COVID-19’s Impact on the Nation
It has been well over a year since the first case known case of COVID-19 reached American soil. Since that time, our lives have drastically changed. COVID-19 changed the way we worked, shopped, and even interacted with one another. It also slowed our economy practically into a deficit. We bear witness to the national economic effects of COVID-19. The nation is working hard to reopen during this health crisis, focusing on economic recovery and public safety.
On-Track to Reopening
Since the start of this public health crisis, we’ve all wondered when the sense of normalcy would return. We want to move freely throughout our communities. We also want to travel. But most importantly, we want to occupy close spaces with our friends and loved ones without the looming fear of a COVID-19 infection.
As a nation, we’ve made strides towards regaining a sense of normalcy. Vaccine availability and mass vaccinations contributed to this effort, as have state mandates (e.g., mask-wearing, social distancing, rules for occupancy, etc.). But we’re not yet out in the clear. As we continue to move towards getting back to the way things were, we need to consider the different barriers that could delay or hinder our progression.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Since the start of this public health crisis, it was apparent that the nation hoped for herd immunity. In short, herd immunity is a means of protection against infections. However, for herd immunity to happen, enough people need to be infected or vaccinated.
Vaccine Supply Does Not Meet the Demand or Vice-Versa
At one point, there was not enough supply (i.e., vaccines) to meet the demand. That changed a bit. The FDA authorized the emergency use of three COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. In theory, this means that more Americans should be able to get vaccinated.
Most states are on track with vaccinating residents. But access to one of these vaccines is still an issue for some people, especially in underserved and rural areas. Vaccine programs, pop-up tents, and even drive-thru sites help combat barriers to access.
Gavin Newsome, the current governor of California, projected that the state would fully reopen on June 15th, 2021. However, that projection is contingent upon variables like vaccine supply and stability in new cases and hospitalizations. California opened eligibility for more of its residents to be vaccinated and is now experiencing a decrease in vaccine supply.
California is not the only state facing a possible vaccine shortage. The governor of Michigan urged the federal government to send more vaccines because of the spike in COVID cases.
North Carolina temporarily stopped issuing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of the side effects. The CDC recommended vaccinations continue on schedule, but this could cause hesitancy amongst residents.
Neither scenario means that the states will completely stop their vaccination efforts. But they will experience delays in vaccination rates and their plans to reopen the state and its economy.
The good news is that over 70,000,000 Americans are vaccinated. They either received both doses of their Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But, the U.S. is not yet in the clear. That is only 20% of the entire population, and we need 80-90% for herd immunity. Thus bringing us to the next barrier: willingness to be vaccinated.
People Do Not Want It.
Vaccines are necessary for public health and safety. The COVID-19 vaccine is no different. Consider it an added layer of protection to our existing precautions. While it is true that they do not guarantee immunity, the vaccines prevent complications and death from a COVID-19 infection.
The truth is, that while some states are experiencing a shortage, others are sitting on vaccines because people don’t want them. There are some reasons for this. The biggest is that mask-wearing came down to political affiliation for some. And even after witnessing the severity of COVID-19, some people refuse to take it seriously.
A recent poll completed by NPR found that people with specific political affiliations were less likely to take the vaccine. That same poll found that other groups were reluctant or hesitant to get the vaccine because of the United States’ history of health disparities and maleficence.
Under no condition can vaccines be forced upon anyone. However, to reach herd immunity, more people need to be vaccinated. The U.S is administering more COVID-19 vaccines daily. But we are still far behind the recommended 80-90% vaccination rate.
COVID-19 Variants and Surges
COVID-19 health precautions and guidelines are still in place in most places. Despite these precautions, many states have seen a drastic surge in cases over the last couple of weeks. We have also seen a spike in hospitalizations and COVID-19 deaths. As a nation, we are baffled and are concerned that this could set us back. However, this could be due to COVID-19 variants or state mandates.
COVID-19 Variants
Viruses mutate for different reasons. The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is no different.
In January 2021, two variants appeared in the West. Since then, those variants have spread across the nation. Also, more variants have appeared. There are now five known variants of COVID-19. There is a lot that we do not know about these variants. For instance, their origin. We also do not know if the presence of these variants affects the efficacy of the vaccines. That is to say, whether these variants are resistant to one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines. But we do know that these variants are more infectious and contagious.
We are still working on getting people vaccinated and are fighting against states with possible agendas. So it is clear to see that variants could be another barrier to reopening within the projected timeline.
State Mandates
Some states have eased back or completely lifted their COVID-19 mandates even though the pandemic is nowhere close to being over, and we do not yet have herd immunity. Texas, Tennesse, and West Virginia are among those states.
Texas recently eliminated all of the health mandates. Essentially, this means that mask-wearing is no longer mandated and gets rid of indoor caps and restrictions.
Not only that, but some states have never closed or implemented any health guidelines since the start of the pandemic. Georgia and Florida are among those states that never closed despite surges in infections and COVID-related deaths.
Their actions send messages that conflict with public health officials and create different feelings. The effects of their actions cause distrust or encourage people to downplay or dismiss the severity of this crisis. Thus, bringing us to our final point: our responsibility.
Personal Responsibility
The last barrier to reopening without a hitch is our responsibility to protect ourselves and each other. Several states fully reopened and completely lifted their health mandates, despite known variants, surges in infections, and not yet achieving herd immunity. But, as a nation, we are not yet in the clear. We still have to do our part to reduce spread and transmission, even with states sending mixed messages. Ultimately, we need to remain diligent and willing to sacrifice a bit longer for the greater good of our nation.
In summary, we all want things to go back to normal. And, as a nation, we are on track for that to happen. But there are foreseeable barriers to reopening without a hitch. We need to address these barriers to overcome this health crisis and to rise from these unprecedented events as a stronger nation.