UK Core Issue: How Do We Distribute Covid Vaccines?

 The talks about the Covid-19 vaccines have been around since the beginning of quarantine. The questions that all people ask is when and how much. Currently, I work at Walgreens pharmacy and flu shots are happening as if it were a fast-food restaurant. In class, we learned about the impending "twindemic" which means flu season and coronavirus happening at the same time. I know it really is scary to think about. This is what is so alarming is the fact that there is only one vaccine out right now to treat one of these pandemics, the flu. What about coronavirus? 

Now let us imagine, that we live in a society where everyone can agree and we are getting stuff done, meaning getting that Covid-19 vaccine made. Who gets it first? How do we regulate that the necessary get it first?  

    After experiencing what is like to be in a pharmacy during a pandemic and trying to do your job efficiently, I have learned a lot about shortages and distribution. To be able to perform well we need to have sufficient tools. It is very hard to perform without your sufficient tools unless you have the magic wand and you can make things happen. I believe the best way to distribute the vaccines is in the hierarchy of service. I would start by giving vaccines to all the essential health care workers. These essential health care works have to fall under a set of criteria to be the first to receive the first round of vaccinations. The criteria would include doctors and nurses that work in coronavirus care units at their respective hospitals, primary care physicians, physician's assistants,  and pharmacists. After all, those vaccinations have been distributed then we got to the second phase of distributions and that is to all of those that work in close contact with those mention in the first phase, this includes technicians of each branch. If any of these positions are working from home or virtually will be excluded from both rounds until more vaccinations can be obtained.  I believe this is the most efficient way to distribute at the beginning due to the way that some places are struggling now. In order to treat someone, the person doing the treating has to be healthy and able to fight the battle that they are coming up with. In this case, the less you have the better when it comes to the number of people sick and the more healthy you have the better.

    In order for this to work and be efficient, each healthcare worker will have to register for the vaccine and verify that they are who they are through there credentials this can range from DEA number, NPI number, or verification of workplace and title. There will only be one place of immunization and that will be UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. The city of Lexington and the University of Kentucky have agreed on this location because we are trying to promote unity and efficiency at this time. After all vaccinations have been given to the two groups above, the next focus will be on the most vulnerable in the community and then to the rest of the population at no cost. Things take time but in order to battle and diminish the pandemic, we also have to put the frontliners with the best combative gear which is the vaccine. Until then do your part and mask up