Fight against the coronavirus: vaccination miracle USA?

Jule Käppel
ARD-Studio Washington

@JuleCapp
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Biden wants to fight the pandemic and get the economy going. These are his most important goals, and he has been working on them ambitiously – right from the start. In its first 100 days – through the end of April – 100 million Americans are expected to receive a vaccination. More than half of it has already been done, and the vaccination rate is steadily increasing. For the first time, the CDC was able to report that over two million people were vaccinated in one day. For comparison: This corresponds to the total number of Germans vaccinated since the end of December.

War on the virus

How does America manage this quota every day? The fight against the virus has been declared a war. “It’s a martial effort,” said Biden, delighted with “groundbreaking approaches” in this battle. This includes the cooperation between the two competing pharmaceutical giants Johnson and Johnson and “Merck”. “Merck” does not have its own vaccine. The factories are said to produce more of the Johnson & Johnson compound, one dose of which is sufficient.

“This is the kind of collaboration we experienced in World War II,” said Biden. In order to speed up production as much as possible, the government uses an armaments law. American corporations are thus supported in producing, packaging and delivering more vaccine around the clock. The Department of Defense is helping with the distribution. National guards and civil protection are on duty. Retired doctors and nurses strengthen the vaccination team.

Mega vaccination centers across the country

With the vaccine and the staff, there is still no place to be vaccinated. A state discipline.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is in a good mood this morning. He looks around at the first mass vaccination center in his state: a huge parking lot. They manage around 4,000 vaccinations here every day, and people can stay in their cars. Drive in, windshield down, syringe – done. There are such mega vaccination sites all over the country – in convention centers, football stadiums, even in Disneyland. There is also a close-knit network of pharmacies, medical community centers and clinics, where vaccinations are carried out with and without an appointment.

Vaccination miracle also thanks to Trump

The United States has some catching up to do with vaccination justice. Hispanics and blacks are less likely to get vaccinations than whites. President Biden wants to improve access for all and create more trust among minorities. The statistics institute “Gallup” has determined: At 71 percent, the willingness to vaccinate is higher than ever before, with more opponents in the Republican camp. This appeal could change that.

The injection is not painful and everyone should get their shot, ex-President Trump told his supporters last weekend. His “Operation Warp Speed” paved the way for the vaccine at “intergalactic speed”. The ex-president had pumped billions of dollars into research and signed contracts early on – a bet with an uncertain outcome at the time.

Two presidents have made the US vaccine miracle come true – with risk-taking, pragmatism and efficiency.