CDC Notifies States, Large Cities To Prepare For Vaccine Distribution As Soon As Late October

[Jonfw2]

The simple answer is the state of CA is hoarding the vaccine under the guise of "equitable distribution."

Our county has to beg the state every week to give them more vaccine doses. They have numerous medical systems ready to administer vaccine but they can't get their hands on enough supply to set up appointments. It's all a huge cluster.

Yes- good intentions are destroying the opportunity for good results.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The simple answer is the state of CA is hoarding the vaccine under the guise of "equitable distribution."

Our county has to beg the state every week to give them more vaccine doses. They have numerous medical systems ready to administer vaccine but they can't get their hands on enough supply to set up appointments. It's all a huge cluster.

I'm 'liking' the post because you're explaining not for the end result

Hmm so for this are you meaning that basically the supply they have is being stretched too thin? By that I mean concentration is on getting it out to all of the state which is causing more populated areas to be shorted severely?

If so that's what's honestly happening in my state but it's not having the same impact (at least if I look at what my state is saying). I've come to the conclusion that my state the rural parts of the state have had the preference in number of doses. I say that because in 2 counties alone we have 38% of the state's population but we have gotten so few doses in relation to that and although we both have the most cases in the state we're not the worst in terms of cases/population suggesting that spread is at least being somewhat mitigated and at times decreasing overall in our areas.

I know the county that has the 2nd most population in my state they are toying with the idea of their next Phase NOT including 65+ but rather due to critical supply issues being 90+ and focusing on the absolute most vulnerable. On the other hand if they distributed the available doses too skewed towards the heavily populated areas the rural parts will never get any. So it's causing great frustration in my area because I'm in the large metro but it's allowing rural places the means to be protected. It may not be a popular opinion but because the more rural parts of my state are more resistant to measures put in place to reduce spread...well there may be something there. I can't get mad at them at the ability to vaccinate quicker the healthcare workers and LTC because they had more doses to begin with because at least some counties were sharing with other counties helping out and well we're all citizens of our state. It doesn't mean I don't get the frustration level and the desperation level.

But this may all be because we prioritized off of population instead of at least initially off of how many health care workers each state had and how many of those in LTC places each place had. My state wasn't dividing up the doses purely on healthcare worker shares because I don't think they could have. But maybe if the Federal government had considered distribution to be based on that initially at least for healthcare workers and LTC that might have evened out the impacts of distribution and actual process because each state would have gotten a more equitable amount to begin with based on the highest priority groups.

This next phase (whatever it's called to each place) is going to be a doozie of a one which may make states that were ahead on distribution numbers not so ahead anymore. I believe in the state next to me it accounts for 40% of their population and I believe in my state it's 30% though our phases do vary some in who is included and who isn't.

Back on topic with CA I remember their equitable distribution scheme for how bad or good they were doing in cases..I think that's what it was. Either way I don't remember this being the only time they've used equitable and it hasn't been working as smoothly as intended.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I understand that...it was an example. In my state, they put out a call for experienced healthcare workers (active or retired) to sign up for our “vaccinator army”. I did that days ago...haven’t heard back.

I know old comment but a news story circulated around my state about a county (only has something like 8,200 people in the whole county) all the nurses in the county's health department (which to be clear is just 4) who are refusing to give the vaccine (remember the discussion over healthcare workers and them having their own opinions..yeah this one is a prime example of that). They are now having to hire outside nurses to do the job..but hey if you're up for a trip we could use you there! (kidding but not kidding because it's irritating having having to hire outside help like that)

 

[Heigh-Ho]

I understand Florida is now requiring Florida residency to get vaccines here, to try and build up herd immunity in Florida.

Maybe they should have waited for non-residents for a bit. With such little supply give it to those who live in FL and let them have a chance, then when you have more and more supply you can open it up more.

 

[DLgal]

From what I understand, the state wants counties to set up Vaccine Super Sites and are withholding vaccine for those. However, in doing so, they are holding back doses from direct healthcare providers who stand ready and willing to vax their patients who fall into the qualifying tiers. We are also moving through our tiers WAY too slowly, seemingly wanting to get 100% of each tier done before moving to the next.

This isn't efficient, and would be like boarding a plane but making sure everyone in first class has boarded before you let anyone else do so. It's dumb and slows down the process.

