@Anastasis, the modeling that you're referencing, while informative, is pretty basic stuff. I don't think that the model, or you yourself, have all of the data you need to conclude that prioritizing first shots over getting both shots to people is the right move.
From what I saw, the model is a pretty straightforward model that assumes a couple of things:
- Getting shots in arms faster will bend the curve faster (which is basically undeniable)
- The first shot removes ~0.5 people from the risk pool (50% efficacy number), and the second shot removes 0.4 people (90% efficacy for the two shot routine).
If you just look at it that way, then yeah, getting shots in arms is going to bend the curve faster, which is what the study showed. Simple math is simple.
The problem is that the analysis is also missing some things:
- The real-time Israel data shows anywhere from 33-60% effectiveness after the first shot. If It's only 33% vs 90%, then it's a different story. The answer is we just don't know.
- It doesn't account for who the shot is going to. Let's use our 50%/90% numbers. When looking at how much risk of death will be removed from the board, giving a second shot to an 85 year old is more than 50 times more impactful than giving a first shot to a 45 year old.
So just looking at a dual bar chart that shows first shots bending the curve down faster doesn't tell the whole story. If the goal is to reduce the curve so we can all go to bars and parties sooner, then yeah, definitely just give the first shots out to everyone. If the goal is to reduce death and severe illness, then it's not as clear.
I think you probably already know this, but you're making value judgements on what New York is doing without all of the information you need to do it. Which, as others have said, makes the whole thing look political.