States That Have Found the Secret to COVID Vaccine Success
“We vaccinated people on snow machines, on four wheelers, in trucks, in airplanes, standing on tarmacs in -20 windchill, in clinics, in houses basically anywhere we could to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.” by Elaine S. Povich, Stateline.org / February 4, 2021 A group of Alaska health care workers prepare to board a plane that delivers COVID-19 vaccines to remote areas of the state. Small states with centralized health care apparatuses are getting the vaccine into arms more efficiently than states with larger populations. (Yukon Kuskokwim/(Alaska) Health Corporation/TNS)
Alaska’s Herculean vaccine distribution effort this month evokes the historic “serum run” nearly 100 years ago that saved the town of Nome from a diphtheria epidemic and inspired the Iditarod sled dog race.
But this year, instead of driving dog sleds, the state used planes, amphibious vehicles and snowmobiles to make Alaska one of the most successful states so far at getting the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of its residents. Mountainous terrain and wintry weather further complicated the effort.
“On my first airplane trip, the vaccine froze in the metal part of the needle when I was vaccinating on the tarmac and I had to keep it warm by tucking it between my coat and my shirt until right before we gave the vaccine,” said Dr. Ellen Hodges, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation chief of staff, in an email.
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson on Wednesday announced a $520 million amendment to Gov. Larry Hoganâs state relief plan that would provide immediate relief to residents, local governments, struggling non-profits and small businesses.
The âSenate Recovery Nowâ amendment is broken down into eight parts, which include tens of millions of dollars in relief that, if added to Hoganâs (R) âRELIEF Act of 2021,â could be allocated immediately to fill areas the lawmakers have identified as having been particularly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposed additions to the governorâs plan will likely see some changes as the amendment moves through the state legislature, but Ferguson (D-Baltimore city) said heâs confident there will be a âjoint effortâ among senators and delegates to reach an agreement.
Maryland Senate to add $520M to Hogan s relief measure thetelegraph.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetelegraph.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.