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Like certain celebrities, the “vaccine” does not need a first name or modifier. Data from both Pfizer and Moderna have shown their COVID-19 vaccines to be nearly 95% effective in preventing disease in people who received two doses, thus earning a green light from the Food and Drug Administration. Other vaccines in clinical trials also are showing promising results. Although vaccine doses have been distributed to all states, limited quantities will force states to prioritize those who should get the first doses.

The good news toward the end of 2020 was the emergency approval of two COVID-19 vaccines. Like certain celebrities, the “vaccine” did not need a first name or modifier. Everyone heard of the promising data coming out of Pfizer and Moderna, showing the vaccines to be about 95% effective against preventing COVID-19 in people who received two doses. Other vaccines also showed promising results, and the Food and Drug Administration has already given emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Many Americans and healthcare workers have doubts and skepticism about the first vaccines for COVID-19, despite the need for a rapid end to the pandemic surge that began to overflow hospitals before the December holidays. “The truth is that healthcare workers are not immune from vaccine hesitancy,” says Tinglong Dai, PhD, associate professor of operations management and business analytics at Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School in Baltimore. “It’s a phenomenon with real public health impacts.”

It was early Dec. 23 when 100 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Baltimore County, and by evening half had been given to health department workers and half to first responders. About 3,400 more Moderna doses arrived a week later, and 6,825 Pfizer doses arrived after that. They have not all been used, though appointments are scheduled to use many of them. “People have to understand, I can’t now just open a clinic and hope I get vaccine,” said Dr. Gregory Branch, the county health officer. “I have to plan once I know how much vaccine I’m getting.”

It's been three weeks since the COVID-19 vaccines began arriving at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Operation Warp Speed—the U.S. vaccination development, testing, and distribution effort—had made 20 million vaccine doses available by the end of 2020. Yet the U.S. is only approaching 5.5 million vaccines administered so far. Public health experts, policymakers, and the leaders of Operation Warp Speed agree: The U.S. must pick up the pace of vaccination.