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

[godisney14]

I was tested Saturday and it was easier than it has ever been. Of course, I am literally sick with symptoms that *could* have been covid. It's not, thankfully. Just some other virus making the rounds. I went to an urgent care and told them my symptoms (headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue). The doctor offered up a rapid test along with a strep test. I had both results in 15 minutes. I didn't even SEE the doctor. I sat in my car and talked to the doctor over the phone then walked around the back of the building to get swabbed and vitals taken. It only cost me my insurance copay. I'm glad to have contributed to the lower test positivity numbers for this week.

I never said you have to see a doctor to get a test. I said that a doctor has to approve of an order. Very different, and the billing codes used is entirely dependent on the provider’s office. Regardless, it’s still at least a copay and a doctor’s approval to get a test these days, whereas it used to be free last year up to some time. If we’re trying to do population surveillance, this shouldn’t be the case. (Also, besides the fact that there’s not enough genomic testing being done).
No follow-up after a negative rapid test?

 

[DLgal]

Wait. There are other viruses??

I know, right? So weird. My kids HAD to have brought it home from school (which is concerned considering the strict protocols there). I had literally only been out of the house once in the previous week and double mask when I go out.

A local friend of mind posted on FB that her whole family was sick but not with covid (they were all tested). I messaged her to ask what they had, because I started feeling bad Thursday afternoon and by Friday was full miserable with a sore throat. She told me their doctor said there is a nasty virus going around our area. The doctor I spoke to at the urgent care confirmed that and said "it's most likely an upper respiratory cold with a viral sore throat but I can order a covid test if you want."

Since my kids go to school and we have a number of upcoming routine appointments this week, I wanted wanted rule it out. I already feel mostly better. The sore throat is hanging on but I'm over the rest of it.

Still...it's pretty shocking how I managed to still get sick, given the circumstances. Makes me that much more eager to get the vaccine. Clearly my kids are a continuous threat.

 

[mom2rtk]

There’s also the fact that it’s more cumbersome to get tested now. Unless you can find a free community testing center, many insurance companies are no longer covering testing costs/deductibles/OOP unless necessary and ordered by a doctor. Of course, depending on how the provider’s office codes for that approval (if not actually seeing the patient), you could still end up with a Dr visit charge to get the test.

There are way more (free) testing events in my county than vaccination events.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There’s also the fact that it’s more cumbersome to get tested now. Unless you can find a free community testing center, many insurance companies are no longer covering testing costs/deductibles/OOP unless necessary and ordered by a doctor. Of course, depending on how the provider’s office codes for that approval (if not actually seeing the patient), you could still end up with a Dr visit charge to get the test.

Thankfully and I really mean it testing is easy right now. Every citizen in my state can get a free test at 170 sites spread out throughout the state and have been able to for months. Right now that's until March 31st. No insurance required heck not even an ID is officially required. I was so relieved to even see this happening in our state after so many months of awfully low testing availability. My county is also doing testing for free though if you have symptoms they request you go through your doctor first. It's for those who live OR work in the county.

I do think there are a few parts of my state not well covered with at least the main free testing for all citizens of the state so if you lived in this NW part of the state for example that may be harder to come by...then again that's very sparsely populated as is much of the state outside of a few areas and those few areas do have the free testing available.

I sorta hope though they extend the free testing at the state level but the state's emergency declaration runs out then at this moment so we'll see.

 

[DLgal]

No follow-up after a negative rapid test?

Nope. Given that there is a known virus in our area with the same symptoms and multiple people have tested negative, there is no need to follow up. Plus I was having symptoms at the time of the test and did NOT have a known covid exposure so the chances of a false negative are very low.

 

[Katiebird]

I never said you have to see a doctor to get a test. I said that a doctor has to approve of an order. Very different, and the billing codes used is entirely dependent on the provider’s office. Regardless, it’s still at least a copay and a doctor’s approval to get a test these days, whereas it used to be free last year up to some time. If we’re trying to do population surveillance, this shouldn’t be the case. (Also, besides the fact that there’s not enough genomic testing being done).
No follow-up after a negative rapid test?

Here we still have a bunch of free county testing sites, plus all the pharmacies are free. Then there are private urgent cares and testing clinics that charge. None of them require a drs order.

Heck my kids were tested at their well-child appointments just as a routine test, with no symptoms (voluntarily and optional, obviously).

 

[Pyotr]

Nope. Given that there is a known virus in our area with the same symptoms and multiple people have tested negative, there is no need to follow up. Plus I was having symptoms at the time of the test and did NOT have a known covid exposure so the chances of a false negative are very low.

