It's Booster Time ... For Everyone?? Now??

I recently wrote about the CDC's new ridiculous mask plan, which recommended indoor masking based on areas of high transmission. The plan was both unworkable as well as useless as a public health measure. (This problem "took care of itself," since almost all of the US is now an area of high transmission.) 

Now we're entering Confusionville once again because (and you could see this coming) of a CDC announcement [my emphasis] regarding who is eligible for a third shot. 

CDC recommends people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after the initial 2 doses.

CDC/HSS, 8/18/21

The problem is obvious. Who is "moderately to severely immunocompromised," and how is this determined? While the initial FDA announcement on August 12th specified that additional shots be made available to "solid organ transplant recipients or those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise," this has now morphed into a system that is nebulous, arbitrary, and easy to "game." 

But is it fair to say "game?" Probably not. Of course, some people who are perfectly healthy will just check a box so they are able to jump the line, but if you ask 100 Americans what a weakened immune system is you'll get 101 different answers. 

But it's far worse than this. Below is one of the questions you must answer when signing up with CVS online. And it's not just CVS (1). 

Source: CVS.com/coronavirus

All you have to do is say that you don't know whether you're immune-compromised and you'll get an appointment. Seriously, this is a policy?

But it gets even worse. Then I tried this...

And was still able to get an appointment!

Let me know if I'm wrong, but my interpretation of the new policy is that you're eligible for a booster shot if you are immunocompromised, are not immunocompromised, or don't know whether you're immunocompromised. 

Is it a gigantic surprise that people don't entirely trust the advice coming from our public health officials? 

NOTES:

(1) I also checked Walgreens (NY and NJ) and Rite Aid. Walgreens had no health criteria for an appointment. Rite Aid didn't seem to know that you could get a third shot. They would only let me book my second, which I had 6 months ago. Perhaps they need to change the name to Wrong Aid.

(2) I did not make two appointments. I stopped here. In utter amazement.