By MARSHA MERCER
It was the shot seen round the world.
At 6:31 a.m. Tuesday, a 90-year-old grandmother in
England named Maggie Keenan became the first person in the United Kingdom to be
vaccinated against COVID-19.
Days from her 91st birthday, Keenan said it
was a “privilege” to be first and urged others skeptical about being jabbed to
“go for it.”
“V-Day” is coming soon to the United States. The
federal government says 20 million Americans could be vaccinated against COVID in
the next several weeks.
Suddenly, people everywhere feel the flicker of an
emotion as scarce as toilet paper last March: hope.
Life approaching normalcy could return next year. It
won’t be as soon as anyone would like. We know the corner is ahead, but,
despite the fantasy talk you’ve heard, we’re far from turning it yet.
COVID-19 just became the number one killer of
Americans. More than 15 million in the United States have been infected with
the novel coronavirus, more than 288,000 have died and thousands more face debilitating
effects of the disease lasting months.
President-elect Joe Biden injected a dose of reality to
the pandemic Tuesday when he announced his healthcare team and three-point plan
for fighting COVID-19.
“My first 100 days won’t end the COVID-19 virus. I
can’t promise that,” he said. “It’s going to take some time.”
Biden’s first priority will be for all Americans to
wear masks during his administration’s first 100 days. He’ll require
mask-wearing in federal buildings and during interstate travel on planes,
trains and buses and work with governors and mayors on state and local mask
requirements.
Wearing a mask can reduce cases, hospitalizations and
deaths, but it will take more than edicts from the White House, statehouses and
city halls to make masking universal. It will take all of us choosing to
believe in science – or at least in our family, friends, community and country.
A mask “is not a political statement. It’s a
patriotic act. It won’t be the end of our efforts, but it’s a necessary and
easy beginning, an easy start,” Biden said.
It’s truly great news three effective vaccines are in
the pipeline. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are expected to gain FDA approval
and begin distribution this month with AstraZeneca’s vaccine close behind, but massive
logistical challenges loom.
Only a limited amount of vaccine likely will be
available in the beginning and, after an initial round, vaccinations could slow
and stall, delaying millions from receiving shots for months.
The cold-storage and transportation requirements are daunting.
Only some hospitals, typically not clinics or doctors’ offices, have the necessary
storage capacity.
Biden’s second priority is a goal of 100 million
vaccinations in 100 days. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots a
few weeks apart to be effective, so that would mean about 50 million people
could be protected.
First in line will be those most at risk -- healthcare
professionals and people living in long-term care facilities.
Biden’s third priority is to open a majority of
American schools by the end of his first 100 days, so educators will be
vaccinated as soon as possible.
Success for his plan depends on several factors, including
where distribution stands when he takes office Jan. 20. He called on Congress
to provide funding to ensure vaccines reach all parts of the country and for public
health measures in schools to safeguard students, teachers and staff.
Success also depends on persuading large numbers of Americans
to shrug off fear and misinformation and take the vaccine. We’re likely to see
celebrities baring their arms for the cause.
Biden isn’t sugarcoating the situation. Vaccine
distribution will be “one of the hardest and most costly operational challenges
in our nation’s history,” he said.
“All I can tell you is the truth. We’re in a very dark
winter; things may well get worse before they get better.”
But Biden also exhibits calm, competence and
confidence that are refreshing and reassuring. When he uses the pronoun “we,”
which he does a lot, he means all of us.
“We know that we can overcome and heal together as one
nation,” he said. “We can do this.”
Together.
© 2020 Marsha Mercer. All rights reserved.
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