Experts say that a successful mass vaccination campaign in the United States requires targeted preparation.

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As Americans are about to receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination, experts across the public health system on Wednesday specific to ensure that the vaccine is distributed most equitably and effectively. We encouraged you to take preparatory action.

“So far, there have been very promising and promising results from current vaccine trials,” said Anita Cisero, Deputy Director of the Johns Hopkins Health and Security Center. “But we recognize that there are gaps and challenges that can affect the fair distribution of vaccines.”

On December 9th, Cicero gave a webinar on “Pandemic Mass Immunization Campaign: Challenges and Opportunities During COVID-19” announced by Johns Hopkins Center and Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparation and Health Safety. I moderated it.

According to Cicero, panelists during the event, which attracted more than 800 online participants, will implement a mass immunization program in the United States and at the local, state and national levels to maximize effectiveness and equity. Focused on related issues and opportunities. Administration of approved COVID-19 vaccine.

“Over the past few months, we’ve learned a lot about preparing for a pandemic … and we know we need to get the vaccine right,” said Senator Co-Chair Cindy Hyde-Smith. R-MS) said. Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparation and Health Safety.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), co-chair of another steering committee, acknowledged the skepticism that exists among Americans who are reluctant to take rapidly manufactured vaccines. .. “We need to find a better way to assure tens of millions of Americans about the effectiveness of the vaccine,” he said. Coronaviruses are more prevalent than whites, especially among rural residents and those living in high-risk communities such as blacks and Latina.

One way to get ready is for panelist Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Philadelphia-based Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, to improve communication about vaccines as a prerequisite for vaccination.

For example, stop “persuading, coercing, and forcing” people in vulnerable communities to vaccinate, especially against “tangible people” such as pastors, doctors, and other trusted people. Switch to “Listen, educate, and remain transparent.” Stanford University has said black community leaders who need to advocate why people should be vaccinated.

Panelist Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Public Health Service (IDPH), also agreed. “Even with the best logistical plans … without the weapons motivated to launch the vaccine, we can’t reach our goals,” she said. “We need to expand our communication lines while respecting different perspectives on vaccination.”

Ejike also agreed that Americans do not currently trust both the federal government and rapidly developed vaccines. Therefore, she said it is important for vaccine providers to be educated on how to promote their vaccines and to address their questions and hesitations regarding vaccines. Otherwise, their skepticism would reach patients and decide to oppose vaccination, then spread their skepticism to friends and family and “reduce vaccination efforts,” Ejike said. Stated.

Similarly, panelist Michael Fraser, Executive Director of the State and Territory Health Officials Association (ASTHO), said that safety communication and safety communication were two major barriers to successful administration of approved vaccines to Americans. He mentioned encouraging vaccination and fair distribution.

“In a country as big as us … we call it the last mile or last inch problem,” Fraser said, and unlike the UK, this week a large amount of COVID-19 vaccine through intensive care. We have started an inoculation campaign. Systems — The United States has public and private “distributed” healthcare systems that can differ between states, and in some cases within the same state or even within the same city. He said this situation would make it more difficult to ensure that the approved vaccines were given fairly and effectively.

Successful vaccine distribution in the future, according to Fraser, requires the inclusion of a unified operational structure so that all citizens can see how the vaccine will be distributed in their area. there is. Such configurations include, for example, how to share information and data at all levels of state, provincial, territorial, tribal government, civilian, and healthcare systems, and how to expand public health capabilities now. Must be included. To ensure that the US vaccine campaign is successful everywhere.

And it takes a fair amount of work to support such a large scale-up. This also means that Congress will have to invest a significant amount of money to make that happen, Fraser said.

His group ASTHO, along with the Association of Immunization Administrators, recently approved at least $ 8.4 billion for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to federal lawmakers and $ 500 million for seasonal flu surgery in the next emergency supplementary funding package. I requested.

“These funds are urgently needed to expand and strengthen the capabilities of federal, state, provincial, territorial and tribal areas for a timely, comprehensive and equitable vaccine distribution campaign,” Congress said. The leader of the organization wrote in a letter sent to him on October 15th. “This funding request reflects new information from clinical trials of the vaccine, current public health agency priorities, and the need to increase public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign this summer. It is important to note that it has been updated from the quote provided at the beginning of. ”

Fraser called the federal endowment “absolutely important” in order to effectively distribute the vaccine to everyone. “To sustain the process, we need a sustainable investment,” he said.

During the webinar, US Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), co-chair of another Steering Committee, added: If you don’t ask now a question that reflects what happened, what you need to do, what is important, and what you should set now for the future, you will fail. “