With Universal Eligibility, a Fifth of Seniors Remain Unvaccinated

The New York Times reports that adults are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in every U.S. state, and more than half of the adult population has received at least one shot. Although more than 209 million doses have been administered, universal eligibility comes with challenges, with some experts concerned that certain vulnerable people, including individuals 65 and older, may have difficulty competing for vaccines. Roughly a fifth of that population have not received even a single dose, including residents of long-term care communities, which have represented more than a third of overall U.S. coronavirus deaths for much of the pandemic. University of Florida epidemiologist Cindy A. Prins cautioned that high-risk people who had been eligible for a vaccine for months but had not received one might have trouble gaining access due to the rollout of universal eligibility. She said making more younger people eligible could prompt states and counties to open more mass vaccination sites, but those sites might be intimidating or uncomfortable for older people. Moreover, some older adults could be waiting until their regular physicians or other healthcare providers can inoculate them. Michigan State University's Debra Furr-Holden sees universal eligibility as undermining vaccination for all Americans, creating a prioritized class of applicants that excludes the most vulnerable, like seniors and people of color.