Waiting is not something people are interested in and the coronavirus pandemic has made us all wait much longer than we would have expected for things to get back to normal. A combination of a new vaccine and people losing patience has led to things opening back up like theme parks, sporting events and so forth. The first wave of shots has been distributed around the country as seniors and healthcare workers patiently wait for their shots to protect them from the virus. However, there’s a group of people who are stuck in limbo and it’s the same group that’s usually in a similar place when it comes to Medicare. 

People between the ages of 60 and 64 are constantly in flux when it comes to healthcare as they get close to retirement and have to begin paying for health insurance themselves. Their age and any medical conditions prevent them from finding affordable coverage. It’s a period where advisors are usually challenged to assist clients as they are not eligible for government assistance programs like Medicare, but no longer work for a place that offers medical benefits. 

As people in this age group wait patiently for the vaccine they have to keep a couple of things in mind. First, the number of shots distributed is actually misleading. For example, if Florida receives one million doses that’s actually only enough for half a million as each person needs two shots. The other issue is that two shots will be given to people who are eligible first before the new age groups can start getting their vaccine. That means ten million doses doesn’t exactly cover the number of people in front of you. 

It’s going to take time and the best hope for a quicker solution is if other manufacturers are able to get their versions of the vaccine approved so that the availability goes up significantly. This product cannot be rushed and people will have to be patient and practice the main ways to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus including wearing a mask, washing hands, social distancing and taking vitamins to strengthen your immune system. These efforts will still have to be practiced once you get the vaccine to ensure that you also do not give the virus to anyone else.