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Comment by wcfields | Hacker News Reader

I may get downvoted for this, but genuinely curious if there's vaccine tourism (not that I'm in a position to get on a jet to get a shot).

Eg, if the wait time is long for my group in the US/UK/Wherever, can I book a flight to UAE or Cuba to get a vaccine at the airport?

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Sure, you think the 0.1% are just waiting for their phase to rollout?

I have to say though, if we were actually making them pay hard for that, I'd be ok with it ethically. You want to skip the line? Sure, that's 2 million+! Then give the money to the one that has to wait instead, but make sure not to allow a free market here to drive that price down. Just thinking.. there surely is an issue somewhere..

Yes! I am from the Indian Subcontinent, I know people who went back to the country to get the Oxford vaccine, because the rollout is great and it is "open season" over there already. Converse is also true- rich people who were doubtful about a vaccine manufactured in India booked came to US to get both Moderna and Pfizer shots.

How are folks from India able to get vaccine here? Is there someone selling it to the highest bidder?

No, they are being locally manufactured: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55748124

It's already the case, look at all the exceptions for the wealthy and powerful getting vaccines early, be that politicians, celebrities, athletes, connected individuals, and the numerous cases we each may know of. I won't say more but I do know a few personally who got the vaccine too early.

I don't think so. There's simply not excess vaccines to go around at this point. I imagine this might happen more in the future when a larger percentage of some nations are vaccinated.

> There's simply not excess vaccines to go around at this point.

I'm sure there are creative people out there who'll, say, put you on the staff list at a dentist's office so you're technically a "first responder". For a price, of course.

Definitely. A few famous people in Latin America were flying to Miami to get vaccinated, despite not living in Florida.

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