Patients Want to Know When They Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine—but the Answer Is Complicated

Readers of mainstream media reports on availability of the COVID-19 vaccine are likely to be confused as to when they themselves will be eligible to get the shot. Where the Boston Herald just reported that the general population might be eligible for immunization “by February,” Forbes posted an article saying that a quarter of the world’s population won’t be able to get the vaccine until 2022. They’re both likely to be correct. The Herald’s source was the state director of Health and Human Services, who presumably has a bead on what’s likely to happen in the commonwealth. And Forbes got its information from a study just published by The BMJ, which noted that high-income nations have dibs on 51% of the projected vaccine supply. That is expected to leave many citizens of other countries waiting until 2022. The United States, home to 20% of worldwide COVID-19 cases, has reserved 800 million doses, according to Forbes. In the end, where your patients are concerned, it’s important to remember that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made recommendations as to which individuals should receive the vaccine first in this country (frontline medical workers and long-term care facility staff, for starters), it’s up to each state to determine which groups should be prioritized. Check with your state health department to ensure you give inquiring patients the right information.