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

[dvcgirl67]

These are, in fact, all over America in those parking lots.

These are, in fact, all over America in those parking lots.

I haven't seen a single one and I live in a pretty populated area. There's a sign inside my Walgreens that says they are not a testing center.

 

[Jonfw2]

Have you tried getting a test at one? I did. No times available. I ended up getting tested at urgent care. The implementation of these testing centers is not great.

Yes. A couple months ago. Filled out a quick Q&A, got a time the next day. In and out of the line in less than an hour.

 

[Jonfw2]

CVS testing is in 35 state and I believe Walgreen's is in all 50.

 

[godisney14]

I haven't seen a single one and I live in a pretty populated area. There's a sign inside my Walgreens that says they are not a testing center.

Same here (in CA).


https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6940e1.htm
Now, before the regulars jump on this and shout, "That's a really rare occurrence!", I'll preface this by saying it's not something widely documented yet. I get that. But, nonetheless, is of interest (at least for me, and maybe others in medicine and science) to know about.

 

[Jonfw2]

Same here (in CA).


https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6940e1.htm
Now, before the regulars jump on this and shout, "That's a really rare occurrence!", I'll preface this by saying it's not something widely documented yet. I get that. But, nonetheless, is of interest (at least for me, and maybe others in medicine and science) to know about.

Walgreen's, CVS, and Rite Aid have almost 150 testing locations in California.

 

[godisney14]

Walgreen's, CVS, and Rite Aid have almost 150 testing locations in California.

Interesting. Good to know. Unless I’m on the road or on vacation, I don’t usually shop at CVS/Rite Aid/Walgreens besides the closest handful of them in my immediate area. Maybe just need to look further out.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Have you tried getting a test at one? I did. No times available. I ended up getting tested at urgent care. The implementation of these testing centers is not great.

It would likely follow the area and in cycles. Sometimes being quick sometimes not. My county has gone up and down in terms of testing availability I would expect nothing less than private companies.

Two of local DISers in my area got their testing through CVS. One was able to get it and the results within a few days the other one unfortunately needed a test when we were experiencing spikes in the area and the testing was a bit harder to come by with the results taking longer. One was in late June the other was in early July.

I haven't seen a single one and I live in a pretty populated area. There's a sign inside my Walgreens that says they are not a testing center.

Not being available in your area isn't the same as not available period.

CVS was in the state next to me before being in my state but expanded a while back to my state. I live in a populated area (the metro is over 2 million people). According to CVS's press release: "we launched new testing sites across 30 states thus meeting our commitment to establish 1,000 locations nationwide by the end of May. More than half the sites will serve communities with the greatest need for support, as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index. The index tracks a variety of census variables including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing that may weaken a community’s ability to prepare for and recover from hazardous events like natural disasters and disease outbreaks."

Walgreens has 2 sites available in my state 1 being on my side of the metro. They have 16 locations in the state next to me with 3 located in the metro on that side of the state line. According to their website "in partnership with the PWNHealth provider network." PWNHealth is a clinician network for diagnostic testing.

Walmart has 3 locations in my metro; 2 on my side of the state line and 1 on the other side of the state line. Quest Diagnostics and eTrueNorth are the companies they do testing sites for. According to their website as of a month ago 250K people have been tested through their sites.

Of course more availability is what is desired.

I completely understand what you were referring to as far as promises made and promises kept and not holding our breaths on follow through of what the PP posted. That however isn't the same as what you brought up with CVS, Walgreens and Wal-Mart because they do in fact have a variety of locations available. All 3 places on their respective websites list where they are located at. Looks like Walgreens and Wal-Mart act as facilitators (Walmart more for space ability with their parking lots) and CVS in part using a need-based metric.

 

[dvcgirl67]

It would likely follow the area and in cycles. Sometimes being quick sometimes not. My county has gone up and down in terms of testing availability I would expect nothing less than private companies.

Two of local DISers in my area got their testing through CVS. One was able to get it and the results within a few days the other one unfortunately needed a test when we were experiencing spikes in the area and the testing was a bit harder to come by with the results taking longer. One was in late June the other was in early July.
Not being available in your area isn't the same as not available period.

CVS was in the state next to me before being in my state but expanded a while back to my state. I live in a populated area (the metro is over 2 million people). According to CVS's press release: "we launched new testing sites across 30 states thus meeting our commitment to establish 1,000 locations nationwide by the end of May. More than half the sites will serve communities with the greatest need for support, as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index. The index tracks a variety of census variables including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing that may weaken a community’s ability to prepare for and recover from hazardous events like natural disasters and disease outbreaks."

Walgreens has 2 sites available in my state 1 being on my side of the metro. They have 16 locations in the state next to me with 3 located in the metro on that side of the state line. According to their website "in partnership with the PWNHealth provider network." PWNHealth is a clinician network for diagnostic testing.

