To see the impact of the LTC program on the data, let's look at Michigan, a state I've followed closely. (Thread to follow)
Total doses distributed = 1.48 Million
Total doses administered = 909K
So that's 65%. But...
Note asterisk on the distribution number. 430K are set aside for the federal LTC program. Of those, just 100K have been administered.
State isn't directly controlling that supply, at least according to Michigan officials. It's in the hands of CVS/Walgreens, they say.
If you take out the LTC portion, then...
# of doses allocated to Michigan = 1.05M
# of doses distributed in Michigan = 809K
That's 75%
Caveats:
Data here and elsewhere may lag, especially for the LTC program.
So situation may actually be better ... or not.
One more note.... it's best not to get too hung up on these numbers per se.
We don't know for sure how reliable the data is and, relatively speaking, it's still early. Local and state officials learning to work through the glitches, more federal money will help a lot.
Mostly just looking to illustrate how nuanced this is -- and to give a sense of the sorts of problems the Biden team is trying to work through right now.
This exchange in particular deserves emphasis -- i.e., how the difficulty isn't any one thing.
So it's not supply or distribution. It's supply *and* distribution. With a different situation in every community. And conditions that will change with time.
Biden's strategy reflects this. It's got many small parts, no single one of which is a game-changer. But together they add up.
Or, at least, we hope they add up. The test will be execution.
One thing to put these ideas on a piece of paper. Another to put them into action.
There's a lot going on this week, I know, but want to draw your attention to a pair of new books that are quite relevant to what's been happening in U.S. politics -- and where we could go in the next few years. (1)
It's a history of the filibuster and how it has contributed to gridlock and widespread disillusionment with politics. (2)
I especially liked the focus on John Calhoun, who promoted the idea of a "minority veto" to protect Southern slave states.
I'm a bit of a Calhoun obsessive and -- like @jbouie -- think it's a straight line from his arguments to the dynamics of today. (3) nytimes.com/interactive/20…
Few quick thoughts on the Biden rescue plan and vaccines.
The basic approach tracks with what experts have been outlining -- more money and support for states, training new workers, etc. (1) huffpost.com/entry/biden-ec…
The campaign has promised more details, to go with another speech, on Friday. Hoping for more details then.
There's a call for mass clinics, for example, and that's great. Does that mean backstopping states? Running them directly? If so, how? (2) huffpost.com/entry/biden-ec…
Likewise, the campaign goal of 100 million doses over 100 days would represent an improvement over the current pace. But it doesn't appear to be nearly enough to get to herd immunity by summer.