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Large swaths of the country are already vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine.ย This includes exactlyย 61% of the US populationย which is currently vaccinated with at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.ย Currently, 14.6% of the US population is under the age of 12, whichย of course arenโt eligible forย vaccinations. This meansย 77.3% of the eligible American population has been vaccinated with at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Thatโs a number thatโs likely higher than youโve been conditioned to think is the case.ย Soย givenย that fewer than 23% of Americans eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine havenโt received one, how many of them are likely to be persuaded by the FDAโsย full approvalย of the Pfizer vaccine?
The most comprehensiveย study conducted on the topic came from the Kaiser Family Foundation. In their recent study, 31% of those not vaccinated said theyโd be willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine if the FDA granted full approval to a vaccine.ย If 22.7% of eligible Americans have yet to be vaccinated that equates to 6.9% of the US population.ย Iโm not sure whether thatโs a number that is as significant as the coverage over it would make it seem, but nevertheless, thatโd take us to 84.2% of the eligible population being vaccinated, should that occur.ย Thatโs a number thatโs well north of the alleged herd immunity thresholdย discussed and wouldย actually be among the highest rates in the world.ย
As always context is key, the rate of vaccinations for our total population sounds as high as it is because nearly 15% of our population not having a COVID-19 vaccination option.ย In context, the vaccination rates are relatively strong nationally, and even more so in Florida as ourย ratesย are above the national average. Over the next week or so weโll have a good idea of how many people wereย really justย waiting for a full ok from the FDA before obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination as opposed to those who were citing the lack of full authorization as an excuse to not obtain one.