I belong to 2 different health care systems as a patient. Both email me weekly with updates and they both say the same thing "we are waiting to get approval from the state for vaccine dose distribution to the general public." At this point, they have only been given enough to vax their employees.

Meanwhile, the ONE Super POD vaccine site in our county can only do 3,000 per day, because they only get enough vaccine weekly to do that many. There are 3 million residents in our county. The state prioritizes the PODs because they are set up to serve ANYONE, regardless of whether they have a healthcare provider or not. So, tying to be "equitable" but basically requiring people to navigate a plethora of website and app based registration and appointment scheduling drama, with wait lists and virtual queues and all that, which are definitely NOT accessible to the majority of people over 65 and especially not for those who don't have such basic things as internet access and smart phones.

Oh, and they were clever enough to set up the POD in one of Disnyelands unused surface lots, and had to close for 2 days last week due to high winds. These geniuses didn't set it up as a drive thru, but used tents. The days leading up to the high winds, temps were in the 90s. And 75+ year olds were standing in the elements for up to 2 hours. It is supposed to rain heavily next week, several days. Guess what will happen again?

And meanwhile, there is a GIANT parking structure right down the street at Disneyland that they could have easily used, which would have provided shelter AND lighting so they could operate regardless of the weather.

 

[snappy]

From what I understand, the state wants counties to set up Vaccine Super Sites and are withholding vaccine for those. However, in doing so, they are holding back doses from direct healthcare providers who stand ready and willing to vax their patients who fall into the qualifying tiers. We are also moving through our tiers WAY too slowly, seemingly wanting to get 100% of each tier done before moving to the next.

This isn't efficient, and would be like boarding a plane but making sure everyone in first class has boarded before you let anyone else do so. It's dumb and slows down the process.

I belong to 2 different health care systems as a patient. Both email me weekly with updates and they both say the same thing "we are waiting to get approval from the state for vaccine dose distribution to the general public." At this point, they have only been given enough to vax their employees.

Meanwhile, the ONE Super POD vaccine site in our county can only do 3,000 per day, because they only get enough vaccine weekly to do that many. There are 3 million residents in our county. The state prioritizes the PODs because they are set up to serve ANYONE, regardless of whether they have a healthcare provider or not. So, tying to be "equitable" but basically requiring people to navigate a plethora of website and app based registration and appointment scheduling drama, with wait lists and virtual queues and all that, which are definitely NOT accessible to the majority of people over 65 and especially not for those who don't have such basic things as internet access and smart phones.

Oh, and they were clever enough to set up the POD in one of Disnyelands unused surface lots, and had to close for 2 days last week due to high winds. These geniuses didn't set it up as a drive thru, but used tents. The days leading up to the high winds, temps were in the 90s. And 75+ year olds were standing in the elements for up to 2 hours. It is supposed to rain heavily next week, several days. Guess what will happen again?

And meanwhile, there is a GIANT parking structure right down the street at Disneyland that they could have easily used, which would have provided shelter AND lighting so they could operate regardless of the weather.

You have to wonder what the heck those in charge are thinking.

 

[DLgal]

You have to wonder what the heck those in charge are thinking.

I've been doing that for 10 months now. It's exhausting.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

From what I understand, the state wants counties to set up Vaccine Super Sites and are withholding vaccine for those. However, in doing so, they are holding back doses from direct healthcare providers who stand ready and willing to vax their patients who fall into the qualifying tiers. We are also moving through our tiers WAY too slowly, seemingly wanting to get 100% of each tier done before moving to the next.

This isn't efficient, and would be like boarding a plane but making sure everyone in first class has boarded before you let anyone else do so. It's dumb and slows down the process.

I belong to 2 different health care systems as a patient. Both email me weekly with updates and they both say the same thing "we are waiting to get approval from the state for vaccine dose distribution to the general public." At this point, they have only been given enough to vax their employees.

Meanwhile, the ONE Super POD vaccine site in our county can only do 3,000 per day, because they only get enough vaccine weekly to do that many. There are 3 million residents in our county. The state prioritizes the PODs because they are set up to serve ANYONE, regardless of whether they have a healthcare provider or not. So, tying to be "equitable" but basically requiring people to navigate a plethora of website and app based registration and appointment scheduling drama, with wait lists and virtual queues and all that, which are definitely NOT accessible to the majority of people over 65 and especially not for those who don't have such basic things as internet access and smart phones.

