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A vaccine diary

Here's the news from the global pandemic.

A vaccine diary

The first Covid-19 vaccine began arriving in U.S. hospitals on Dec. 14.

Since then, almost 150 million doses have been administered and 29% of the population has received at least one shot. This remarkable achievement has come with challenges: disruptive winter weather, fragile websites, and elusive appointments. Many times, unfortunately, those at highest risk have been left behind.

Still, the numbers represent real-life stories of people starting to get their lives back, aided by Covid-19 immunization planners, packers, distributors and vaccinators.

In Randallstown, Maryland, pastors Michael and Phyllis Addison recently got their vaccinations after a month of searching and plan to share their experience with their congregation at Sunday service. They may soon host in-person worship.

"At one point, everything was closed down, you couldn't get an appointment," says Phyllis Addison. "And then all of a sudden, because of the availability of the shots, everything opened up."

Michael and Phyllis Addison

Photographer: Rosem Morton

In Marquette, Michigan, Ann Hilton Fisher, 72, was reunited with her 96-year-old mother who lives in an assisted living facility. She can now see her twice a day, every day, because they're both vaccinated.

"It's just like this huge load has lifted," Fisher says. "Part of that is the vaccination, but more of that is being able to be with her."

At the University of Iowa, intensive-care nurse practitioner Allison Wynes recounts her experience as one of the first Americans to get vaccinated, all in front of news cameras.

"I was just floating on air," she says.

These are the opening stories of Bloomberg's deep dive into the largest U.S. vaccination campaign in history, told through the eyes and ears of those on the ground: the people in the room at the White House for the first meeting on Covid-19 vaccines, others who sign for, package and ship vaccines, some who fight against misinformation, and still others overcoming their fears for the good of all.

From soldiers in Rhode Island vaccinating hundreds by the hour to strike teams reaching remote parts of the Navajo Nation, it's a mosaic of people coming together to reach the promised land of herd immunity.—Jill Shah, John Tozzi and Angelica LaVito

Track the vaccines

More Than 574 Million Shots Given

In the U.S. alone, the latest vaccination rate is 2,77 million doses per day, on average. At this pace, it will take another 4 months to cover 75% of the population. Get the latest here.

 

What you should read

China's Covid Rebound Boosts Economy 
Its recovery from the pandemic means it could eclipse the U.S. this decade.
Vaccines Embolden Buyers to Snap Up New Cars 
Inventory shortages are driving consumers to buy what they can.
Germany to Bar AstraZeneca Shot for Under 60s 
Development is fresh blow to mass campaign to inoculate people.
Real Estate Empire Risks Unraveling From Covid
Billionaire Rene Benko's business is dependent on rising valuations.
Equal Gender Pay Set Back a Generation by Virus
Report shows it could take 135 years for men and women to achieve parity.

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