4 ms·

I'm surprised that booster shots had eligibility requirements to begin with, it didn't seem like there was a boatload of general interest in getting one. For p

I'm surprised that booster shots had eligibility requirements to begin with, it didn't seem like there was a boatload of general interest in getting one. For people outside of Cali, the requirements are pretty broad and the forms themselves state that no one will ask which of the requirements apply to you. One entire class of requirements is for working in "high-risk" settings. The medical risks requirements list is a mile long, and includes a BMI of >25 kg/m^2, which includes upwards of 75% of Americans. Now is prime time to be giving out boosters. With the holidays coming up, waning immunity from people who got their vaccines early, and another wave on the horizon, it makes complete sense to let as many people get boosters now, that way, they have maximum defence coming into the holidays.

yupper32 5y ago
I have lots of friends an family who want boosters, but don't think they qualify yet. Some do, especially under the BMI cutoff, but how are they supposed to know that? They're otherwise healthy. I don't qualify, but CA is giving me the wink-wink, nudge-nudge that I can just ignore the guidelines and go get one. No one will ask questions. The messaging is incredibly bad and inconsistent.
muttantt 5y ago
Perceived scarcity often generates demand that would not be there otherwise.
lr4444lr 5y ago
There are other countries where first and second doses are more sorely needed, perhaps?
- Turing_Machine 5y ago
  https://www.unicef.org/supply/covid-19-vaccine-market-dashboard https://www.unicef.org/supply/covid-19-vaccine-market-dashbo... says that 20.9 billion doses have been secured, or about 2.6 doses for every person on earth. Now, distribution is undoubtedly still a problem in some regions of the world, but it does look like there are plenty of doses available. At this stage, I don't think taking an extra dose equates to someone else not getting one.
  - smnrchrds 5y ago
    Canada had more vaccines 'secured' per capita than any other country on earth, but its vaccination campaign lagged behind the US by months. In Canada's case, secured meant per-purchased. Delivery was a completely separate issue. We had secured 20 million doses of AstraZeneca. We have yet to receive even one dose (We eventually received some from Serum Institute of India, COVAX, etc. but none from our main contract for 20 million doses with AstraZeneca corporation). We had 'secured' 38 million Johnson & Johnson doses. we received 300k, which turned out to be most likely contaminated and could not be used, so they were sent back. We have yet to receive a single usable dose of Johnson & Johnson out of the 38 million we have 'secured'. Secured just means they have the budget and the contract in place. It doesn't say anything about delivery timeline.
- kelnos 5y ago
  My understanding is that if there are doses available in your location, they will probably not be relocated to another location, and will likely just sit there until they're used or go bad. So as long as there's an excess of supply where you are, there's no harm to anyone else to make use of them, because the chances of them going to another country where people need their initial doses is pretty slim to none. (Of course if everyone takes this advice to the point where there stops being enough supply in your area, then that will probably trigger larger orders for doses, which maybe could impact other places that need them more.)
ghaff 5y ago
Anyone age-appropriate in the US who wants a booster can get one. I'm not sure I technically qualify--I didn't when I got one--but pharmacies etc. won't, and almost certainly can't, make decisions about whether you get one or not.

yupper32 5y ago

I have lots of friends an family who want boosters, but don't think they qualify yet. Some do, especially under the BMI cutoff, but how are they supposed to know that? They're otherwise healthy. I don't qualify, but CA is giving me the wink-wink, nudge-nudge that I can just ignore the guidelines and go get one. No one will ask questions. The messaging is incredibly bad and inconsistent.

muttantt 5y ago

Perceived scarcity often generates demand that would not be there otherwise.

lr4444lr 5y ago

There are other countries where first and second doses are more sorely needed, perhaps?

Turing_Machine 5y ago
https://www.unicef.org/supply/covid-19-vaccine-market-dashboard https://www.unicef.org/supply/covid-19-vaccine-market-dashbo... says that 20.9 billion doses have been secured, or about 2.6 doses for every person on earth. Now, distribution is undoubtedly still a problem in some regions of the world, but it does look like there are plenty of doses available. At this stage, I don't think taking an extra dose equates to someone else not getting one.
- smnrchrds 5y ago
  Canada had more vaccines 'secured' per capita than any other country on earth, but its vaccination campaign lagged behind the US by months. In Canada's case, secured meant per-purchased. Delivery was a completely separate issue. We had secured 20 million doses of AstraZeneca. We have yet to receive even one dose (We eventually received some from Serum Institute of India, COVAX, etc. but none from our main contract for 20 million doses with AstraZeneca corporation). We had 'secured' 38 million Johnson & Johnson doses. we received 300k, which turned out to be most likely contaminated and could not be used, so they were sent back. We have yet to receive a single usable dose of Johnson & Johnson out of the 38 million we have 'secured'. Secured just means they have the budget and the contract in place. It doesn't say anything about delivery timeline.
kelnos 5y ago
My understanding is that if there are doses available in your location, they will probably not be relocated to another location, and will likely just sit there until they're used or go bad. So as long as there's an excess of supply where you are, there's no harm to anyone else to make use of them, because the chances of them going to another country where people need their initial doses is pretty slim to none. (Of course if everyone takes this advice to the point where there stops being enough supply in your area, then that will probably trigger larger orders for doses, which maybe could impact other places that need them more.)

ghaff 5y ago

Anyone age-appropriate in the US who wants a booster can get one. I'm not sure I technically qualify--I didn't when I got one--but pharmacies etc. won't, and almost certainly can't, make decisions about whether you get one or not.