Oh, and they were clever enough to set up the POD in one of Disnyelands unused surface lots, and had to close for 2 days last week due to high winds. These geniuses didn't set it up as a drive thru, but used tents. The days leading up to the high winds, temps were in the 90s. And 75+ year olds were standing in the elements for up to 2 hours. It is supposed to rain heavily next week, several days. Guess what will happen again?

And meanwhile, there is a GIANT parking structure right down the street at Disneyland that they could have easily used, which would have provided shelter AND lighting so they could operate regardless of the weather.

Wow well okay...that def. sheds a lot of light on the situation.

In my state they advised "what's the point of opening mass vaccination sites without enough supply". The state health director is hesitant in doing that because supply isn't there yet. They won't stop a county from opening a site if they want to with the doses they are given I just haven't heard of anyone choosing to do that with what little supply they've gotten.

So CA is pushing heavy on mass vaccination sites but they are creating a situation where that's not realistic to do so when another avenue may be better suited (healthcare providers) with the given supply they have and when they do have the sites they aren't always in the "smartest" of places. That's the impression I'm getting from your explanation which makes sense here.

 

[RamblingMad]

Just saw a headline on my phone about CA taking until the summer to vaccinate all of their 65+ population. No idea if there is any truth to it, but it's sure to make people panic.

 

[bethbuchall]

We’ve been unblinded. As we suspected, my husband and I both received placebo initially. We’re scheduled to go in tomorrow morning to join the other arm of the study and receive the first dose of vaccine.

 

[Jonfw2]

We’ve been unblinded. As we suspected, my husband and I both received placebo initially. We’re scheduled to go in tomorrow morning to join the other arm of the study and receive the first dose of vaccine.

Congrats!

 

[Colleen27]

I agree! Florida is doing very well.

FL's approach, with its headline-grabbing long lines and campouts for doses, took a lot of heat early on, but I think there's something to be said for targeting motivated populations. They're not wasting time trying to reach people who don't want the vaccine or letting doses sit around while companies decide how to handle vaccinating their staff. A big part of what has slowed things down around me is the notion of vaccinating health workers, nursing home employees and other targeted groups first... only to find that many of them don't want to be vaccinated, which leaves doses sitting around as health systems debate how to increase uptake among their employees or what the best way is to distribute the doses they've received to groups outside of their organization. Meanwhile, people in the next level of priority - those 65+ - are scrambling for a vaccine appointment like it is a Rise of the Resistance boarding group in peak season.

Florida is doing really well but is actually about 10th in the country for percentage of population given at least one shot (5.2%) - a lot of smaller states like WV, ND, SD, CT, NM are at the top of the list with Alaska at the top (7.8% of their population has received at least one shot). DC is also high on the list. Alaska and DC also have the highest percentage of population having had both shots - both are at 1.5%. Florida is at 0.5% for two shots.

I'm not sure to what degree this applies to some of the other states on that list, but in Alaska, tribal health services are a big part of the reason for their success. A friend who is an Alaskan native has already been able to get her whole family, from her 80-something mother on down to her two young adult children, vaccinated through their tribal health clinic. Within the native community, at least in her (not particularly remote, by Alaskan standards, but certainly not urban) area, they're not being told to group based on age or health; they're being encouraged to come as family groups, which not only means tapping a greater number of interested people at a time but also seems like it would have a positive effect on overall participation and in second dose outreach. If similar programs are targeting tribal members in ND and SD, that may have a lot to do with their success in getting shots in arms quickly.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So kinda back to trials my area's Children's Mercy Hospital is NOT presently running a trail for children but is allowing parents to sign up their child into the their system so in the event Children's Mercy Hospital is given the green light to start studying vaccines on children they'll be ready to at least be contacting people seeing if they are still interested. They think if they get the green light in the next couple of weeks the actual trial could begin in March. The infectious disease director for the hospital thinks studying it may mean it's possible it prevents MIS-C though of course studying it is one way to figure this out.

