Health experts suggest 12 steps the Biden administration can take to improve vaccine rollout:

“Make a priority of getting vaccine first to medically underserved areas, such as communities of color and the poor.”

Graham Snyder

Co-leader of the vaccine rollout at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

On Wednesday, President-elect Joe Biden will assume responsibility for the largest vaccination campaign in American history, one that has so far fallen short of expectations.

Various health experts interviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggested steps the new administration can take to improve the process.

James McDeavitt, senior vice president and dean of clinical affairs at the Baylor College of Medicine:

▪ Every community should set a goal of reaching herd immunity by Labor Day, and should devise a plan to achieve the goal.

▪ The federal government needs to find out how much vaccine it will receive and manage expectations. Vaccinators can plan better if they receive a steady, predictable supply of vaccine rather than large shipments with little advance notice.

Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers:

▪ Instead of sending vaccine out to so many providers, states should increase efficiency by having larger centralized clinics run by the community public health departments.

▪ Devise a national campaign that gives states and individuals a better idea of how the process works and what to expect.

▪ Be more transparent about available doses. “Let’s be open about how many doses we expect each week, and if we don’t know, let’s say, ‘We don’t know,’ and explain why we don’t know.”

Graham Snyder, co-leader of the vaccine rollout at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center:

▪ It’s possible to do a mass vaccination campaign in a short period of time if the vaccinators know the supply of vaccine they can expect.

▪ Make a priority of getting vaccine first to medically underserved areas, such as communities of color and the poor.

▪ Invest more money in public health to help communities carry out vaccination campaigns.

Julie Morita, member of the COVID-19 Advisory Board, which is counseling President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team:

▪ It’s not enough for the federal government to focus resources on developing and making the vaccines. Resources and coordination must be devoted to distributing the vaccines.

▪ Provide local health departments with the money to hire the staff needed to carry out vaccinations and other aspects of the COVID-19 response.

Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group:

▪ States should call in retired doctors, nurses, dentists and others to assist at vaccination clinics.

Jeanette Kowalik, former Milwaukee health commissioner, now director of policy development at Trust for America’s Health:

▪ “Make sure people know where to get the vaccine. They shouldn’t feel like they’re on a scavenger hunt to find it.”

GETTY IMAGES COVID-19 vaccinations are underway across the U.S.