During the past few weeks, dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, helped dispel myths about the new vaccine, warned us that holiday gatherings could overwhelm hospitals with COVID-19 patients, and comment in disbelief when states were told they would receive fewer doses of the vaccine than was initially said.
Now Jha has said he is ‘incredibly frustrated’ at how slowly the vaccine is spreading across the country.
In a thread on Twitter late Monday night Jha noticed it In October, the public was promised 100 million vaccine doses by the end of this month by Alex Azar, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The number dropped to 40 million last month.
This month, Azar said that by the end of the year, 20 million doses will be administered, and 20 million for the second dose, Jha noted. That deadline will also be blown.
“Now we will miss the 20 million deadline, but we may be able to reach 20 million in early January,” Jha said. ‘But that’s really not the worst part. The worst part is that there is no real planning on what will happen if vaccines arrive in states. No plan, no money, just hoping states will figure it out. ”
Now we miss the 20 million deadline, but you may reach 20 million in early January
But this is really not the worst part
The worst part is that there is no real planning on what will happen when vaccines arrive in states
No plan, no money, just hope states will figure it out
4 / n
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
At the state level, he said that the administration of the vaccine would probably fall on the state departments of health, which also had to handle the testing, analysis of data, and advice to different sectors – schools, businesses, etc.
“So DOHs add vaccines to their plate,” he said. ‘Most are super stretched and trying to make a plan. They are trying to set up a vaccination infrastructure. Congress gave them no money. States have no more money. So many give it to hospitals, nursing homes. ”
“Didn’t we know there would be vaccines?” Jha asked.
Read his thread on vaccination vaccines:
So there is a lot of talk about the slow vaccine
Personally, I am incredibly frustrated.
Did we not know that there would be vaccines? Is vaccine administration a surprise?
Several complicated issues can break things down like this
Warning, it’s a bit rushed
Back
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
Here’s Azar in @die koppie says 40 million by the end of the year
In December, Operation Warp Speed says that 20 million doses will be by the end of the year, and they will keep the other 20M in reserve for the second dose. Well
3 / nhttps: //t.co/PWdz1soHLB
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
So who manages the state level? Departments of Health mostly
These well-funded agencies (yes, I’m kidding) that manage all the testing, data analysis and reporting, advising businesses, schools, public campaigns, etc.
Without stopping. For 9 months
They also get vaccinations
5 / n
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
Is this something familiar?
Like our national test debacle, which is repeated
And now hospitals and clinics are figuring out how to implement it
This article from @ CNN is useful
There’s one line in this piece that drove me crazy https://t.co/UZYojipuAr
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
To be sure, many states take real responsibility
MANY people who are overwhelmed with public health still make it work. Heroic
But now hospitals are trying to figure out where vaccination sites need to be set up. And people are finding out who can do vaccinations in care facilities
8 / n
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
There seems to be no investment or plan in the last mile
No attempt by Feds to help countries start a real vaccination infrastructure
Did the Feds not know that there would be vaccines coming?
Had to plan vaccinations, etc. Did not take place in October or November?
10/11
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
Congress finally passed $ for wax distribution
States are now building infrastructure. Had to be built by Feds months ago
After a slow drive it will be better
We learn again that we cannot fight pandemics with each state on its own
An Effective Federal Government Helps
Fin
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
Addendum@SpoxHHS push this thread back
Their point?
Over the past 9 months, states / territories have received an average of $ 6 million each, yes million, for vaccine readiness
Where
So not ‘no money’
– Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) 29 December 2020
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