[Goose]

But when it comes to the logistics and management of vaccine distribution, I believe we have drifted into the area of operations research, a wholly separate field of study, with its own mathematics and expertise. Solving problems that may seem difficult or even insuperable to a lawyer or doctor is the way some people make a pretty good living. With a product for which there is universal demand, and in the distribution of which most major institutions will cooperate completely, the problems are likely to be very easily solvable, for those who know how to approach them.

Point humbly taken.  Operations is indeed a whole different kettle of fish, and I don't mean to trivialize it.  I am still optimistic, but it is not an particularly informed optimism.

BC

I think the product development has been truly outstanding. Even more important, it appears the product works. As Fauci said, the developers have been both lucky and good.

I am glad the DOD is involved in the logistics of the distribution, as they have proven methodologies to accomplish this kind of task. I too am optimistic it will work out fine "in the end". I am a bit concerned about the number of decisions that are being made now, as these decisions do affect how distribution needs to be done. I also worry when you get many different organizations working together for the first time. That usually takes many "engineering readiness runs" to sort out. That may make December a bit rockier in operation than we would hope for, as unexpected problems can crop up. We will get through them, but I would be more calm about this if they had already published a plan that says what happens on D + 7 and had a few full-scale exercises to validate that plan. While the problems that crop up may be "easily solvable", it may take time, and that is what we want to avoid.

[Goose]

But when it comes to the logistics and management of vaccine distribution, I believe we have drifted into the area of operations research, a wholly separate field of study, with its own mathematics and expertise. Solving problems that may seem difficult or even insuperable to a lawyer or doctor is the way some people make a pretty good living. With a product for which there is universal demand, and in the distribution of which most major institutions will cooperate completely, the problems are likely to be very easily solvable, for those who know how to approach them.

Point humbly taken.  Operations is indeed a whole different kettle of fish, and I don't mean to trivialize it.  I am still optimistic, but it is not an particularly informed optimism.

BC

I think the product development has been truly outstanding. Even more important, it appears the product works. As Fauci said, the developers have been both lucky and good.

I am glad the DOD is involved in the logistics of the distribution, as they have proven methodologies to accomplish this kind of task. I too am optimistic it will work out fine "in the end". I am a bit concerned about the number of decisions that are being made now, as these decisions do affect how distribution needs to be done. I also worry when you get many different organizations working together for the first time. That usually takes many "engineering readiness runs" to sort out. That may make December a bit rockier in operation than we would hope for, as unexpected problems can crop up. We will get through them, but I would be more calm about this if they had already published a plan that says what happens on D + 7 and had a few full-scale exercises to validate that plan. While the problems that crop up may be "easily solvable", it may take time, and that is what we want to avoid.