On the news, I keep hearing that shipped vaccines are not getting into arms quickly enough in the U.S. I'm not sure if this is an accurate narrative as we have limited visibility into those operations. Shipped vaccines may exceed administered vaccine by design. One reason is the fixed capacities of trucks and storage bins.
Others surmise that some people in front of the priority queue are refusing to take the vaccine, causing those doses to go to waste. I don't know if this is true either, but in this post, let's assume this is a problem.
It makes me think about how some popular NYC restaurants (used to) manage their waiting lists, which are priority queues. When you arrive at the restaurant, you put your name down on the list. If a table opens up, the next name is called. If your name is called, and you are not present, you lose your spot.
Here's the key: at some restaurants, if you lose your spot, you start over at the end of the line. If you show up 30 minutes after your name is called, you can't go back to the front of the line.
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This general idea is useful for managing priorities for vaccine distribution. It is also "fair" in the sense that if someone with high priority decides not to take advantage, then this spot can be passed to the next person in line but now there is a cost to the decision to opt out - the added delay.
Similarly, how do popular NYC restaurant handle no-shows? They may impose a penalty. At the time of reservation, they ask for a credit card number and disclose that a minimum charge will be assessed for no-shows.
A small number of places don't do advance bookings. You have to show up at particular times, and claim a spot. Then, you return when the table is ready. I'm sure the rate of no-shows goes way down. Admittedly, this policy has distractors - people who think their time is too valuable.
Late arrivals? You may end up at the back of the line. Some may allow a short grace period, say 10 minutes.
In all these situations, the restaurants make rules that influence our decision-making.
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