The Road goes ever on and on ... Day 71 (571)

I'm working a late (until 7:00 pm) shift of voting today and would prefer not to be writing after that, so here goes. Let's start with vaccines. As of September, 41.5 percent of the world's population had received at least one dose of a vaccine, but only 1.9 percent of people in low-income countries had. The creator of the Oxford vaccine warns that the "ever evolving" virus "continues to circulate unchecked," and no country in the world is truly safe. Some experts are unhappy that the new emphasis on boosters and child doses is detracting from getting the whole world vaccinated. 

As for boosters, more Americans are currently getting boosters than are getting first-time vaccinations. Vaccine hesitancy and opposition to mask or vaccine mandates are roiling local governments and hurting the nation's overall recovery. The issue of vaccine mandates is not going to get any better should the FDA authorize pediatric doses of vaccine, opening the door to a new class of at-school mandates. Pfizer has formally asked for approval of their vaccine for children ages five to 11. A meeting on the subject is tentatively scheduled for October 26 meaning that the ruling could come between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pfizer's proposal is that children get one-third of the adult dose, something that would require diluting the vaccine or using different vials or syringes. 

Twenty medical centers in Alaska are now rationing care. One in 84 Alaskans was diagnosed with covid in the last week of September, and Monday's report was 2,290 cases and one death in three days. Hospitals are looking for beds in other states; some patients have been medevaced to Seattle. Alaska is the largest state geographically and is geographically larger than the next three largest state combined. Those states would be California, Montana, and Texas. Because of this enormity, Alaskans travel on average 150 miles each way for medical care. 

North Korea has started to accept medical supplies from WHO. No cases of covid have been reported, though, and the country has turned down several offers of vaccines. WHO is sending health kits, medicines, and other supplies that would help at primary care centers. France will start charging unvaccinated people between $25 and $50 for a covid test. Tests will remain free for vaccinated people and minors as will tests ordered by a physician. The hope is that this will increase vaccination rates. Germany is implementing a similar system.

Here's a final thought to ponder. Covid has already killed more people in 2021 than it did in 2020. Let's not think we're out of the woods just yet.