employee - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 12:06 pm:
==It will be a long time until the general public has received the shot. It’s a start. Better than nothing.==
And when the general public becomes eligible to get the shot, will frontline State Employees be able to get it prior to most of the rest of the public (including non-State employees who are retail, restaurant workers, etc.).
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 12:22 pm:
=The interactive map shows Illinois has vaccinated 0.57% of the population.=
A pretty good start if you ask me. Perhaps when rollout is really humming along 2% of the population will be vaccinated a week. Things will always improve when it comes to logistics. Just think how hard it was in April to get a test and then in June they were widespread. So in February, weather dependent, could we vaccinate 4% of the population in a week?
- thisjustinagain - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 1:03 pm:
The most important point is that people are starting to be vaccinated, even if the plan or execution isn’t perfect. Every person who gets vaccinated helps to build firebreaks that stop the spread. Combined with the other protective measures of masks, distancing, handwashing, we can begin to make real advances in returning to a more normal existence.
- Southsider - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 1:13 pm:
== - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 11:22 am:
===particularly in Chicago’s hardest hit hospitals===
Chicago gets its doses directly from the federal government. No state pass-through ==
I know and that’s part of the issue. The distribution isn’t as seamless or thought out.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 1:22 pm:
== So in February, weather dependent, could we vaccinate 4% of the population in a week? ==
I can’t speak to Moderna, but when you get the Pfizer vaccine, they want to keep an eye on you for a bit afterward (30 minutes if I recall) to see if you have a reaction and deal with it accordingly. Sort of like when you give blood. So that will have an impact on delivery rates along with vaccine availability.
I know that some states are looking at anyone whose license and scope of practice involves giving a shot (like Dentists) being involved in administration.
This is anecdotal (my source is giving vaccines at a hospital site from time to time) but a significant number of folks who are getting it are asking to have their picture taken doing so.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 1:30 pm:
My daughter, an ER tech in a hospital on Chicago’s NW side, received the vaccine Monday, even though she already had Covid in November. Also, you can still get and spread Covid after you are vaccinated, and even after a month after receiving your 2nd shot when you are 95% protected.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 1:36 pm:
==will frontline State Employees be able to get it prior to most of the rest of the public==
You keep saying stuff like this. Why would they? State employees will get it based on the criteria everyone else is following. Stop it with the “why don’t state employees get to jump the line” crap.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 2:34 pm:
==will frontline State Employees be able to get it prior to most of the rest of the public==
If your 45 and a state worker in an office your inline with other 45 year old office workers in a private industry. Mercy…
=Also, you can still get and spread Covid after you are vaccinated, and even after a month after receiving your 2nd shot when you are 95% protected.=
That’s not -can- it’s -might- when it comes to spread. Science hasn’t caught up to knowing that or not.
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 2:42 pm:
New eyes in high places will enact reasonable solutions heretofore ignored…purposely.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 2:55 pm:
== And when the general public becomes eligible to get the shot, will frontline State Employees be able to get it prior to most of the rest of the public (including non-State employees who are retail, restaurant workers, etc.). ===
I am trying to understand why someone who works for the state who has the same risk as someone working in the private sector should have ‘priority’?
Should state workers get priority over the equivalent municipal worker?
What makes a government worker ‘more worthy’ than an equivalent private sector one?
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 3:11 pm:
=What makes a government worker ‘more worthy’ than an equivalent private sector one?=
Chances at that government worker has already been way better off in job security, pay increases and health benefits than most private sector workers - guess the feeling of entitlement is hard to shake even in a pandemic.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 3:48 pm:
===What makes a government worker ‘more worthy’ than an equivalent private sector one?===
We’re not. Please ignore that boneheaded question. The majority of us don’t feel so entitled.
- Mostly a Lurker - Tuesday, Dec 22, 20 @ 4:07 pm:
“What makes a government worker ‘more worthy’ than an equivalent private sector one?”
Nothing. Stop it - it gives us a bad name. There are state workers in positions, such as case workers, certain IDOC employees and such where their contact with the public would make vaccination in everyone’s best interest, but it is the job,, not the employer that would move up the priority.
Grateful the vaccine is available. And it is the season for gratefulness. Wish all of you the best.