Corona Daily 148: Living in the Right Place

To get a covid vaccine, where you are is as important as who you are. An article by Allison McCann and Lazaro Gamio in yesterday’s NYT illustrates the point well. Here are its main points with my additional analysis and comments.

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As on 18 March, a 16-year-old in Israel, a 16-year-old in the American city of Mississippi, or an 18-year-old in Shanghai could get a vaccine.  

 On the other hand, a 70-year-old in Shanghai, 80-year-old in Kenya or 90-year-old in South Korea can’t get vaccines. In China, trials were conducted only on those below sixty, so China is reluctant to vaccinate the elderly. Kenya’s very few vaccines are reserved for medical workers. Koreans older than 75 are not yet eligible.

In 67 countries, mainly African, nobody can get vaccines, because they are not available.

Covax, a global vaccine sharing project, was conceived to distribute vaccines equitably around the world. The rich nations, however, placed direct orders with the vaccine makers, and grabbed more than enough doses. USA currently holds millions of AstraZeneca doses in storage, which they don’t use because the vaccine is not approved. In Brazil, where it is approved, more than 2000 people are dying daily partly because of vaccine shortage.

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Anyone who can pay $13,000, is above 65, and with comorbidities can book a three-week holiday to the UAE and get vaccinated in Dubai.

Any member of Congress in the USA has top priority irrespective of age, health or gender.

In Manaus, the highly infected capital of Brazil, friends of Virgilio Neto, the mayor of Manaus can easily get vaccinated. The same with Lebanon lawmakers and military leaders in Spain. Families of ministers in Peru and some other Latin American countries qualify.

A smoker in Illinois can get it, because he is a smoker. But a smoker in Georgia doesn’t qualify. A grocery worker in Oklahoma can, but one in Texas can’t. A postal worker in North Carolina is allowed, but not one in California. The state of Connecticut doesn’t prioritise a diabetic, whereas the United Kingdom puts diabetics ahead in the line.

A pregnant woman is allowed to get a vaccine in New York. Germany doesn’t allow pregnant women to be vaccinated. However, two close contacts of a pregnant German woman get the vaccine to keep her safe.

Belgium has a high covid death rate per million. But teachers in Belgium have no priority, whereas all teachers in Mexico do.

Correctional officers working in Tennessee prisons are vaccinated, but the prisoners they deal with are not eligible because they have committed crimes.

Refugees in Germany and illegal immigrants in the UK can get the vaccines, because the virus has shown little respect for a person’s legal status.

France prioritises chauffeurs and taxi drivers. Japan gives priority to people with a body mass index of more than 30.

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Israel is the best vaccinated country with half its population fully vaccinated. However, Palestinians who live in the lands occupied by Israel don’t get the vaccines, unless they hold a work permit to work in Israel.

A gorilla or orangutan in the San Diego zoo can get the vaccine.

In total, 43 rich countries, mainly from North America and Europe, will complete their vaccination campaigns this year. Low-income countries, 148 of them, are looking at 2023 and beyond.

USA has given at least one shot to 23% of its population, UK 39%. South Africa has lost 52,000 people (870 per million). It has vaccinated 0.3%. Iran with 61,000 deaths (728 per million) has so far managed 10,000 doses for the whole nation. Peru is another country with a high number of cases, and hardly any vaccinations.

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In India, you get a vaccine if you have internet access, are above 60, or above 45 with comorbidities. However, I know Indians as young as 37 who have managed to get the shot.

If you live in the right place, then it becomes important to have the right connections.

Ravi