America's Vaccine Rollout and the Challenges Ahead

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Nurse recieves the second dose of a Pfizer covid vaccine

President Biden has set a target of vaccinating 100 million Americans during his administration's first 100 days in office. The latest CDC data show that roughly 21.7 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and a little under 4.3 million have received two doses.

The new administration hopes to have enough shots to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer, but progress across the country has been uneven and vaccine distribution is only one of the critical challenges ahead.

Below, our experts outline key issues for policymakers to address, including racial disparities in vaccinations, the need for an ethical system to keep track of vaccinated individuals, and more.

Early issues to address. "Health officials need to figure out ways to streamline the process, digitize data collection and record-keeping, and create more equity in the distribution process," writes Darrell West.

The need for vaccination verification systems. The rapid development of coronavirus vaccines has brought hope that the pandemic can be controlled, but work remains. To resume travel and reopen businesses and schools, it will be vital to build vaccine record verification systems that are robust and ethical, Sarah Kreps and her co-authors argue.

Outreach to the Latino community. The federal government's long and recent history of medical malpractice against communities of color has significant implications for the vaccination effort, particularly in Latino communities. Gabriel R. Sanchez and Juan M. Peña emphasize that a well-coordinated outreach program must be a priority for the Biden administration.

Public views on immunity privileges. Should individuals that can demonstrate either acquired or conferred COVID-19 immunity be subject to different rules? Mark Hall and David Studdert highlight results from their survey on immunity privileges.

Why are some states performing better? Focusing on Maryland and West Virginia, William Galston looks at disparities in state inoculation rates and explains what they reveal about the broader vaccine rollout in America. And in a separate piece, Galston reflects on his experience getting the COVID-19 shot.

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