On getting everyone vaccinated

So the US is hitting a wall in vaccine uptake. Practically everyone who wants one is getting one. But way too many have chosen not to get vaccinated.

Their choice is devastating to defeating this pandemic. Slow vaccine uptake will give the virus more opportunity to mutate. Mutations will mean we never achieve herd immunity.

That this issue has been politicized is deeply frustrating. I would have thought the Trump Republicans would have been celebrating the vaccine — didn’t President Trump claim to be responsible for it happening so quickly? But it is almost as if they are willing this process to fail, so as to gain the political advantage from that failure. (Each time I think cynicism can’t sink lower …)

But regardless, what we need now is an aggressive experiment to see what would get the reluctant to get vaccinated. Here are three experiments that we should launch immediately:

1. In one population, we explain to the public the need, but then mandate vaccinations for everyone. (Yes, there’s the emergency use limitation, etc., but let’s authorize an override and move forward.)
2. In another population, we pay people $100, cash, on the spot. They show up with an ID and a social security number, they go home vaccinated with a Ben Franklin in their pocket. (Yes, anyone who has already been vaccinated can also apply for the $100.)
3. In a third population, we inform the public that any vaccines not used by a certain date will be donated to Mexico and developing nations around the world, and no longer available to them.

I know which experiment I want to win. But regardless of which does, let’s just get this done.