Our medical experts, our staff and facilities and equipment, cannot keep up.  People who are lined up for procedures like joint replacements, cancer interventions, and medical treatment for ailments that do not immediately threaten life have to get in line, sometimes for weeks and months. 
 
Does this mistreatment illustrate the state of American medicine today?  I hope not.
 
What to do?  Now is high time to triage the vaccinated for priority over those who took neither spare time nor little trouble to save the rest of us.  (Sure, give a month's deadline to get vaccinated, if we must.  And remember, there is a big difference between deciding not to get vaccinated and, say, being addicted to cigarettes.  Choosing who first gets treatment delays only those who have chosen to avoid vaccination.)   Yes, "explovid" is unfair, and no one is safe.  But three little pinpricks would help each of us to take responsibility for our collective future.
 
Doctors, hospitals, staff, equipment — we need to save you for what you do for us amazingly well.  Governor Mills, Dr. Shah, healthcare administrators and officials, please declare priority for the fully vaccinated!  Let those who don't care enough pay the price — not you and not us, we who have done our part to help us all!
 
George B. Terrien lives in Rockland