At the time a vaccine becomes available, I think it's important to have a relevant and strategic plan. If it begins immediately available to any of the general public at the same time it would result in chaos and possibly further vaccine shortages. The most systematic and beneficial plan of action in distribution is to begin vaccinating those who are the most high-risk, first. For Fayette County, a list of elderly residents should be procured. They will be contacted in order of age (oldest to youngest), alphabetically. This allows for an orderly and logical approach to the vaccine to begin. After all of the elderly have been vaccinated, the vaccine distribution can be moved to the rest of those who are high-risk. Following a similar format, those with the most severe risk will be vaccinated first, and the following individuals will be vaccinated alphabetically. After these individuals have been vaccinated, the distribution can be opened to the rest of the public. With this category having a larger population, random vaccination appointments would be the most fair and orderly process. The governor, will come on twice a week to randomly draw a letter of the alphabet for each county. The letter drawn will be the alphabetical group eligible for that group of testing. This will continue until each letter has been announced, and opportunity has been given to everyone. At this point, the vaccines will be made available by appointment for those unable to receive it when they were supposed to.
I think this is the most orderly and fair way to do things. Without things being random to the general public, it would result in absolute chaos and riots of enormous amounts of people storming the vaccination centers. The plan detailed above is an entire vaccination plan, rather than for a third of the population. This being stated, the plan would continue until all of the high-risk have been vaccinated. At this time, a re-evaluation of the vaccines available will be conducted, with hope that more have been produced in the mean time of this process. I think it would dangerous to open vaccination to the general public with limited amounts. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, with riots and people angry that they weren't able to obtain one. The most safe and effective plan of action is to wait until there is enough vaccinations to cover the majority of the Fayette County population. This limits chances for violence, rioting, and extreme upsets.
There are many contextual factors that need to be considered: access and ability to go to to vaccination centers, the specific need for a vaccine, and varying ability to be told of vaccination appointments. The best way to address these contexts is as followed. Having vaccination centers available in varying areas of the county, to ensure every individual has a vaccination area within a general walking or bus ride distance. The specific need for a vaccine will be made known to a health official when addressing what defines high-risk (age, health problems, etc..). An official in this position will have access to this type of information - the names, age, and severity of risk for each individual. While it is difficult ensure every individual will be able to make the appointments due to work, school or other factors, they will be given a few days time to make the clinic. If it still is not possible, they can then schedule an individual appointment at a later date. While that might not be an ideal situation for those impacted, it's the best that can be done when trying to mass distribute a vital vaccine.
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