State needs to change course on vaccines

It’s not hard to understand the reasoning behind Gov. Ned Lamont’s rethinking of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out announced this week. It’s much easier to go by age and ignore most other factors, including disability, comorbities and front-line worker status. The state has moved relatively efficiently through the oldest cohort, so it stands to reason that would continue as the rest of the population is vaccinated.

But easier is not the same as better. Complicated or not, the state has erred in changing its vaccine guidelines, and the result will be more people placed at greater risk for a longer time. The governor needs to reverse course.

The outcry has already been loud. This week has seen advocates for people with disabilities arguing, rightfully, that they should be prioritized over people who are older but have no underlying conditions that put them at higher risk in the event of a COVID infection.

At the same time, after nearly a year of thanks offered to previously overlooked front-line workers including grocery store clerks and shelf stockers, that praise has been revealed as hollow. A chance to offer legitimate thanks in the form of a vaccine prioritization, rather than mere words, was tossed aside. People in those jobs are asking — again, rightfully — what all the talk of the past year was really worth.

There are difficult questions that would need to be asked in a system based on factors beyond age. Who counts as a front-line worker? What disabilities or conditions should put someone at the front of the line? Answering those questions takes time, which slows the process for everyone, including those most at risk. It’s much more efficient to consider only age.

But that solution is belied by the state’s prioritization of teachers. Few would question their status as front-line workers, and getting schools open must be among our top priorities as a state. And, indeed, teachers will be in a special class that will see vaccines early regardless of age. Why is it possible for them but not others?

Teachers are represented by powerful, politically connected unions that have fought for their members’ wellbeing. That’s what they’re supposed to do. But the same consideration should not be denied to those who lack effective representation at the state Capitol.

Connecticut is one of the highest-ranked states in terms of percentage of the population to receive a COVID vaccine. There’s a lot to proud of, and we need to continue to ensure that available doses are delivered to as many people as possible. But maintaining that national standing is not a reason to change course.

We need to understand that prioritization is not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be the most straightforward path. There’s good reasoning behind the Lamont administration’s change. But that doesn’t make it the best choice. If there are hard questions, then we need to answer them, publicly and transparently.

We are just starting to see a possibility of a post-COVID future. We need to get there fairly and equitably. This is not the time to emphasize speed over doing the right thing.