Prognosis
U.S. Vaccination Push Pits Speed in Giving Shots Against Equity
- Some at greater risk of Covid death have less access to doses
- Pressure to accelerate campaign favors some groups over others
A farmworker waits to receive a dose of vaccine in Coachella, California, U.S.
Photographer: Bing Guan/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
States are leaving behind some of the people most vulnerable to contracting or dying from Covid-19 in a quest to quickly administer shots.
The U.S. vaccination campaign that started off slowly has accelerated in recent weeks with online systems to book appointments and mass clinics that immunize thousands of people a day. Yet the pressure to ramp up vaccinations is promoting tactics that favor people with access to technology, transportation and spare time. Others who may be at greater risk of death from Covid are less equipped to navigate systems built for efficiency.