You got the COVID-19 vaccine? I have vaccine envy – . Health Blog

I admit it: I have vaccine envy. It's the feeling of jealousy, disappointment, or resentment that you experience when someone else is given the vaccine for COVID-19 – and you can't.

I am not proud of it. We should all celebrate the amazing speed with which several effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines have been developed. Millions of people are receiving them every day, bringing the increasingly real possibility of herd immunity closer by the day.

So I should just be patient, right? It is not easy.

Vaccine envy is inevitable

Current evidence suggests that vaccination can save your life and that of those around you, while helping daily life achieve a semblance of normalcy. And while we can reduce the risk of infection without the vaccine (e.g. through physical distancing and facial covering), there are numerous reports of people "doing everything right" and still getting infected. So it's good to know that people are being vaccinated.

However, it can be difficult to see your friends, family, or co-workers in email or social media posts holding a vaccination card or flaunting a band-aid on their upper arm.

The introduction of the vaccine is a test of our patience

It's hard enough to tolerate how this pandemic has changed our lives. Thousands of people get sick and die every week. However, it is even more difficult to know that there are powerful vaccines that only some of us can get. For those who want a vaccine but are not eligible or unable to get an infrequent appointment, every day is a different day of invisible and uncertain risk. So it is understandable that many people are running out of patience.

The introduction of the vaccine tests our sense of fairness

When the first emergency vaccines were approved, too few doses were available for the entire US population. Therefore, the CDC made detailed recommendations to prioritize who to vaccinate first by considering the groups most at risk of disease and death. Health care workers and residents of long-term facilities topped the list. Next came key frontline workers and the elderly, followed by workers with illnesses related to more severe COVID-19. All others are further down the list.

Unfortunately, the subsequent rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines was confusing, unpredictable, and in many cases, unfair. For example:

• Eligibility varies greatly from state to state, as each state has its own priority lists. For example, some states have prioritized people who received cancer treatment within 30 days. others prioritized anyone diagnosed with cancer, even years ago and now in remission. In some states, teachers could get vaccines in January; in other cases they are only eligible.
• Some health problems that could increase your risk of COVID-19, such as certain neurological or autoimmune diseases, are not considered a "comorbid condition" that increases vaccine eligibility.
• Planning vaccinations has been difficult in many states. Navigating online appointment systems has been impossible for some older adults, people lacking time or resources, and others.
• The vaccine shipments reaching vaccination centers fluctuate, making it impossible to predict if there will be enough to supply eligible recipients.
• The verification of the age or the state of health is very different. Some states rely on the honor system while others require documentation.

Even within similar groups of people, these factors mean that some already have the vaccine and others are still waiting. It doesn't just seem unfair – it's unfair.

Who will get the leftovers?

"Leftover" vaccine doses allow some people to get vaccinated before they are eligible. Once an mRNA vaccine has thawed to room temperature, it must be administered within a few hours or thrown away. Since each vial contains several doses, any remainder, even not yet on the priority list, can be offered to avoid wastage. This has resulted in swarms of people called "vaccine hunters" flocking to where there are reports of leftover vaccines.

Social media helped make this possible. Connections are also important. Ideally, those responsible for vaccine delivery would keep a backup list of eligible recipients who could come on short notice to receive leftover vaccines. However, such systems require maintenance and resources that are not generally available.

The fact that people can jump over the line raises questions of fairness.

The introduction of the vaccine tests our ethics

More questionable than accepting leftover doses of vaccine that might otherwise be wasted are efforts to play the vaccine eligibility system. For example there have been reports about

Ethically questionable acts like this can exacerbate existing health disparities among minority groups already disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The economically disadvantaged have less time, resources, or connections to evade eligibility rules than those with more privileges.

The final result

The COVID-19 vaccination admission rules have put many of us in a difficult position: hoping to get a vaccine as soon as possible but will have to wait as others will get it much sooner as they grind our teeth over people who appear to be in a line. But instead of also skipping the line, we should speak out against rules that seem unfair, try to be patient and understanding until our turn, and keep taking steps to reduce our risk – including wearing Masks (which are no longer required in some states).

Anyone who wants a vaccination can have a vaccination within a few months. In the meantime, if you have vaccine envy, you are welcome to join the club.

Addendum: Shortly after I wrote this blog post, I became qualified for the COVID-19 vaccine and received my first dose. I hope that widespread vaccination will soon eliminate vaccination envy for everyone.

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling