Global group with privileges emerges amid pandemic even on Tinder

The coronavirus vaccine has brought hope to the world for a collective exit from the pandemic. Although its implementation is slow, it is the only effective measure to prevent the spread of the virus in the long term and a relief for those most at risk of the disease – health workers – and those at greatest risk. to suffer seriously. complications – the elderly and people with risk factors.

However, delays in distribution in many countries and individual ventilation, among other situations, mean that vaccination is not carried out as rationally as it has been advertised. Those with more resources skip the line and they begin to form a new privileged status: the immune.

This is what the New York Times defined as a “New privileged class”, which includes not only those expected – those most in need of the vaccine – but also trial participants who will be prioritized to receive the first doses once the vaccine has cleared, celebrities, and those who do vaccine tourism, people who “by chance” are in the right place at the right time or those who have an advantage depending on their location.

Privileges? Of course, the most obvious and important is immunity against the coronavirus. But the benefits go much further.

Tinder and the immune passport

Almost a year after the first case of the coronavirus reached Argentina, dating apps, such as Tinder, Bumble and OkCupid, have reported a significant increase in the number of times users mention the words. “Vaccinated” and “vaccinated” in their profile descriptions.

Added to this is the tendency to post selfies on the same networks receiving the vaccine or to add stickers of “I have already been vaccinated” profile photos: everything to be more eligible on the Internet, at a time when deciding between matching or rejecting a potential candidate takes less than five seconds.

OkCupid raised the bar. Earlier in the pandemic, he added questions related to social distancing like “what’s your ideal virtual date?” Now he added another one: “Will you get the Covid-19 vaccine?” which users can answer “yes” (72% of people), “no” (9%), “not sure” (16%) or “I have already done it” (3%).

There are those who suggest that even in working networks, having the coronavirus vaccine may imply an advantage when competing for a position. For example, to occupy a teaching position or the like.

In another line, Israel to sign agreement with Greece to travel vaccinated, a sort of “green passport”, through which countries will make mutual recognition of vaccination certificates. Although the country chaired by Benjamin Netanyahu has the most advanced vaccination campaign in the world, with more than a third of its 9.3 million people who have already received the first dose of the vaccine, faces a national quarantine for the number of cases of contagion which does not give way.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has already positioned itself in favor of these new vaccination passports, as have the prime ministers and presidents of Denmark, Cyprus, Poland, Belgium, Estonia and Spain. Last year, economies dependent on tourism saw their main source of income affected and airlines are making fewer and fewer flights.

Luxury tourism with vaccine included

In early January, the British club selected “Knightsbridge Circle” – whose membership is around $ 34,200 per month – has kicked off the most controversial vacation program in the entire pandemic: three weeks in the United Arab Emirates to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The proposal targeted people over 65, which was an advantage over the vaccination campaign in the UK, where the minimum age is 70 and distribution is 100% public. The Covid-19 vaccine cannot be purchased from pharmacies or health centers on the islands, as it is only available free of charge and through the public health service (NHS) to eligible groups.

The “Knightsbridge Circle” package included, for the sum of 55 thousand dollars, the PCR test before the trip, flights to Dubai by private jet or first class commercial plane, a dose of the formula of Pfizer o Sinopharm in a clinic and stay in a luxury hotel for 21 days to enjoy the sun and beaches, as well as other uncovered tourist attractions, such as desert walks.

Soon, the moral debate took hold on social media. Some users criticized the fact that the privileged sectors were deceiving the official phased vaccination system: a rich man could be immunized in front of a hospital intensivist, at the front line of contagion risks. On the other hand, they positively pointed out that initiatives of this type could decompress the public health system, reduce costs and speed up delays.

The impact was such that on January 22 the organization announced a second package of $ 10,000, which only included the application of the vaccine in Dubai and the transfer to and from the airport, for people without a membership. at the club that respected the minimum. required age or had pre-existing conditions. The UAE government visited the crossing point and at the end of January clarified that only citizens and residents can be vaccinated in the country.

