State
health officials want to reach herd immunity within six months when it comes to
combating COVID-19, but how can that happen if the supply of vaccines is only
trickling into New Jersey.
Rutgers
Epidemiologist Dr. Stanley Weiss says the blame for the slow operation, and
ultimately lack of vaccines, falls directly on the federal government.
Dr.
Weiss says the feds also failed by leaving states on their own when it comes to
the logistics of mass vaccination. New Jersey is
still only receiving 100,000 doses per week. Dr. Weiss says it must all move
faster because there is another threat at large.
“Right
now, when we have rampant spread of this virus, the chance for a new variant to
come about increases,” says Dr. Weiss.
Dr.
Weiss says Washington also needs to find a way to fund states for the
operation, which is relying in large part on volunteers.
Some
medical groups and ShopRite have said they're not taking any more appointments
because they don't have vaccines to give.