 

[dvcgirl67]

FL's approach, with its headline-grabbing long lines and campouts for doses, took a lot of heat early on, but I think there's something to be said for targeting motivated populations. They're not wasting time trying to reach people who don't want the vaccine or letting doses sit around while companies decide how to handle vaccinating their staff. A big part of what has slowed things down around me is the notion of vaccinating health workers, nursing home employees and other targeted groups first... only to find that many of them don't want to be vaccinated, which leaves doses sitting around as health systems debate how to increase uptake among their employees or what the best way is to distribute the doses they've received to groups outside of their organization. Meanwhile, people in the next level of priority - those 65+ - are scrambling for a vaccine appointment like it is a Rise of the Resistance boarding group in peak season.

This is a really good point. As long as older folks who are either in long term care facilities, or homebound....are given the vaccine, I think it's an interesting idea to vaccinate those who are motivated to get the vaccine. I'd wait several hours in line to get a vaccine if I knew I wasn't jumping in front of anyone else. Vaccines sitting in the freezer for populations who are dithering over whether or not to get it...is definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.

 

[skeeter31]

Maybe they should have waited for non-residents for a bit. With such little supply give it to those who live in FL and let them have a chance, then when you have more and more supply you can open it up more.

But then Florida wouldn’t have been able to tout their numbers as the best of the initial states getting shots in peoples arms. But vaccinating out of staters (or even out of country-ers) they were able to artificially inflate their numbers.

 

[DLgal]

Just saw a headline on my phone about CA taking until the summer to vaccinate all of their 65+ population. No idea if there is any truth to it, but it's sure to make people panic.

Just read the same. Again, it is not necessary to vaccinate an entire demographic before moving on. Give demographics PRIORITY based on age and preexisting conditions, but also allow anyone else to get it at the same time.

Again, you don't hold up an entire plane for boarding because the last First Class passenger has still not boarded. It's a stupid, illogical plan.

 

[skeeter31]

Just saw a headline on my phone about CA taking until the summer to vaccinate all of their 65+ population. No idea if there is any truth to it, but it's sure to make people panic.

NY has stated the same. They’re looking at about 7 and a half months to vaccinate everyone in the current group, if supply remains the same as it is now. They’re getting about 95k doses a week and running out by Thursday or Friday every week.
https://www.newsday.com/news/health...virus-long-island-new-york-updates-1.50127027

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I know old comment but a news story circulated around my state about a county (only has something like 8,200 people in the whole county) all the nurses in the county's health department (which to be clear is just 4) who are refusing to give the vaccine (remember the discussion over healthcare workers and them having their own opinions..yeah this one is a prime example of that). They are now having to hire outside nurses to do the job..but hey if you're up for a trip we could use you there! (kidding but not kidding because it's irritating having having to hire outside help like that)

I hope they're looking for permanent replacements for those nurses who should no longer have a job.

 

[RamblingMad]

Just read the same. Again, it is not necessary to vaccinate an entire demographic before moving on. Give demographics PRIORITY based on age and preexisting conditions, but also allow anyone else to get it at the same time.

Again, you don't hold up an entire plane for boarding because the last First Class passenger has still not boarded. It's a stupid, illogical plan.

That's the population dying of COVID, so it makes sense to have them get the vaccine first. The problem is that not enough vaccines are being produced, which was not an unexpected problem. This is year two of COVID. Hopefully, by the fall we're in a better place.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Though Florida is doing well in some areas of the state, other areas are left scrambling. Our Governor came to our mostly senior area for a press conference in front of a tent area that promised to give 1000 vaccines a day to those 65 and over for the next 90 days. Within a week the tents were gone and they were out of vaccines.

At this point our county whose average age is over 65 has no vaccines available. Folks are traveling to other parts of the state to try and get vaccines. It is really stressing out those that really need it.

I understand Florida is now requiring Florida residency to get vaccines here, to try and build up herd immunity in Florida.

My local news didn't elaborate on this today. Are snowbirds from other countries still eligible for the vaccine? If so, that's like putting a bandaid on a bleeding major artery. Admittedly, my opinion may be biased by the fact that our area became much more crowed in early January. That usually happens in October or at the latest early November.

ETA: I have no problem with them being vaccinated as long they were accounted for in the allotment of vaccines Florida received based on population. That said, I have to wonder, if the federal government is willing to pay for vaccines for part time residents that don't pay federal taxes.