I've just been reading some Covid-19 vaccination figures for France and for the U.S. My impression was that a much larger percentage of Americans have been vaccinated at this point compared to the percentage of French people vaccinated. Here's what I've seen:
As of 5 April, 9.3 million French people have had at least the first shot (including Walt and me). That represents 14% of the population (18% of the adult population). More than 3 million in France have had both shots now.
The goal in France is to have a total of 15 million people get the first shot by 15 April. Authorities predict that goal will be met, and probably early.
Here's the perimeter we are confined to now and for the rest of April at least, according to maps made available on the internet by the French government and other mapping sites. The circle on the map represents a 10 km (6 mi) ring around our house just west of Saint-Aignan:
Enlarge the map by "unpinching it" or clicking on it a couple of times.
Nearby towns including Montrichard, Valençay, Selles-sur-Cher, Romorantin, Blois and Tours are outside the circle. Actually, Romorantin, Blois, and Tours are all three more than 30 kilometers from our house, and we can't even request special permission to travel that distance. Within the circle on the map, we are required to carry a document that proves our address (a utility bill) when we go out so that the gendarmes, if they stop us, can verify that we are obeying the rules. There are two supermarkets, many wineries, and maybe 8 or 10 bakeries within our circle.
Meanwhile, here are some statistics for the U.S.:
According to an NPR web page updated yesterday, 32.4% of Americans have had at least the first shot now, and 18.8% have had both shots. In more than 20 states, more than 20% of the people have had both shots and are considered to be fully vaccinated.
State-by-state figures show about 25% have had the first shot in the states with the lowest rates (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee...) and as many as 42% have had the first shot in the states with the highest rates (New Hampshire, New Mexico, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, for example).
In half of the 50 states between 30% and 36% of the people have had the first shot. For example: Florida 30.5%, North Carolina 31%, California 32%, New York 34%, Illinois 34.5%. Those five states combined have a population of 100 million people. France's population is between 65 and 70 million.
If you live in the U.S., you are probably more up to date about vaccination rates over there than I am. I just saw a report saying that Canada is again suffering from high infection rates, and that the province of Ontario may soon go into a new lock-down.
P.S. Our outdoor thermometer reads +1.1ºC this morning, which is slightly colder than yesterday at this hour, but not below freezing. We are being warned that we might have snow flurries or cold rain/sleet showers this morning, and it's snowing up in Normandy, about 150 miles north of us.
In the US, deplorables, a.k.a antivax, are everywhere, but in greater proportion in red states. So, there is probably a difference between Texas and New York, or Alabama and Connecticut. Red versus Blue.
ReplyDeleteTexas's fully vaccinated percentage is 16.1% and the partially vaccinated is 28.5%. The numbers for N.C. are 18.2% and 31.1%. For Virginia, 19.5% and 34.9%. Alabama's are 14.5% and 25.5%.
DeleteTen kilometres is much more generous than our five kilometre limit was when we were locked down, although we could breach it for shops that weren't within the limit, say a large discount electrical store. Some even had to travel more the the limit for the nearest supermarket. It's a rhetorical question but what do Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee have in common.
ReplyDeleteSee CHM's comment above. There are more anti-vaxers (Trump supporters, evangelicals) in the Southeastern states. They believe that vaccination causes autism and other bad conditions in children and that it is their constitutional right to refuse to be vaccinated. They don't trust the recommendations of government officials and agencies.
DeleteI was surprised, too, by the numbers when I read them recently. Knowing so many Americans who have already been vaccinated, I assumed the numbers were much greater. When we're confined here (other than complete lockdown), limits are based on municipalities. Fortunately, the police were reasonable about it since you could cross a tiny street in town and be in the next municipality. I so look forward to hearing about our first shots.
ReplyDeleteOur confined distance-restriction is calculated in as-the-crow-flies terms. Actually we can go farther from home — 30 kms — as long as we fill out, sign, date, and check the right boxes on a sworn statement explaining why we need to go so far from home.
DeleteI am scheduled for my second dose on Saturday morning, J has had both. I spoke with a colleague yesterday who live in another state, she discovered that a two hour drive to a county with a lot of anti-vax nutters, she could an appointment the next day.
ReplyDeleteWell, the vaccine availability is much better in just the past week or two, here, plus they have opened up more and more categories of adults qualifying for the vaccine, so numbers are picking up. By April 15, all adults over 18 or 19 will be eligible to get on line for a vaccine-- in Missouri, we are at 16+, and I have several students who have already gotten their first dose. Also affecting our numbers, is the fact that we have the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is only one dose, so large numbers of people went into the "fully vaccinated" category recently... around here, anyway. Your Astra Zeneca vaccine has a much longer wait between doses (3 months, right? vs 3-4 weeks with Pfizer and Moderna, here), meaning it will take much longer for people in France to be considered fully vaccinated. In any case, it's only very recently -- the past 2 weeks, maybe -- that availability of the vaccines, has really picked up.
ReplyDeleteOne question I've been meaning to remember to ask — how much does it cost to get vaccinated in the U.S., or is it free? Here in France it is free, so far, as long as you are in good standing with the Sécurité Sociale... which we are.
DeleteVaccines are free in USA, but insurance is noted. I don't know anyone who doesn't want the vaccine. The deplorables want it also! Alabama just lifted their mask rule, but most businesses still require masks.
DeleteAs Judy noted, the numbers of vaccinated people in the US is climbing rapidly now. Ontario, Canada went into a 28 day lockdown on the Friday before Easter, according to several of my relatives who live there.
ReplyDeleteI was yelled at the other day by a man NOT wearing a mask because I WAS wearing a mask!
Not surprizing in Florida, I understand.
DeleteWhen you consider that the entire effort started from a dead stop less than three months ago, it's remarkable progress to set up distribution centers nationwide, get staffers and volunteers, disseminate the information. I read a news piece earlier today that said the vaccine existed early last year, about the time the first alarms were being sounded, but hadn't yet been tested. Had normal pandemic protocols been followed then, much of the ensuing pain and upheaval and death and disaster might have been avoided.
ReplyDeleteIt's human nature to think, when something eagerly anticipated is available, that it should all resolve the problem immediately. "I want it now!!" We've managed to hang in there this long, I figure another few weeks isn't much of a burden.