Viewpoints: Lessons On Fixing Racial Inequities Of Vaccine Rollout; Pros, Cons Of Operation Warp Speed

USA Today: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Needs A Shot Of Equity
In the rush to get as many people as possible vaccinated against COVID-19, the United States has become obsessed with numbers. How many doses have been distributed? How many people can be inoculated in President Joe Biden’s first 100 days? Is 1 million doses a day too modest, and is 1.5 million too bold? What percentage of people need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity? Yes, we should work to get shots in as many arms as possible, but we must start by getting shots in the right arms. As two people who have worked in public health for decades — including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — and have been involved in vaccine distribution strategies at the federal, state and local level, we’re concerned that the most important question of all is one being left out our national conversation: Is America’s vaccination effort reaching all of those who need to be vaccinated now? From what we have seen, the answer is no. (Richard Besser and Julie Morita, 2/2)

The New York Times: How New York’s Vaccine Program Missed Black And Hispanic Residents 
New York’s vaccination program is struggling. Several weeks in, the state still needs significant help from the federal government — millions more vaccine doses, but also money to set up distribution sites, help staff them and other basic infrastructure. Those people currently eligible for vaccines — New Yorkers 65 and older and certain essential workers — also need more help getting them. This includes providing better information about how to sign up, in as many languages as New Yorkers speak; a system for doing so that doesn’t rely primarily on having internet access; vouchers to ensure no lost pay for missed work; more vaccine clinics open late nights and weekends. (2/1)

The Washington Post: How To Fix Racial Inequity In Covid-19 Vaccination 
Black Americans have suffered one of the highest death rates from covid-19, with 1 out of 735 Black Americans dying from the disease, according to the latest data. For White Americans, that figure is 1 in 1,030.Yet White Americans are being vaccinated at rates of up to three times higher than Black Americans, as early data from the 23 states that are reporting racial and ethnic data on vaccinations show. In fact, across the country there are reports of majority-Black areas struggling to deal with nonresident White people traveling to their communities to be vaccinated. (Uché Blackstock and Oni Blackstock, 2/1)

CNN: Undocumented Must Be Covered Under Covid-19 Relief Legislation
Essential workers have kept our nation running during the Covid-19 crisis at extraordinary personal cost, bearing the emotional burden and health risks of potential daily exposure to a deadly virus. Yet nearly a year into this crisis, frontline workers remain under protected and undercompensated -- especially the estimated more than 5 million undocumented workers in essential industries who have endured an additional fear: the possibility of deportation. (Alex Padilla, Elizabeth Warren and Joaquin Castro, 2/1)

The Wall Street Journal: Why Operation Warp Speed Worked 
Every day new questions and criticisms arise about Operation Warp Speed, the public-private vaccine development initiative launched by presidential order in May 2020. Most of that criticism focuses on the distribution bottlenecks that have developed in different states, as Americans are impatient with the slow pace of the rollout. Jen Psaki, President Biden’s press secretary, has claimed to see an “urgent need to address failures of the Trump team approach to vaccine distribution.” Some in the new administration even want to rename the program. Nearly all these claims rest on a misunderstanding both of Operation Warp Speed’s mission and its nature as a government program. (Arthur Herman, 2/1)

CNN: Your Neighborhood Pharmacist Can Help Speed The Vaccine Rollout
Pharmacists have received some bad publicity lately. A Wisconsin pharmacist accused of taking 57 vials of Covid-19 vaccine from cold storage because he believed in unfounded conspiracy theories, has pleaded guilty to trying to make the Covid-19 vaccine ineffective. Big-chain pharmacies have been criticized for their slow vaccine rollouts in nursing homes. And even state boards of pharmacy are accused of putting too many roadblocks in the way of certifying older or non-community pharmacists to administer the vaccines. (Mohamed Jalloh, 2/2)

The New York Times: The Republican Economic Plan Is An Insult 
So 10 Republican senators are proposing an economic package that is supposed to be an alternative to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The proposal is only a third of the size of Biden’s plan and would in important ways cut the heart out of economic relief. Republicans, however, want Biden to give in to their wishes in the name of bipartisanship. Should he? No, no, 1.9 trillion times, no. (Paul Krugman, 2/1)

The Hill: If GOP Blocks Biden's COVID Rescue Plan, America's Working Poor Will Suffer 
President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion COVID relief proposal, known as the "American Rescue Plan" would prevent millions of working families from falling even deeper into poverty. It is desperately needed, because the COVID-recession has resulted in millions of low-income workers losing their jobs, working fewer hours and having to stay home to care for children out of school due to the pandemic. (Mark Wolfe and Deborah Weinstein, 2/1)

The Wall Street Journal: Biden’s Covid Spending Choice
Americans are about to learn whether President Biden means what he has said so often about governing in a bipartisan fashion. The test is whether he negotiates with Senate Republicans over his $1.9 trillion Covid spending bill, or jams it through using a budget maneuver that requires only 50 votes plus Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic leaders seem eager to use what’s known as budget reconciliation that dodges the 60-vote filibuster bill for tax and spending measures with certain limitations. After even moderate Republican Senators balked at the gigantic size of the $1.9 trillion Biden Covid-palooza, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they’ll move soon to pass the bill on a partisan basis using reconciliation. (1/31)

Los Angeles Times: COVID Deniers Aren't Going Away. L.A. Needs A Plan
It was probably inevitable that the COVID-19 deniers would show up at Dodger Stadium. It’s one of the largest vaccination sites in the nation and can deliver up to 7,700 shots a day. And on Saturday that’s what happened. About 50 protesters came to shout misinformation about the coronavirus and wave signs at motorists waiting their turn to get a coveted COVID-19 vaccination. The demonstrators’ message wasn’t focused but rather expressed general opposition to all things COVID: masks, safer-at-home orders, vaccinations and science. (2/2)