Yanina Latorre and the trip to vaccinate her mother

“I didn’t do anything illegal”Yanina Latorre defended herself from Miami, after spreading in mid-January that her mother, Dora Caamaño (80), had administered the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Media reported that she was on vacation on the beaches in that city, when a friend told her that the United States had administered the vaccine to anyone over 65 who walked on the ground.

Regarding the people who questioned her, she assured: “It must be a spiteful person like when someone from Bolivia or Peru goes to have an operation and people complain. Anyone in Argentina can operate and study in public universities and this is seen as a matter of resentment. “

She’s not the only celebrity to have traveled to obtain a vaccine request. Lawyer Ana Rosenfeld, known for representing Marcelo Tinelli in all of their divorces, and other international celebrities, as well as thousands of tourists, have also traveled to Florida to receive the vaccine. According to data from the Florida Department of Health, which began requiring proof of residency to authorize the vaccine, on Jan.21 of more than 1.1 million doses of covid-19 vaccine already applied in that southern state, over 39,000 were received by non-residents.

The stages in Argentina

In Argentina, the vaccination campaign is similar to the British campaign in terms of phased development and the role of public administration. “The vaccine will be provided by the national state to all those who make up the defined target population, regardless of health coverage and nationality,” establishes the Strategic Vaccination Plan against Covid-19.

Vaccination is voluntary, does not depend on the history of the disease and consists of six stages:

• Step 1: Health workforce (staging according to activity risk stratification)

• Stage 2: Adults 70 years of age and over / Seniors residing in long-term homes

• Stage 3: Adults 60 to 69 years old

• Step 4: Armed forces, security personnel and prison services

• Stage 5: Adults aged 18 to 59 at risk

• Step 6: Teaching and non-teaching staff (initial, primary and secondary)

• Finally, they will follow: other strategic populations defined by the jurisdictions and the availability of doses

For this, 54,431,000 doses will be necessary, which – after considering a loss of 15% – will be enough to vaccinate between 23,000,000 and 24,000,000 people. So far, Argentina has received three shipments of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, which requires two applications. This was for a total of 820 thousand doses.

Moria Casán and a cast with geographical differences

Of course, each jurisdiction makes a difference when it tailors the plan to local needs. For example, while in the city of Buenos Aires, teachers will still have to wait to receive the vaccine, in the province of Buenos Aires, Governor Axel Kicillof announced that once the vaccination of those working in the field of health completed, teachers with previous illnesses enter the second stage of vaccination with older adults also with previous illnesses.

Added to this is the way in which vaccines are distributed among social groups. On February 2, the city of Buenos Aires launched a vaccination program at the River club for independent healthcare professionals, such as clinical physicians, psychologists and healthcare professionals who work in legal fields. The complaint of the health professionals who frequent the guards was not long in coming.

“Public hospitals are the first line of care against Covid-19”, argued the Association of Municipal Doctors of the city, which accuses the lack of doses for its associates and qualifies the distribution of doses as “unfair” by not having not stratified them due to the risk of exposure to the virus among medical personnel.

Finally, there is the group that will receive the vaccine in the first row without being in any of the groups of the six stages. His “los de casualidad”, como el caso de una periodista de New York Post de 26 años, que contó que estaba haciendo una nota en un hospital, cuando le ofrecieron aplicarse la vacuna porque alguien había cancelado su turno y la dosis se iba a spoil.

Or also the hundred “recognized people“Which one, as announced by Kicillof, will receive the vaccine as part of a marketing strategy to encourage more people to join the official list.” Moria Casán said she had been asked for the vaccine, but the Province still says the “famous” plan will not start yet.

There is also the debate on politicians. The city’s head of government, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, has not yet been vaccinated, despite requests from colleagues, including Kicillof. From the Buenos Aires executive, they argue that he will not do so because he does not belong to the groups foreseen in the early stages of the vaccination program established by the national health ministry. Pro-government Senator Mariano Recalde accused him of campaigning against vaccines and infecting others.

GS