Central Planners Send Vaccines to Where the Seniors Ain't

Vaccines for flu, pneumonia, hepatitis, and other diseases are normally purchased and distributed efficiently by private physicians, drug stores and clinics. In the case of the Covid-19 vaccine, though, governments relied on central planning and long waiting lines.

Federal officials monopolized the purchase and distribution of vaccines which were sent to state governments, which micromanaged distribution of vaccines to their counties. Vaccines were then rationed by political preferences (such as defining some jobs as more essential than others) and by random luck after spending hours searching for an appointment.