Last month two people I know took a rapid test and PCR test at one of the state run sites in my area. The rapid test came back negative. The PCR tests came back positive. My mom had spent time with one of them in between results and had to quarantine. Luckily my mom already had one dose of the vaccine and never got sick.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And telling people they can't hug their grandchildren post vaccine (even waiting the appropriate time) isn't helping anyone.

One of the things that got me going "huh" was reading stories that said don't go to indoor dining and don't hug your relatives. Most of that stuff does seem aimed at elderly people and I can understand both the enhanced risk of those activities as opposed to not engaging in those activities and the assumption that they largely have been isolating. But for goodness sake it's just over the top IMO to say that kind of stuff. I'm fine with the masks even when you're vaccinated, people need to just buck up and deal with that for now until health officials give the go ahead for vaccinated people to not wear them but not hugging your grandkids who you haven't hugged in forever? Why not just stress mask wearing and awareness instead? I don't get that one at all.

 

[danissmart]

I know, right? So weird. My kids HAD to have brought it home from school (which is concerned considering the strict protocols there). I had literally only been out of the house once in the previous week and double mask when I go out.

A local friend of mind posted on FB that her whole family was sick but not with covid (they were all tested). I messaged her to ask what they had, because I started feeling bad Thursday afternoon and by Friday was full miserable with a sore throat. She told me their doctor said there is a nasty virus going around our area. The doctor I spoke to at the urgent care confirmed that and said "it's most likely an upper respiratory cold with a viral sore throat but I can order a covid test if you want."

Since my kids go to school and we have a number of upcoming routine appointments this week, I wanted wanted rule it out. I already feel mostly better. The sore throat is hanging on but I'm over the rest of it.

Still...it's pretty shocking how I managed to still get sick, given the circumstances. Makes me that much more eager to get the vaccine. Clearly my kids are a continuous threat.

Not shocking at all. We have a hundred years of evidence that viruses aren’t stopped by masks. That didn’t stop being true a year ago. Regardless of how our leaders have tried to lay the blame for a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus at our feet.

The more you know, and all that...

 

[danissmart]

Many states today announced expansion of availability.

Supply will start to outstrip demand in the next 4-6 weeks. Let’s see if the horrible messaging being foisted upon an already apprehensive public improves once that happens.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I just saw this article discussing the rural vs urban/suburban issues with vaccines. Seems like it's a big enough problem in other states where rural have more access. MO is featured in that article ironically.

https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_ne...e-5b90-8332-633680e4724a.html?block_id=991162

 

[Wakey]

Our data in the UK today is showing huge drops in hospitalisations and deaths due to vaccines.
Get your vaccines folks, I got mine last week, its how you get back to normal.

 

[lovethesun12]

I just saw this article discussing the rural vs urban/suburban issues with vaccines. Seems like it's a big enough problem in other states where rural have more access. MO is featured in that article ironically.

https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_ne...e-5b90-8332-633680e4724a.html?block_id=991162

Would rural areas have access to the same level of healthcare as urban areas though? I feel like that could be a really good reason why increased access in rural areas might be important. That said I am not from the US but I do know that's why here in some cases vaccinating in more rural areas is a priority.

 

[DLgal]

Last month two people I know took a rapid test and PCR test at one of the state run sites in my area. The rapid test came back negative. The PCR tests came back positive. My mom had spent time with one of them in between results and had to quarantine. Luckily my mom already had one dose of the vaccine and never got sick.

Well, I'm gonna trust the doctor on this one. She was fairly confident it is not Covid. I have no troubling symptoms like cough or shortness of breath or fever. My 02 saturation was 99 on Saturday and hasn't changed (I have a monitor at home). She only ordered the test because I basically asked for it. My husband has already been fully vaccinated and my kids are both healthy. I don't see anyone else outside the home on a regular basis. If it's Covid after all, oh well. I started feeling sick last Thursday and no one else in the house feels sick. If I suddenly take a turn and need to go to the hospital, I'm sure they will test me again.

My friend whose whole family had the same symptoms last week all took PCR tests and they were all negative. I just asked her.

 

[Pyotr]

48k new cases today. Lowest since October 18th.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Would rural areas have access to the same level of healthcare as urban areas though? I feel like that could be a really good reason why increased access in rural areas might be important. That said I am not from the US but I do know that's why here in some cases vaccinating in more rural areas is a priority.

Well that's sorta a loaded thing here. On the one hand yes rural areas often lack big hospitals and healthcare may not be the best of the best so you're not incorrect there. On the other hand health care workers were prioritized first (along with those in long-term care facilities) in much of the U.S. and often there are more health care workers in the more populated areas where there's been less vaccine sent in various states which the article did touch on.

Additionally urban and inner cities often have more minorities who have been disproportionately affected by COVID and not only that often do not have access to quality healthcare either. But to this point more states are trying to at least target more vulnerable populations. They needed to do this too when it came to COVID testing and health safety precautions at least they did in my area.

