As COVID-19 mutates, it’s becoming more contagious than the virus that invaded the U.S. about a year ago. A trip to the grocery with a mask on, which used to be low risk, is becoming riskier.
As cases and deaths increase rapidly, people are scared and upset. They’re spending hours on websites and hotlines struggling unsuccessfully to get vaccine appointments.
President-elect Joe Biden’s vaccine distribution plan, which he announced Friday, doesn’t offer them much hope. Biden said he’ll open 100 federal vaccine sites in school gyms, community centers and stadiums the first month. That’s for the entire nation.
We’re in a war with a deadly disease. Biden’s plan is like fighting back with a peashooter.
Almost as many Americans have died from COVID-19 in the last year as were killed in all the years of World War II. It’s time to mount a D-Day scale response.
The U.S. needs to vaccinate 1.8 million people a day to achieve herd immunity by July. That’s far more than Biden’s goal of 1 million shots a day. Dodger Stadium can host 12,000 vaccinations a day. So 150 stadium-size sites are needed, vaccinating round the clock.
To accommodate the elderly, many venues should be first come, first served. Asking 70- and 80-year-olds to navigate complicated websites to make appointments is preposterously impractical.
To fight COVID-19, Biden also needs to defy the open borders flank of his party and make it clear that caravans of Central American migrants will not be allowed into the U.S. Last week, a Biden transition official said it, but Biden himself needs to say it forcefully enough to be heard below the Rio Grande. A caravan is pushing northward right now, posing a public health threat.
Air travelers to the U.S. have to show a negative COVID-19 test before boarding, quarantine on arrival and then get retested. Why should migrants be an exception?
Biden made fighting COVID-19 the centerpiece of his campaign, yet even as he takes office, he’s short on details. The virus isn’t waiting.
“Ominous” is how Dr. Anthony Fauci describes the emerging strains. A newly identified variant in Brazil can reinfect people who have already had COVID. The U.K. is so fearful that it blocked all flights from South America last week.
Meanwhile, a British strain that spreads fast because it causes more virus in the nose has invaded the U.S. Eighteen cases have been detected in New York. It’s 50 to 70% more contagious than the original virus, and it will become the dominant strain by March, predicts the CDC. A highly infectious, homegrown U.S. strain is also causing cases to surge, reports Southern Illinois University researchers. The enemy is growing fiercer.
The good news is the U.S. has adequate vaccines in the pipeline. The federal government purchased 400 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, enough to vaccinate 200 million people. Both vaccines require two shots. Johnson & Johnson will seek FDA authorization for its vaccine by March. And a vaccine by AstraZeneca isn’t far behind. Fauci has indicated there will be enough.
The problem is political bungling. CDC figures show about 60% of doses already sent to the states are still unused, including in New York. Yet Gov. Andrew Cuomo claims he’s “moved heaven and earth” and is “getting shots in arms as quickly and efficiently as possible.” Who is he kidding?
New York is opening a handful of mass vaccination sites now, after weeks of inaction, but seniors are still frantically trying to score appointments.
Meanwhile, Cuomo wants a “New York Arts Revival” this spring with 100 performances in venues such as the Park Avenue Armory. Sorry, Governor, but saving lives comes first. Turn the Armory into a vaccine megasite. Then when New Yorkers are safe, they can resume celebrating the arts.
Cuomo’s lopsided priorities are an example of why the buck now stops with Biden. The new president needs to see the urgency, think big and act quickly.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and author of “The Next Pandemic,” available at Amazon.com. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter @Betsy_McCaughey. To find out more about Betsy McCaughey and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
The problem is Biden doesn’t think and cannot think.
Open the Borders and Close Your Eyes, and the COVID will give us a big Surprise.
The more people Joe can infect the longer he can keep the rebellion locked down, and he in what he perceives as his safe zone.
Plan on getting in the vaccination line behind illegal aliens and future Democrat converts. Joe has already put out the welcome mats.
AND what’s the bet, FAUCI and co, KNEW OF THIS “Deadlier strain” months ago… AND DID NOTHING about it.
“The U.S. needs to vaccinate 1.8 million people a day to achieve herd immunity by July.”
That’s a decent enough guess. But there is NO consensus on how to achieve herd immunity or even if it can truly be achieved. And the virus still has not been isolated.
I am suspicious after all the fear mongering and misleading claims from the “science” community that the proclaimed increase in lethality from a new strain is a reaction to growing awareness that 99.98% survivability is not all that scary compared to a relatively untested vaccine that boasts a possibly 13-50% effective rate and could also be deadly on it’s own.
Hell, they could FORCE Immunize everyone. IMO IT WON’T matter, as their lockdowns WILL NEVER BE lifted.
Joe Biden’s inadequate plan to address the deadly COVID-19 pandemic is exactly what we should expect from a frail president who lacks both the vitality and vision to formulate an effective response to this crisis. Our newly installed, bumbling president has four years to prove that he is up to the job he was given by the corrupt Democrats. Something tells me that Biden’s pandemic plan won’t be his only one to fall short.
HE Has had 47 YEARS to prove he’s up to the task. SO FAR i’ve not been impressed.
the left wing socialist communist have a special talent.
they weaponize everything they can.
covid19 . equality , racial , sexual orientation , economic wealth , black people , and they love the sickness of sin.