Walmart has 3 locations in my metro; 2 on my side of the state line and 1 on the other side of the state line. Quest Diagnostics and eTrueNorth are the companies they do testing sites for. According to their website as of a month ago 250K people have been tested through their sites.

Of course more availability is what is desired.

I completely understand what you were referring to as far as promises made and promises kept and not holding our breaths on follow through of what the PP posted. That however isn't the same as what you brought up with CVS, Walgreens and Wal-Mart because they do in fact have a variety of locations available. All 3 places on their respective websites list where they are located at. Looks like Walgreens and Wal-Mart act as facilitators (Walmart more for space ability with their parking lots) and CVS in part using a need-based metric.

I stand corrected on the testing sites. Thanks for the info. I truly haven't seen one. However, you're right...that doesn't mean they're not out there.

However, it's hard to argue that we're testing enough, especially in areas with very high positivity rates. I read a piece in BBC News that Qingdao, a city of 9 million people in China, has an outbreak of *12* people....all linked to a hospital. Six had symptoms, and six were asymptomatic. How did the Chinese handle this? They're testing all 9 million residents.....over the course of 5 days. They'll isolate and treat the sick, and go back to their regular existence.

There are a ton of bumps and logistical challenges with the roll-out of any/all of the therapeutics/vaccines that are going to be announced in coming months. I truly hope that it is handled a heck of a lot better than our federal response to this virus overall.

 

[aggiedog]

Lots of articles out this weekend regarding the logistics and cost to the government of getting the vaccine out to the people who need it, particularly if a two part vaccine is the winner. Besides supplies, training workers, delivery and storage, being able to find, notify, and get people to the vaccine will be challenging. Front line workers are easy, as they are already at points of service, but the elderly and at-risk (who should be some of the first to get vaccinated) are not. Making sure everyone gets their second dose adds a serious second level of complexity.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Lots of articles out this weekend regarding the logistics and cost to the government of getting the vaccine out to the people who need it, particularly if a two part vaccine is the winner. Besides supplies, training workers, delivery and storage, being able to find, notify, and get people to the vaccine will be challenging. Front line workers are easy, as they are already at points of service, but the elderly and at-risk (who should be some of the first to get vaccinated) are not. Making sure everyone gets their second dose adds a serious second level of complexity.

Yes, this is going to be challenging for sure. It would seem especially challenging if the first vaccines out of the gate are either of the two that require a booster and must be stored in a "deep freezer" at very, very cold temps. If those vaccines begin to thaw at any point along the distribution chain then the vaccine is no longer effective. I'm reading about "freezer farms" being put together at Fed EX and UPS hubs. Then how much dry ice will be needed to keep them at those temps. It seems like a daunting task. Let's hope the J&J vaccine is one of the first available so that we're able to get them out to the most exposed and most vulnerable among us.

 

[Jonfw2]

huge drop in mortality for Covid sufferers...

https://www.npr.org/sections/health...ies-point-to-big-drop-in-covid-19-death-rates

 

[Jonfw2]

Also, Johns Hopkins believes they’ve narrowed down the best source of antibodies for plasma treatments: older men who survived a bad case.

https://www.cleveland.com/coronavir...of-plasma-containing-valuable-antibodies.html

 

[dvcgirl67]

huge drop in mortality for Covid sufferers...

https://www.npr.org/sections/health...ies-point-to-big-drop-in-covid-19-death-rates

Healthcare providers have gotten much better at treating COVID, no question about it.

 

[Jonfw2]

Healthcare providers have gotten much better at treating COVID, no question about it.

Also fascinating is that they believe masks have lowered risk for people even if they do get Covid, because they likely get a lower exposure.

 

[Kellydelly]

I'd like to hear from the healthcare workers who will probably be mandated to take the vaccine as soon as it rolls out. Do you feel this vaccine is safe and effective enough to make you comfortable taking it?

Hospital RN. I will not take a covid vaccine. If they mandate it (was just poisoned with influenza vax last week) I will quit.

 

[ronandannette]

Hospital RN. I will not take a covid vaccine. If they mandate it (was just poisoned with influenza vax last week) I will quit.

Sincere question: Is it the mandate or the vaccine itself you object to?

 

[mom2rtk]

Hospital RN. I will not take a covid vaccine. If they mandate it (was just poisoned with influenza vax last week) I will quit.

I hope you reported the poisoning to the authorities.

 

[Kellydelly]

Both. Nobody should be forced to take a vaccine, especially ineffective ones.

 

[Jonfw2]

Hospital RN. I will not take a covid vaccine. If they mandate it (was just poisoned with influenza vax last week) I will quit.

No anti-vaxxer should be allowed to work in medicine.

 

[penn19]

CVS testing is in 35 state and I believe Walgreen's is in all 50.

We have them in Walmart parking lots here. And independent companies doing pop ups with a drive through