I am curious how this is being implemented in another states. Here in FL, anyone over 65 can get the vaccine...however, there are some problems:
1) Because of the wide age range for this first priority group (especially in a retirement state), demand greatly outstrips supply. So even if one is eligible, it's not that easy to get the first dose. Evidently, they are working on a statewide appointment system (couldn't this have been done in advance?), but right now, it's a mish-mash. Some counties are using phone appointments, some are online, some are using Event Brite, some folks are just walking up at the end of the day to see if there are any doses available.
2) Apparently, no residency is required (and yes, I am aware that it is a Federal program), but it seems that with no residency requirements, distribution will be out of whack). Again, this issue is more problematic here in FL, because of our large seasonal resident population. Our 65 and over population greatly increases in the winter. But people from other countries are also flying in just for the shot and the word is out...we have become a vaccine tourism destination.
3) No exceptions (yet) for those age-ineligible with compromised immune systems, pre-existing conditions, etc. My friend just finished her last chemo treatment for breast cancer and because she is not age eligible, she has not been able to get the vaccine.
The governor has announced a partnership with Publix and more vaccination sites will be available. That's great, but what good are more sites when the vaccine is not available? I am not age eligible yet...won't be till May...but I'll bet they will be still vaccinating this first group when my 65th birthday rolls around.
If I were in charge, I would have started with first responders, medical and 90 and up for the first group; then worked my way down the age ladder from there. This huge age range is causing a lot of frustration. I don't think people would mind waiting as much, if the approach had been more systematic, instead of this free-for-all.
Well, how's it going in your state?
Comments
Derf
We (my wife and I) were guessing that perhaps sometime around March or April we might be hearing something, perhaps through our doctor's offices. But to our complete surprise last week we both received notice that Sutter Health, the hospital chain that our doctors belong to, had scheduled both of us for our first shots, with an appointment towards the end of this month. A friend who is also a Sutter Health patient received a similar message.
The Sutter Health email also advised us that for the present the vaccines would not be available through the individual doctor's offices, but that all of the distribution would be through central hospital sites. That would seem to make a lot of sense, because Sutter has access to all of the centralized computer records of all patients, regardless of who the doctor is. That allows them to set priorities based on age, underlying conditions, and so forth.
How Sutter obtained the vaccine, and how much they obtained, I have no idea, but at least they seem to have some sort of coherent plan for distribution. Presumably they have already vaccinated their critical hospital staffs.
Personally, I think that critical service workers such as teachers and school staff should come before retired folks like us, so as to get the kids back in school and free their parents to return to their jobs as soon as possible, but then no one has asked us what we think.
If there are any changes in this info I'll update this post.
OJ
Right now the frontline workers (doctors, nurses, teachers, firemen and police) are in first group of Phase I. Nursing home and those over age of 65 are being vaccinated. You belong on this group. In addition working with your VA, you can also register with local pharmacies: Walgreen, CVS and Sav-On and call to check on availability weekly. Each state is trying to get enough vaccines to deliver them to the patience.
Hospital is the best bet since they have the proper cold storage equipments. We have relatives in Illinois who received their vaccines through their local pharmacy.
1a: healthcare workers and ancillary workers who provide transportation or clean hospital rooms and the like.
1b: People OF ALL AGES with comorbid and underlying conditions. Also, Adults aged 65 and older living in congregate orovercrowded settings.
Stage 2: K-12 teachers and staff. Workers in "critical industries." People in group homes or homeless shelters with physical or mental disabilities or in recovery, and staff. Jails, prisons and staff. Adults age 65+ not included above.
Stage 3: Adults, 18-22. Children 0-17. Workers "important to society" not included in 1 or 2, above, who are at increased risk. Then, "everyone in Hawaii not covered yet."
BUT, I've also seen this on the local Honolulu tv station website:
https://www.khon2.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/01/covid-timeline.jpg?w=800&h=800&crop=1
Here in Michigan, it's pretty much the same - demand outstripping supply. Wifey and I are 72 and signed up everywhere we can but everything is full at this time. It's a daily routine now - check the sites for availability. What is great news, is that the hospitals and frontline workers are getting their shots so this health care system is working.
Stay safe and wear the damn mask.
rono
I signed up for the covid-19 vaccination on our state’s web site on 1/9/2021.
On 1/18/2021we were notified by e-mail that we had been selected and I selected a couple of times, ½ hour increments, for the following Friday, 1/22/2021, yesterday.
The Moerna shots are given at the local Wal-Mart. They were on time. The lady said she gives 20 or so shots a day.
We have had no more side affects than a regular flu shot, slight soreness in the muscle near the injection site.
By the time we got home we had 2 e-mails from the state’s web site. The first told us that our 15 minute waiting period was over. The 2nd stated that our 2nd shot has been scheduled for 2/23/2021.
We are pleased with the efficiency of the program.
world-s-most-vaccinated-nation-struggles-with-new-virus-variants.
https://nytimes.com/2021/02/04/travel/coronavirus-vaccine-passports.html
Also,
Mixing vaccine cocktails:
britain-trial-to-test-combining-pfizer-and-astrazeneca-vaccines-in-two-shot-regimen
A vaccine milestone was also seen yesterday as the number of global inoculations surpassed the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.