vaccination

[hardee]

Yes, So much to be grateful for. Every morning, a sunrise, being able to get up, stand and motate around the house. I have a 90+ year old friend who says that when he wakes, he checks. "Yes, it hurts here there and every where. Oh great, I am still alive." There are very many who go to bed one night and don't wake up the next morning. Yes, we have much to be thankful for.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[gulfcoast john]

We were lucky and blessed enough to both get our second dose vaccine today in the basement basketball court of a medium size church. It went as quickly and efficiently as possible, in and out in 40 minutes from appointment time including the 15 min post shot wait for the 1 in a million anaphylaxis reaction.

The current bottleneck seems to be unreliable allocations by the Feds of vaccine to the states, then to the counties, which must ‘hold back’ a second 21 day (Pfizer) or 28 day (Moderna) booster dose or risk giving a ‘second dose’ appointment as required but then shrugging and saying, ‘sorry, we know the FDA standards but we didn’t abide by them. Tough for you.’ Not gonna happen.

This too will pass as millions more doses get poured into the logistics pipelines quickly. The single dose Johnson shot will greatly simplify logistics with no need for holdbacks.

We both had an RN give our shots. An RN and Pharm tech were drawing up doses. An RN was completing the shot cards with Lot numbers. All these pros are NOT doing their day jobs.

We need massive drive through stadiums giving 10,000-50,000 shots a day, not 1,000. I’m thinking that giving a standard shot in the deltoid (arm) could be trained to most anyone in an 8 hour course (including giving saline shots to each other) for min wage. One RN could oversee 10 ‘vaccinator’ grads easy.


Otherwise, only licensed pharm, nurses, LPN’s etc can jab your arm.

You may be surprised to learn that as a retired RN with 40 years experience and a Red Cross volunteer, Eileen could not volunteer to give the shots (nor I, as a retired MD). We would have to spend thousands of bucks to re-activate our FL licenses, and it would take many Boat Units and 6 months to get our CME back up to date. By then it may be over. Is that the wisest way to cure this issue?

I am never one who wants to drive down the competency of any medical provider, but we would support a program to certify trained ‘vaccinators’ even if not a currently licensed pro.

We hope you would too, at least until the pandemic is under better control.

I now admit that my jest last year predicting a ‘baby boom’ under lockdown was 100% wrong. I hope my concerns here are also 100% wrong! Like you, we both want the best for our nation.

It’s absolutely amazing how the flu has been decimated by simple handwashing and social distancing (it’s not affected by the covid vaccine).

Hang in there, and do your part !

John

 

[colbysmith]

I'm a really big wus about needles and blood. I really prefer an active RN (even over a doctor, lol) or experienced lab tech to be sticking me with a needle. (Maybe why no tatoos or piercings! :lol: ) But I do agree, it doesn't make much sense to expect an already overworked system to be burdened with this exercise as well. Colby

 

[hardee]

Agree with John and Colby. In WA we do have Fire Medics, Paramedics and Pharmacists doing shots too. I can't really say who was drawing, but I know I go my shot from Shelly, and RN, and I told her if it wasn't for Covid I would be giving her a big Hug. Her response, "If it wasn't for Coved I would be so glad to be getting that hug."

Just heard the Fred Meyer pharmacies are doing shots now too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[thataway]

We got our second Mordena vaccinations today. We were a little early (8:30 apt, got there at 8:15. There was a line outside in the rain. With the first shot we had no line at the same time. We think that many came early because of a fear that the vaccinations would run out. (They had plenty)

I spoke with the Public Health Director who said one of the problems they were having is that the phone calls being sent out didn't have a public health coller ID, so many were not picking up the calls, thinking they might be spam, instead of the good news that your time has come up on the list.

She also said that the country was gong to start a full time vaccination facility, instead of relying of grocery stores and off hours at Public Health. After we got in the building, things were well organized and went very quickly.

As of today about 15% of our county population over 18 years of age has received vaccines....but there are some persons who are out of the state who have been vaccinated here. The lady in front of us today stated she had been driving all night to get here..(I didn't ask where she came from--but it was her second vaccination). There is no check on ID, although the governor had stated that only Florida Residents could get Vaccinations in the state.

Be healthy.

 

[RobLL]

Here is Washington it is still difficult to get an appt if you are not computer literate and also a little lucky. But better than 2 weeks ago. I do wonder why you cannot simply call your primary care person clinic and have them do the scheduling. Federal funds could even be made available for the expense, it likely wouldn't be over $10 per person. Old folks understand they should be getting the shot but don't know how to schedule or the phone numbers are so busy they aren't taking calls. What a set up for high and unhealthy stress.

 

[TyBoo]

Last I checked the Clatsop County, Oregon, vaccine schedule my age group is anticipated to start early this month with the status listed as TBD. The five previous phases are listed as In Progress.

 

[Hunkydory]

Here is Washington it is still difficult to get an appt if you are not computer literate and also a little lucky. But better than 2 weeks ago. I do wonder why you cannot simply call your primary care person clinic and have them do the scheduling. Federal funds could even be made available for the expense, it likely wouldn't be over $10 per person. Old folks understand they should be getting the shot but don't know how to schedule or the phone numbers are so busy they aren't taking calls. What a set up for high and unhealthy stress.

