Posted on Apr 25, 2021, 12:26 PM
Vaccination, season two. Since the end of December, more than 226 million vaccines have been injected in the United States, allowing nearly 42% of the population to have received at least one dose. But the speed peak seems to have already been reached: the pace of vaccinations slowed to 2.8 million injections per day on average last week, against 3.4 million in mid-April, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.
The drop in pace could be partially attributed to the pause imposed on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – it has just been re-authorized -, but it highlights the new challenge of the American health authorities: to convince the least motivated or the most remote populations to get vaccinated, to quickly gain collective immunity and keep variants at bay.
Support demand
In New York, appointments are now effortless, when you had to navigate the booking sites (not centralized) a few weeks ago. Counties are also starting to order fewer doses, while the stocks already received are used up.
Immunization players are now competing for solutions to support demand. States have opened vaccination to all adults aged 16 and over since April 19 – some had been doing so for several weeks already. The White House has just announced a tax credit for companies with less than 500 employees: it will be able to compensate for the salary paid to employees while they are being vaccinated and recovering from any side effects. This measure, proposed until the end of September, is part of the aid to employees sick with Covid-19, in quarantine or helping relatives. The funds will be granted as part of the recovery plan voted in March.
Break resistances
The White House is also urging companies to praise vaccination, via “Discounts for people who have been vaccinated, gifts or rewards, in-store messages, point-of-sale promotions”. The administration also provides companies with a whole kit of promotional messages for the vaccine.
In New York City, where one in two adults has had at least one dose, all city-run vaccination sites are now accessible without an appointment. And in Ohio, city doctors can now vaccinate their patients, the state hoping that the relationship of trust between the caregiver and his patient will help break resistance.
In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear set two weeks ago a vaccination target (2.5 million) to lift restrictions in bars and restaurants: a ” challenge »To motivate and mobilize, with a daily count. A method however moderately appreciated by restaurateurs, who would prefer a fixed date to forecast their workforce.
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