California’s COVID-19 vaccine program will take a big leap forward on Thursday, when the state opens eligibility to everyone 50 and older.
Nationwide, 26 states are preparing to make all adults eligible by mid-April, including California.
So as the vaccine rollout in the U.S. continues to make quick progress, we may soon be reaching the point where we have excess doses.
“We may be very well will be looking at a surplus of vaccine by later this year,” said Stanford healthcare infectious disease physician Dr. Dean Winslow. “In which case then it brings up even some moral dilemmas in terms of, how do we distribute that excess vaccine that we’re going to have later this year to the developing world?”
Some people are still having issues signing up for the vaccine, which Dr. Winslow attributes to a need for a more vaccination sites and easier access to appointments.
But overall, he says the rollout is moving quickly.
“So I think we’re going to be in good shape. You know, there may be some individuals who are going to have to wait a few weeks after they sign up as the large number of people over 50 and then very soon even a larger number of people over age 16 wait in line for the vaccine.”
He says the U.S. should send excess doses to our neighbors in Mexico and Central America, but the need is also great on the Indian subcontinent.
