Improving U.S. vaccination & hospitalization data pave the way to resume elective surgeries. Nearly all reporting focuses on total population rather than the critical sub-set that makes up the majority of Covid hospitalizations.
Another factor is even if a hospital is able to do elective surgeries, their surgeons and support staffs may have been re-assigned to administer vaccines rather than perform surgeries. Now that major players like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens join the vaccination effort, along with training and large vaccination sites opening up, that will free up surgeons and their support staff to return to the operating rooms.
These current calculations show 68% of those Aged 65 and Over have been vaccinated to some degree. Contrast that with “
Across the U.S., 11.2 doses have been administered for every 100 people” – Bloomberg 2/4.
36.7 million US vaccinations given as of 2/4/2021, reference Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Tracker.
(14.8 M) received 2x jabs (7.4 M x 2). 17% FULLY VACCINATED (14.8/43.0 aged 65 and over).
21.9 M received 1x jab. 51% PARTIALLY VACCINATED (21.9/43.0).
17% + 51 % = 68% vaccinated to some degree.
~43 M aged 65 and over, reference Wiki U.S. demographics.
(7.4 M) received 2x jabs.
35.6 M sub-total aged 65 and over.
(21.9) M received 1x jab.
13.7 remaining aged 65 and over. 32% NOT VACCINATED.
The trend is very encouraging even though the figures are not perfect. Some will not be vaccinated for whatever reason, perhaps by choice, yet the vaccines will move on to others in the upper age groups and to those in lower age groups at increased risk due to comorbidities. On balance still looking very good trend wise, at least in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the 510(k) for general surgeries was submitted >180 days ago and the average FDA 510(k) clearance is 177 days. TransEnterix stated this category represents the highest volume and value procedures. Therefore, decision makers at budget starved hospitals will likely view the 510(k) clearance as key to their on-boarding the Senhance Surgical System across their facilities.
[
https://www.emergobyul.com/resources/research/fda-510k-review-times-research HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET
FDA 510(k)
CLEARANCE Some highlights from the March 2017 analysis:
FDA 510(k) submissions cleared in 2016: 2,957. PDF also shows data from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, plus data back to 1976!
Average time to get a
510(k) cleared in 2016: 177 days. PDF also shows five year trend plus timeframes for Special and Abbreviated. ]