The article touches on some of the issues one of which being resistance in rural parts..that was something I've been saying for a while. Rural areas may be less likely to be willing to get a vaccine and are often less willing to comply with COVID restrictions or guidance so it's good there to get vaccines but the issue has been too much unequal access.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well that's sorta a loaded thing here. On the one hand yes rural areas often lack big hospitals and healthcare may not be the best of the best so you're not incorrect there. On the other hand health care workers were prioritized first (along with those in long-term care facilities) in much of the U.S. and often there are more health care workers in the more populated areas where there's been less vaccine sent in various states which the article did touch on.

Additionally urban and inner cities often have more minorities who have been disproportionately affected by COVID and not only that often do not have access to quality healthcare either. But to this point more states are trying to at least target more vulnerable populations. They needed to do this too when it came to COVID testing and health safety precautions at least they did in my area.

The article touches on some of the issues one of which being resistance in rural parts..that was something I've been saying for a while. Rural areas may be less likely to be willing to get a vaccine and are often less willing to comply with COVID restrictions or guidance so it's good there to get vaccines but the issue has been too much unequal access.

People online are hopping mad. They are uttlerly convinced it's political payback because the urban areas tend to be from the other party. I get it though. Tensions run high when you're trying to get your loved ones a life saving vaccine. I think they could have done a much better job of communicating their approach. But between the various factors you listed, it's been really hard in the 2 big metro areas in the state.

 

[Pyotr]

California’s 7 day average is down 89% from its peak on January 13th.

89%

That’s insane.

 

[lovethesun12]

Well that's sorta a loaded thing here. On the one hand yes rural areas often lack big hospitals and healthcare may not be the best of the best so you're not incorrect there. On the other hand health care workers were prioritized first (along with those in long-term care facilities) in much of the U.S. and often there are more health care workers in the more populated areas where there's been less vaccine sent in various states which the article did touch on.

Additionally urban and inner cities often have more minorities who have been disproportionately affected by COVID and not only that often do not have access to quality healthcare either. But to this point more states are trying to at least target more vulnerable populations. They needed to do this too when it came to COVID testing and health safety precautions at least they did in my area.

The article touches on some of the issues one of which being resistance in rural parts..that was something I've been saying for a while. Rural areas may be less likely to be willing to get a vaccine and are often less willing to comply with COVID restrictions or guidance so it's good there to get vaccines but the issue has been too much unequal access.

Yeah I can understand that. It is definitely frustrating waiting for a vaccine.

 

[Colleen27]

I just saw this article discussing the rural vs urban/suburban issues with vaccines. Seems like it's a big enough problem in other states where rural have more access. MO is featured in that article ironically.

https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_ne...e-5b90-8332-633680e4724a.html?block_id=991162

Would rural areas have access to the same level of healthcare as urban areas though? I feel like that could be a really good reason why increased access in rural areas might be important. That said I am not from the US but I do know that's why here in some cases vaccinating in more rural areas is a priority.

Michigan is having the same issues. Most of the counties in the Upper Peninsula are approaching 30% vaccination rates at this point, while Detroit just broke into double digits. I've seen a few partial explanations - the priority and separate status given to Indigenous tribes, the concentration of prisons up there and the fact that inmates were grouped with others in congregate living as high priority - but some of the data is really hard to explain away. Like the fact that the county Detroit is in has vaccinated 18% of the non-Detroit population while Detroit has been hovering around half that, or the fact that the most affluent of our suburban counties has a rate that is 5 or 6% higher than the least affluent. And this is, supposedly, with equity being taken into account (to an unacceptable degree, according to our legislature - they're trying to remove that metric entirely).

Yes, the cities have more health care resources... but in poorer areas, that doesn't translate to people having more access to care. Having a hospital next door doesn't help if you won't go because you know you can't pay the bill.

People online are hopping mad. They are uttlerly convinced it's political payback because the urban areas tend to be from the other party. I get it though. Tensions run high when you're trying to get your loved ones a life saving vaccine. I think they could have done a much better job of communicating their approach. But between the various factors you listed, it's been really hard in the 2 big metro areas in the state.

Here, the urban areas tend to vote for the same party that's running the show and we're having the same issues, so at least we can rest assured that it isn't political. But whatever it is, it really is frustrating to see posts like those mentioned in the article where remote counties are having a hard time filling appointments while in suburbia you might have to call a hundred times or more just to get through to the appointment line. But most places here aren't accommodating people from out of the area, as far as I know, so driving out state for a better shot at a vaccine isn't a strategy I've heard of working the way some of those quoted in the article describe. Health departments want proof of residence or employment in the county/region they oversee, medical systems are vaccinating their own established patients, and the pharmacy rollout is just getting started and is focused more in the urban/suburban areas.