Opinion: The correct vaccination plan can velocity up US financial restoration. This is what it ought to embody

How the vaccines are used – and who gets them first – will, however, have a critical impact on the speed and extent of any potential economic recovery in the US. A sustained versus a rapid rebound could mean the difference in trillions of dollars in net real GDP losses.

Here are five key vaccination considerations for federal, state, and local governments to maximize economic recovery:

Vaccinating teachers as quickly as possible would have a huge economic impact.

As the pandemic continues to keep many schools in virtual or hybrid mode, parents are struggling to balance their work and school attendance. Many have suffered reduced household incomes or contributed to decreased productivity in the US economy. The parents are also stressed and in poorer health. Consider that 40% of US households have children under the age of 18, and the average classroom in US public schools has about 24 students. This means that by vaccinating one teacher, around 24 groups of parents can work more. Vaccinating teachers and support staff and returning to work would take the burden off parents and carers, allowing them to focus on their work and be more productive. Vaccinating teachers also improves our chances of long-term future economic productivity. Covid-19 has affected the health, education and wellbeing of children. Virtual classrooms simply cannot fill the void in their socio-emotional and developmental needs, and many US children are falling behind in education. Keeping schools safe will ensure that we will have a healthy and viable workforce going forward. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend teachers to be placed in the second tier of vaccine recipients. Currently, however, it is up to individual states to decide who will receive the vaccine and when. The state governments should give them priority.

Build confidence in vaccines

For vaccines to support economic recovery, people must be ready to receive them.

Based on clinical studies and data previously available for US-approved vaccines, the benefits of vaccines seem to far outweigh their risks. Yet a quarter of the US public is reluctant to receive it.

In order to get more people to vaccinate, transparency is essential to build trust. Because vaccines are introduced for subpopulations that have not been adequately investigated in vaccine studies, such as: B. Nursing home residents and senior citizens with underlying medical conditions, the CDC must monitor their safety and ensure that the vaccines do not cause harmful or adverse effects on existing drugs. This data should be made publicly available in real time, including potential side effects that may occur in certain demographics or those with underlying conditions. The CDC needs to coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration to educate the public about the safety of vaccines.

Working with leaders of minority groups is also vital to building trust in vaccines. African American and Hispanic groups have been hit hardest by the pandemic, but they are among the most reluctant to receive the vaccine. My own research has found that one way to build trust in vaccination is for community leaders to work together to spread positive messages about vaccines. The US government should support targeted education campaigns to encourage community leaders, religious organizations, schools, businesses, and civic groups that care for minority groups to build trust in the vaccines.

Use independent and chain pharmacies

The majority of Americans prefer to go to a local pharmacy rather than the doctor’s office to get vaccinated. But not all pharmacies have been involved in vaccination efforts. West Virginia, which originally opted out of the federal program that worked with CVS and Walgreens to distribute vaccines, has been delivering vaccinations at more than double the national rate. Success is due in large part to working with local pharmacies to aid the effort. In the past, pharmacists’ approval for vaccination has resulted in higher vaccine intake and improved health outcomes. By involving more pharmacists in the vaccination effort, doctors and nurses can also focus on treating Covid-19 patients. This is important when they’re stretched thin and feeling burned out. In order for independent pharmacies to enter and stay in the administration of Covid-19 vaccines, the U.S. government must support their involvement. This includes supporting the logistics of cold chain management of vaccines and making it easier for pharmacists to bill and reimburse vaccinations. US pharmacies often state that reimbursement and insurance are a major barrier to vaccine delivery. In the case of Covid-19, not all payers cover the cost of pharmacists’ time to give injections or educate consumers, and policies and reimbursements differ between Medicare, Medicaid, uninsured and commercial health insurance plans.

In order for pharmacists to spend more time vaccinating all populations, the government must set reimbursement rates for vaccine administration the same regardless of patient insurance status, to prevent preferred populations from being selected and to compensate pharmacists.

Stay vigilant with masks

We must continue to use masks to help accelerate the US economic recovery.

The effectiveness of masks has increased significantly. However, vaccination does not provide immediate immunity and the duration of immunity has yet to be determined. It will take time before enough people are vaccinated to safely stop wearing masks. Prolonged and consistent use of masks can help prevent re-infections in public facilities when economic activities resume. This will accelerate the US economic recovery.

Strengthening the global supply chain

Covid-19 vaccines offer an unprecedented opportunity to boost immunization systems around the world. It is important to look beyond the US and not leave the developing world behind. Many developing countries lack adult vaccination systems, have limited cold chain capacity, and report an increase in counterfeit or diverted vaccines. I am one of the fake drug experts from 20 countries that have called for globally coordinated production, strengthened distribution chains and post-market surveillance to ensure the quality of Covid-19 vaccines worldwide. Just as the US has tapped various ventilator manufacturing companies, it should leverage the expertise of engineering companies and scientists to build cold chain infrastructure around the world and not only accelerate the spread of Covid-19 vaccines, but also to prepare for the next pandemic. When safe and effective vaccines become available to many, studies, including my own, have shown that they will contribute to the economy by preventing disease, averting disability, saving lives, and enabling people to be economically productive. The longer the pandemic drags on, the more likely it becomes that certain structural changes in the economy will become permanent. The faster we can effectively roll out Covid-19 vaccines, the faster the economy will recover.