Virus expert 'frustrated' by slow vaccine rollout

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Dr. Ashish Jha, the world renowned expert on the coronavirus pandemic, said he is frustrated by the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, but sees better days ahead.

Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, in a series of Twitter posts Monday blamed the federal government for neglecting to work with states on the final steps of getting vaccines to the people.

“Personally, I’m incredibly frustrated. Did we not know that vaccines were coming? Is vaccine administration a surprise?” he said.

The amount of vaccine doses shipped to states has been lower than initially expected.

“There appears to be no investment or plan in the last mile,” Jha wrote. “No effort from Feds to help states launch a real vaccination infrastructure. Did the Feds not know vaccines were coming? Shouldn’t planning around vaccination sites, etc not have happened in October or November?”

A coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress and signed into law Sunday by President Donald Trump, which includes $69 billion for vaccine distribution, gave him hope.

“After a slow ramp up, it’ll get better.”