Opinion: Well done, everyone: Vaccines were our last line of defence, but now our governments have bungled that as well

As of Thursday, just 36 million doses had been distributed nationwide, of which 17.2 million had been administered, i.e.

Thirty-six million doses delivered, you say.

Seventeen million administered.

Compare these to the corresponding figures for Canada, where fewer than one million doses have been distributed, and just over 700,000 administered.

Per capita, the United States has distributed – under Donald Trump, let us remember – more than four times as many doses as Canada, and administered nearly three times as many: five doses per 100 population, to our 1.8?

Israel may be an outlier, with more than 35 doses administered per 100 population – explicable, perhaps, in a country that is perpetually mobilized against invaders.

First, we were told that Canada had signed more deals with more suppliers for more doses, per capita, than any other country – enough to vaccinate everyone in the country several times over – as if having more doses than we need six months or a year from now could compensate for having fewer than we need today.

Pay enough early enough and you can lock up all the doses you need.

The provinces have administered nearly 80 per cent of doses received to date, on average – more than 90 per cent, in Ontario and Alberta – versus less than 50 per cent among their counterparts south of the border.

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This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff.

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