Recent efforts to boost COVID vaccinations via lotteries will likely create a few days of increased activity, followed by the resumption of the downward trend. See that attached chart of vaccination counts in Ohio. There's a management/policy/marketing lesson in this. (Note: The recent uptick in nation-wide vaccination counts is being driven by the 12-17 age segment). Promotions generate short-term activity. I have been asked many times to estimate the long-range financial im

Between congressional and federal reserve actions we have spent more dollars fighting COVID-19 than it would have taken to balance the Medicare Part A Trust Fund for the remainder of this century. The April 2020 Trustee report indicated that in the year 2026, Medicare Part A will no longer be self-sustaining. At that point taxes will have to be raised or benefits cut. Congress has already authorized $5.9 trillion to fight COVID-19. Federal Reserve actions have incurred trilli

The main differentiator of who's not getting vaccinated isn't politics. It's age. Over 80% of those over 65 have received one dose. For those aged 40-49, it's 52%, and the growth is slowing. I'd be surprised if it gets to 60% before the summer. 18-29? It may flatten before it gets to 40-45%. We have to face the fact our vaccination program isn't going to get us to "herd immunity," which should have been expected all along. Anyone in marketing or economics knows that incentive