That’s just what we did here in the small town of Cokeville, Wyoming, except for the clinic here in town being our secondary care, as only a physician assistant is in residence on a couple days a week schedule. Our primary care is in a larger town with hospital & clinic connected. By doing just as you suggested except with it being secondary, the entire process couldn’t have gone smoother or less time consuming for us.

 

[bobjarrard]

We live in Clark County in the state of Nevada. But more importantly, we live in a small town on the edge of Sin City - here the local fire department and the park and rec department together with our town hospital are covering the whole shebang. if you pay taxes locally, you should get services locally. No reason that your local library cannot figure out how to book appointments and get folks thru the lobby. Thank you Boulder City, Nevada not only for doing a great job on COVID-19 vaccinations but also on having a municipal drive up no appointment no fee 3 hour results anti-body test available. Another reason why we are Kalifornia Refugees!!! Bob Jarrard

 

[dotnmarty]

Tomorrow I will get my second Fauci Ouchi at the Seattle VA. Looking forward to it.

 

[hardee]

Tomorrow I will get my second Fauci Ouchi at the Seattle VA. Looking forward to it.

Marty, Great. Glad for you. I get my #2 on Sat morning.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[localboy]

Got my first one on Jan 26th. Wife got hers that week too. I got Pfizer/BioNTech; she got Moderna. I had no symptoms, not even a sore arm. The Shingrix (shingles) vaccine was way worse. Admiral had arm pain but nothing else.

I go for the booster this coming Sunday. Admiral goes the next day. We shall see what happens.

For those that don't know, I'm a patrol sergeant, so I got in under "first responders" category 1B. Wife is an RN at a local hospital.

 

[hardee]

Mark, Glad you two got your shots. The after effects vary person to person and between the two vaccines. I was supposed to get my #2 Last Sat, but That shot clinic was cancelled due to "inclement" weather -- ha, we got nothing, maybe 2 inches total over the weekend. So, I get to go get in line tonight for #2 tomorrow. Can hardly wait.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[localboy]

Yes, Harvey I have been reading of various adverse effects, but none too serious that would make me reconsider. Seems to vary person to person. I did not question getting vaccinated as I suffer from asthma and have my entire life. Risk vs benefit and all. I take the yearly flu vac and am trying to keep up to date on all the others; shingles, pneumonia etc. I realize nothing in life is without risk.

One of my co-workers had both Moderna and had a painful injection site on #1. Then same with swelling, low grade fever and chills and body/head aches with #2. Lasted only about 48 hours he said.

Hope your wait is not long and you eventually get to the front of the line. :wink:

 

[thataway]

So, I get to go get in line tonight for #2 tomorrow. Can hardly wait.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Harvey, that is incredible that you were not givein a specific time slot for your booster dose of the vaccine, and will have to wait in line! Good luck on getting in quickly!

I had a little bit more sore arm and mild malaise with joint aches etc the day after the booster, but that could just be old age!

 

[hardee]

My understanding of the "reactions" is that it means there was really some vaccine in the injection and the body is waking up to the bug and getting ready to fight it :!: Yeaaa For Sure. :thup :thup

As to the line up, I'm glad to do that, better than not getting anything and we are way ahead of most of the country. Our appointment slot, is 09 to 1500, guaranteed to get the second shot during that slot, BUT, there was one half day cancelled, and a full second day closed, both due to weather, and then Tues is a "guaranteed second shot" day.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Barry Rietz]

Has anyone discovered any additional benefits the vaccine might provide beyond reducing the severity of the disease requiring a ventilator and hospitalization?

 

[thataway]

Has anyone discovered any additional benefits the vaccine might provide beyond reducing the severity of the disease requiring a ventilator and hospitalization?

The vaccine prevents disease. Even those not requiring hospitalization and ventilation (of the two types) have had prolonged (Maybe permeant) sequelae such as neurological symptoms, cardiac disease, and pulmonary damage. The vaccine also helps to decrease the spread of the virus. What we don't know is how much immunity the various vaccines will give to mutations of this virus. We don't know how long immunity from each of the vaccine types will last.

I would not be surprised if yearly vaccinations were going to be required for a very long time.

We do know that in certain individuals, including ones with an active infection or who have high immunity from a prior infection some individuals have a risk of severe reaction to some of the vaccines. Also there have been a couple of cases of severely decreased platelets, including 2 known deaths. Cause and effect have not been proven. I have a chronically low platelet count, and had no decrease of platelets after the two doses of vaccine.

 

[robhwa]

Has anyone discovered any additional benefits the vaccine might provide beyond reducing the severity of the disease requiring a ventilator and hospitalization?

Addiitonal benefits...
1) Euphoria that the pandemic might eventually end
2) Better health through not worrying (as much) about the possibility of being infected or infecting others
3) The possibility that my mother might be able to celebrate her 90th birthday with family in June, at least some of us
4) the remote possibility of biking in Europe this Fall, rescheduled from Fall 2020
5) excitement about restarting my Appalachian trail hike, aborted in North Carolina April, 2020
6) the possibility of charter fishing out of Westport or Neah Bay again
7) thicker, fuller-bodied hair...oh, that may be my new shampoo

downsides....

1) I doubt I'll ever have as nice a garden as I did in 2020 again

 

[Barry Rietz]

Love your "wish-list" Rob. Mine includes some overseas travel and other "bucket-list" activities to include the "C-Brat gatherings"! Hopefully, the new "variants" will not circle round to bite us you know where! Here is a late update from Mayoclinic:

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/disc ... nd-spread/