Because the rate of vaccination is still supply-limited at the moment. If everyone who would have received the J&J vaccine could get a safer alternative in the same time frame this might make sense. But they can't, so it doesn't. Do the math. It is all but certain that more people will die as a result of this pause than without it, even if you assume a worst-case clotting risk scenario under the current data.
I only know my corner of the globe well. In this area, vaccine appointments are pretty easy to get and everyone 16+ is eligible. It certainly looks like any delay caused by this would be minimal.
What part of the country are you in? And what counts as "pretty easy to get"? In California, the most populous state, people under 50 are not generally even eligible to try to get an appointment for another two days. I don't know how it is in other states, but I don't think this is unusual.
That the vaccination rate is supply-limited is manifest in the fact that less than a third of the U.S. population has been vaccinated at all.
Yes, there are places where there are vaccine surpluses, but this is not because the supply isn't the limiting factor. It's because in some rural areas there are large numbers of vaccine denialists who are choosing to forego the vaccine altogether. That leaves some localized surpluses. But overall supply is still the limiting factor, and it will continue to be until everyone who wants a vaccine can get one without having to wait.
South Carolina -- availability varies, but most parts of the state have at least some appointments and they seem to be becoming more readily available.
> there are large numbers of vaccine denialists who are choosing to forego the vaccine altogether. That leaves some localized surpluses.
The people that do not want the vaccine are a part of why. There are different reasons for this, with some just wanting others to get a chance first. But noone is going to force people to take it.
Its also really unfair to characterize this as "rural areas" with "large numbers of vaccine denialists". We have urban areas with vaccines available and rural areas with full appointment books.
Be careful to click through to the actual pharmacies, though. It is often out of date with actual availability being lower than indicated. Our state has also been running mobile events that have generally not been fully booked.
I'm in no hurry personally, but I'm not seeing where it would be difficult to get for me.
> It is often out of date with actual availability being lower than indicated
My experience with VF was the exact opposite: it was showing lots of availability where in fact there was none.
But the burden of proof is still on you: what urban areas in the U.S. has good vaccine availability? By which I mean: anyone who wants one can get one same-or-next day.
