Opinion: Narrowing the vaccine gap as boosters begin for people over 50
The Food and Drug Administration this week authorized a second booster for individuals 50 and older. Although some people over the age of 50 are mulling whether and how soon to get their fourth jab, a significant vaccine gap exists within this group which needs to be addressed. There are 118.5 million Americans over the age of 50; 18.4 million (15%) of these individuals are not fully vaccinated and 59 million (50%) have not received their first booster.
Closing that gap will be a challenge, especially given that the Health Resources and Services Administration on March 22 stopped accepting claims for Covid testing for the uninsured and on April 6 will do the same for vaccines. Millions of uninsured patients will no longer have the protection vaccination confers, and will be denied access to free Covid tests and treatments. Eligible patients, including those with fragile medical conditions in search of monoclonal antibodies, will struggle to access outpatient treatment, leading to a likely rise in hospitalizations. Without swift approval from Congress for emergency Covid-19 funds, the costs of inaction will inevitably lead to dire consequences for the most vulnerable. The $10 billion Senate compromise to procure therapeutics and vaccinations — roughly half of the $22.5 billion requested by the White House in mid-March — is insufficient, and we are all at risk if the U.S. can not deploy critical tools, including surveillance and the global vaccination campaign.
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