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1\\ Ok, I have to do a thread on vaccine distribution, because it is just so insane
As everyone knows by now, governments around the world are paralyzed by vaccine logistics
Who should get it? In what order?
Does age trump race? Does profession trump health?
As everyone knows by now, governments around the world are paralyzed by vaccine logistics
Who should get it? In what order?
Does age trump race? Does profession trump health?
2\\ What is enabling this political paralysis is the illusion, universally held by Very Decent People, that if we don't distribute in accordance with Equity (undefined bullshit word), then various needy people will be Priced Out, and Inequality Will Increase!
3\\ Now, let's take a giant step back
This vaccine costs somewhere between $3 & $40 per dose
NOBODY in the US for whom COVID is an existential thread cannot afford this
The average welfare recipient's cable bill is 2x the cost of this vaccine
ANYONE who wants it can afford it
This vaccine costs somewhere between $3 & $40 per dose
NOBODY in the US for whom COVID is an existential thread cannot afford this
The average welfare recipient's cable bill is 2x the cost of this vaccine
ANYONE who wants it can afford it
4\\ So why isn't the obvious answer for Amazon and Walmart and whoever else to set up shop selling vaccines on a first-come, first-serve basis?
It's how we distribute food, and food is FAR more important than vaccines
And food is so plentiful that our poorest citizens are fat
It's how we distribute food, and food is FAR more important than vaccines
And food is so plentiful that our poorest citizens are fat
5\\ The answer is that there is no answer. Long ago COVID was politicized, and once you politicize healthcare, it's like trying to get the glitter off of dogshit.
You can't.
You can't.
6\\ There's a lesson here, of course. The reason you never, ever, ever want government involved in allocating resources is because politics paralyzes
People hate tradeoffs, and politicians get elected by pretending that there are no tradeoffs
"User pays" is political suicide
People hate tradeoffs, and politicians get elected by pretending that there are no tradeoffs
"User pays" is political suicide
7\\ Which is a shame. The beauty of markets is that they use prices to elicit distributed knowledge
80yo but already had COVID? You don't buy it
18yo but uncontrolled diabetes? You cash in your Gamestop credits to buy it
Prices economize resources
80yo but already had COVID? You don't buy it
18yo but uncontrolled diabetes? You cash in your Gamestop credits to buy it
Prices economize resources
8\\ My only hope is that a few of you who watched gov bungle COVID science will now watch gov bungle vaccine distribution and conclude:
"Hey, maybe gov shouldn't be involved at all in healthcare. Or in education. Or in telecom. Or in housing..."
"Hey, maybe gov shouldn't be involved at all in healthcare. Or in education. Or in telecom. Or in housing..."
9\\ PS: my comment about food distribution wasn't rhetorical
Various govs through history have announced that food is "too important to leave to markets" and taken it upon themselves to distribute it
Which led without fail to...famine
And just so with vaccine distribution
Various govs through history have announced that food is "too important to leave to markets" and taken it upon themselves to distribute it
Which led without fail to...famine
And just so with vaccine distribution
