The U.S. is lagging behind its ambitious goal of vaccinating 20 million people against COVID-19 by the end of 2020. Although the vaccination campaign kicked off on December 13, 2020, with over 2 million doses administered, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the initial target was overly optimistic. With only two days left in the year, reaching 20 million vaccinations seems unattainable.
As per the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine tracker, the U.S. has distributed approximately 11.4 million doses to states, but only about 2.1 million individuals have received their vaccinations. These figures fall significantly short of what was promised by Operation Warp Speed, which touted the “20 by 2020” goal.
While Operation Warp Speed has clarified that they aimed to deliver enough doses for 20 million people by year-end rather than vaccinate them all, they have yet to fulfill that promise as well. General Gustave Perna, the operation’s chief operating officer, stated last week that they expect to have allocated 20 million doses to states by the end of the year but later contradicted that by suggesting further distributions would extend into the first week of January.
Perna has taken responsibility for the slow rollout, admitting that he underestimated the steps required for the vaccine to be cleared for release. One contributing factor to the delay is the FDA’s two-day inspection process for each shipment, essential for maintaining vaccine quality. It’s surprising that the head of Operation Warp Speed was unaware of this logistical hurdle, especially considering the administration’s struggles with COVID-19.
Many healthcare workers, who were prioritized for vaccination, are voicing their frustrations on social media, reporting they have yet to receive their shots or are not scheduled until January.
Dr. Anthony Fauci shared his concerns, stating the U.S. is falling short of its vaccination goals but remains hopeful for a surge in January. The timeline for when the general public can expect to receive their vaccines remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from February to October 2021. For those managing expectations, it may be best to brace for surprises when local pharmacies finally announce availability.
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In summary, the U.S. is struggling to meet its goal of vaccinating 20 million people by the end of 2020 due to distribution delays and logistical challenges. With many healthcare workers still waiting for their shots, the timeline for general public vaccinations remains uncertain.