Delayed Arizona Covid Booster Shots Endanger Citizens

AB: Yesterday. Both Jan and I decided we would go to Walgreens (Arizona) to get our Covid inoculation. We are both over 65 and supposedly were eligible. Jan called one Walgreens to find out if they had the Pfizer vaccine. She was told we can not get inoculated without a prescription.

So, we called and the doctor first heard of this requirement and are not sure of what to do. Imagine writing a hundred or so prescriptions?

“Prescription hurdles slow Arizona’s COVID booster rollout,” FOX 10 Phoenix

AB: This smells of the dumbass Robert Kennedy Jr. The backstory:

The issue stems from a lack of formal recommendations from a key federal committee, which impacts who can get the shot and how they can pay for it.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has narrowed eligibility for the latest booster to people 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions.

However, under Arizona state law, pharmacists cannot administer vaccines like the COVID-19 booster until the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) formally recommends it.

Local perspective:

Mike a Valley businessman.: Is this going to be the cold that (at 70 years old) really incapacitates you? I don’t need that.”

Mike is 70, tried to get his shot on Sept. 8 but was turned away. He was told by his local pharmacy there was no state edict yet to cover that prescription.

Back to the ACIP

The ACIP committee is scheduled to meet at the end of next week, but some public health leaders fear recent changes to its membership could affect the vaccine schedule.

Will Humble, executive director of the AZ Public Health Association. DA: “Secretary Kennedy has gotten rid of all the people on that Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, which, ties into who pays for the vaccine, who can administer the vaccine. ”

“That group of people is now primarily populated by anti-vaccine evangelists, I guess you could say.”

‘We’re going to look at the options’

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs expressed her concerns about potential new guidance from the CDC.

“I’m certainly concerned about new guidance coming out around protections surrounding COVID,” Hobbs said. “And we’re going to look at the options we have to keep Arizonans safe.”

Will Humble noted the state could explore options such as creating its own vaccine schedule or using the Arizona Department of Insurance to mandate health plans cover vaccines recommended by the state’s own health department.

Meanwhile, Arizonans like Vukmir are worried about both access and cost. He has urged Hobbs to take action on the matter, saying,

“There are elderly seniors out here in Arizona that need to be vaccinated and this is a hold up right now.”

AB: This is what happens when people choose not to vote (yes, all three+ million of you). Let’s not forget the millions who voted for “others” as a protest because you did not like the candidates.

File this in Political Dumbasses in Government and their supporters.