United States: vaccination campaign is behind schedule
A Covid-19 vaccination center in New York, January 28, 2021. AFP - ANGELA WEISS
By: Loubna Anaki Follow
4 min
In the United States, there are more than 25.5 million cases of coronavirus.
And while Joe Biden has pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans by the end of his first 100 days in the White House, vaccination continues to experience delays in the country.
In New York, several sites have been set up to accommodate eligible people, but the city may soon run out of resources.
Publicity
In front of the largest vaccination site in Brooklyn, there are not many people this morning.
Visits are only by appointment and you must belong to the categories concerned.
James Pierce works in a pharmacy and has just received his first dose of the vaccine: “
I was extremely happy to get the
vaccine
.
This is probably the most important vaccine I have had in my life and I can't wait to have my second dose.
"
A joy shared by Kelsey Julani who had to wait several days before finding an available appointment.
“
I am so happy, I can't wait!
I'll feel a lot safer afterwards.
"
She herself says she had the Coronavirus 3 months ago and took several weeks to recover: “
This pandemic has had serious consequences on our lives and I just want it to be over.
"
Since the start of the operation, New York City has vaccinated more than 650,000 people, starting with medical personnel.
Danish Ahmad is a doctor in a Manhattan hospital.
For him, as for his colleagues, the arrival of the vaccine is a relief.
“
I couldn't be happier.
And I think what surprised me the most was the feeling of relief after having my vaccine.
I think we all carry this fear with us to the hospital.
Are we going to get sick?
Are we going to infect our parents or loved ones?
"
After having lived through a difficult period last year, when New York was the global epicenter of the pandemic ... Danish Ahmad hopes that the vaccination will make it possible to start a way out of the crisis and while waiting to be able, at least, to cope to the dreaded second wave.
Today, New York records more than 5,000 new cases per day.
“
We talk about it with my colleagues and we wonder if we will succeed in crossing a new wave.
And frankly, there is a lot of fear.
I don't think people have recovered from what they have been through, the long hours of work and the stress.
I think we're all holding our breath dreading the next wave like the one we experienced.
"
To speed up the operation, two New York stadiums, including that of the Yankees, had to be transformed into a site of mass vaccination.
But their opening has been postponed as authorities could soon face a vaccine shortage.
For the mayor, the situation is becoming urgent.
“
We just don't have any more vaccines.
I need hundreds of thousands of doses this week alone.
"
Bill De Blasio says he is counting on Joe Biden's determination to better manage the health crisis.
He estimates that with the necessary means, New York City could immunize half a million people per week.
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