BODY MASS BLUNDER
The long-awaited Covid-19 vaccines have arrived, and countries have started inoculating their citizens. But while hesitant Filipinos are not so excited of getting a shot, Americans seemed to be in a hurry to be immunized.
The supply of Covid-19 vaccines is still limited, so the United States government’s policy is to prioritize vaccinating the most vulnerable population or senior citizens. But some non-seniors are too eager to get a jab to the point of cutting in the long line of people scheduled for vaccination.
On 17 February, two “old” ladies were turned away at the Orange County Convention Center, one of the vaccination sites in Florida, despite having valid vaccination cards. The center only accommodates citizens who are 65 and older.
Workers at the center noticed the birth dates of Olga Monroy-Ramirez and Martha Monroy on their driver’s licenses did not match with those in the record. Apparently, the two women had altered their years of birth on the registration.
The staff at the center also noticed they did not look old and wore bonnets, gloves and glasses as a disguise. True enough, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office later discovered Monroy-Ramirez is 34 and Monroy is 44. Both are not yet eligible for vaccination.
In the UK, vaccination eligibility is not based on age but on weight. British health authorities decided that obese people are more likely to suffer from a severe bout of Covid-19 infection, so they should be the first ones to receive the vaccine.
Liverpool resident Liam Thorp, 32, got listed for vaccination as his vital stats placed him at very high risk of serious infection. Thorp is 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighs 245 pounds. The numbers translate to a body mass index (BMI) of 31.5.
A person with a BMI of 30 and above is considered obese. However, Thorp is passing on the opportunity to be immunized because his record with the health department had a typo.
Thorp’s 6-foot-2 frame was listed as centimeters, resulting in an outrageous BMI of 28,000.
Even at a BMI of 31.5, Thorp does not want to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this early. He believes his slot should best be given to a more at-risk person.