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This is not what the article is about at all. It is saying we should not reserve the second dose in the freezer for that patient and should instead immediately

This is not what the article is about at all. It is saying we should not reserve the second dose in the freezer for that patient and should instead immediately distribute it to at-risk populations. Then we should trust the supply chain will come through for the second dose and that a 1-2 week delay in case it did not would not overly harm immunity. It is perhaps a very sensible suggestion that would depend on the supply chain quality. I think we should all make efforts to tone down our rhetoric and not tilt at windmills.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago
Sure it is. Again, if there should be some issue with the supply chain, then the first dose could be 'wasted'. For hospital personnel etc that would be a bad scenario. We're not talking millions/billions of doses. We're talking about what are really very small numbers. It may be worth taking some very small hit in herd immunity, for an assured continuity of care.
- vonmoltke 6y ago
  > Again, if there should be some issue with the supply chain, then the first dose could be 'wasted'. It's not "wasted". As noted in the article, the first dose alone is ~50% effective; the second dose is required to boost that to ~93%. So, it's a tradeoff between vaccinating n people at 93% effectiveness versus 2n people at 50% effectiveness.
- random5634 6y ago
  Is there an actual serious claim that the first dose would be wasted? This claim is being made despite CLEAR CDC guidance on how to handle delayed vaccination doses? I'm serious - where is the citation for the claim you are making that the first dose is wasted if the second dose is not perfectly on schedule. The reason this claim is likely a lie is that millions / billions of vaccines are given out. Every school child in America is getting vaccines. With very narrow exceptions, if you are off the exact timing (ie, you get a 12 month vaccine a bit later, you get the second shot 14 days later) which by the way happens ALL THE TIME because doctors and parents are busy etc - there is no evidence that the first shot is wasted or that you need to restart vaccination. So please provide a citation for the "first shot wasted" claim.
  - bluGill 6y ago
    Provide citation yourself for this case. Nobody can, there is no data to cite. The only data that we have is that getting both doses on schedule works. Everything else is speculation.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago

Sure it is. Again, if there should be some issue with the supply chain, then the first dose could be 'wasted'. For hospital personnel etc that would be a bad scenario. We're not talking millions/billions of doses. We're talking about what are really very small numbers. It may be worth taking some very small hit in herd immunity, for an assured continuity of care.

vonmoltke 6y ago
> Again, if there should be some issue with the supply chain, then the first dose could be 'wasted'. It's not "wasted". As noted in the article, the first dose alone is ~50% effective; the second dose is required to boost that to ~93%. So, it's a tradeoff between vaccinating n people at 93% effectiveness versus 2n people at 50% effectiveness.
random5634 6y ago
Is there an actual serious claim that the first dose would be wasted? This claim is being made despite CLEAR CDC guidance on how to handle delayed vaccination doses? I'm serious - where is the citation for the claim you are making that the first dose is wasted if the second dose is not perfectly on schedule. The reason this claim is likely a lie is that millions / billions of vaccines are given out. Every school child in America is getting vaccines. With very narrow exceptions, if you are off the exact timing (ie, you get a 12 month vaccine a bit later, you get the second shot 14 days later) which by the way happens ALL THE TIME because doctors and parents are busy etc - there is no evidence that the first shot is wasted or that you need to restart vaccination. So please provide a citation for the "first shot wasted" claim.
- bluGill 6y ago
  Provide citation yourself for this case. Nobody can, there is no data to cite. The only data that we have is that getting both doses on schedule works. Everything else is speculation.