*VERY IMPORTANT COVID-19 VACCINATION THREAD*

According to Very Important People™, we've moved, in the last 7 days, from a situation of vaccine scarcity to appointments going unreserved.

Here in NYC, only 44% of residents have had at least one shot.

This is.... bad.

1/n

We hear this is happening in pretty much every major US city (except Seattle) and in many rural areas, too.

THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW PHASE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROCESS.

2/n

If our most optimistic predictions hold and we get to 50% vaccination in NYC with a 95% efficacious vaccine and maybe 20% seropositivity, we are going to be no where NEAR good herd immunity.

3/n

Yes: Herd immunity is not a binary. And this level of vaccination will help immensely, especially combined with summer where we can (and will need to) once again move much socializing OUTSIDE!

But this is NOT the level needed for EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AGAIN.

4/n

A lot of us knew this phase of the vaccination process was coming.

We need to focus now on:

1) incredible ease of vaccine access for all
2) working on the vaccine hesitant in our lives

5/n

For part 1: community health orgs in NYC have basically been sidelined, used and abused in this whole process.

THAT HAS TO CHANGE. RELATIONSHIPS will drive a decrease in hesitancy. This isn't something we can just message away with TV ads, @NYCMayor.

6/n

These CBOs need $$$$$ to support their essential and irreplaceable work.

7/n

For 2: NOW is the time to talk to the vaccine hesitant in your life! HOW, you ask?

Don't be judgemental. Don't try to convince. Give good facts and good information.

Importantly, be ready to help someone get to their shot the very second they decide they're willing!

8/n

Make an appointment for them! Travel with them to it!

I 9/n

Now is the time for NYC and NYS to make vaccine appointments easy AF. Drop the fucking forms. Drop the ID requirements. Make walk-ins available for all. Put the shot in every fucking Walgreens on every damn corner.

THROW SHOTS INTO ARMS WITH A SLINGSHOT I DO NOT CARE*.

10/n

*i do care, informed consent is essential.

11/n

And YES! Now is the time to talk about HOW FUCKING AWESOME IT IS TO BE VACCINATED!!!!

I feel less stress every day.

I go on the subway (masked) and feel fine about it!

I BOUGHT A MOTHER FUCKING PLANE TICKET TO CALI-FUCKING-FORNIA!!! I'M TAKING MAX! (Here is MAX!)

12/n

The COVID-19 vaccines are incredibly safe and MIND-BLOWINGLY effective! I'm happy to (again) share figures from their FDA packets or their publications in NEJM. The data are SO FUCKING AWESOME AND CLEAR non-scientists can easily understand.

13/n

This has worked with some vaccine hesitant in my life. So has listening to people's concerns about long- and shot-term side effects or how the vaccine might mix (or not) with their particular health conditions.

14/n

It's great to point right to the clinical trials:

PEOPLE WITH MANY HEALTH CONDITIONS (including various autoimmunities) WERE IN THE TRIALS!

15/n

TL;DR

We have serious work ahead of us on vaccine uptake. That work began last week.

We have serious work to do on vaccine equity both here in the US and ensuring vaccines are available to all globally.

FUEL UP!

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