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

[Pyotr]

After some persistence, I was able to schedule a vaccine appointment for my father.

At 2:00 exactly yesterday, my county (Manatee) opened up reservations for vaccine appointments. And of course the system crashed due to high volume. It was one of the most frustrating experiences. Eventually I was able to access the system, log in, and schedule a time. Unfortunately, the system wouldn't let me confirm the reservation. I tried on 3 different computers and was unsuccessful. After about an hour, the system had a message stating that all appointments were full (Apparently they were gone in minutes but the system was broken.)

At 3:30 Sarasota opened up for reservations. It's a county with a population of 125,000 over 65 and they had 800 doses to schedule. So of course they were gone instantaneously.

I logged into Hillsborough County and by luck was able to schedule an appointment for my dad. He's 71 and works a part-time retirement job which has him screening people and doing temp checks. I tried to schedule an appointment for my mother, but the system of course crashed. The website stated that they were having technical difficulties and to call a number, which would be open until 8pm, to schedule an appointment. The number was busy for hours and when we finally got through, there was a recorded message stating to use the website.

I then had to argue with my father who stated that he would not get the vaccine without my mother. I tried to explain to him that it's not a couples retreat, it's a vaccine appointment, and he's going. With the help of my siblings and my mother, we convinced him to get it without her.

So now my mission is to get my mother an appointment.

 

[Jonfw2]

Great job, Pyotr!

 

[Farro]

I get my vaccine tomorrow and I just found out it's Moderna and not Pfizer!

Can anyone tell me briefly the difference and are there any other allergic reaction differences between two?

I was mentally prepare for PFfzer!

 

[Jonfw2]

I get my vaccine tomorrow and I just found out it's Moderna and not Pfizer!

Can anyone tell me briefly the difference and are there any other allergic reaction differences between two?

I was mentally prepare for PFfzer!

GREAT!!!! The biggest difference is not consequential to you at this point, but it's that the Moderna vaccine doesn't require the ultra-cold storage that Pfizer does.

For you, there are two differences: the wait between shots is 4 weeks instead of 3 and Moderna has said on the record they think their shot could actually prevent you from getting infected in the first place.

 

[Farro]

GREAT!!!! The biggest difference is not consequential to you at this point, but it's that the Moderna vaccine doesn't require the ultra-cold storage that Pfizer does.

For you, there are two differences: the wait between shots is 4 weeks instead of 3 and Moderna has said on the record they think their shot could actually prevent you from getting infected in the first place.

Perfect, thanks!

 

[dvcgirl67]

GREAT!!!! The biggest difference is not consequential to you at this point, but it's that the Moderna vaccine doesn't require the ultra-cold storage that Pfizer does.

For you, there are two differences: the wait between shots is 4 weeks instead of 3 and Moderna has said on the record they think their shot could actually prevent you from getting infected in the first place.

And, they are both mRNA vaccines that use the same type of technology. Almost exactly the same excellent efficiency (95%). If you felt good about Pfizer, feel just as good about Moderna.

 

[Jonfw2]

In areas where the vaccine is now available to seniors, people are camping out overnight to get in line- of all the issues we are having here, I don't believe at this point desire to get vaccinated will be one of them.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

In areas where the vaccine is now available to seniors, people are camping out overnight to get in line- of all the issues we are having here, I don't believe at this point desire to get vaccinated will be one of them.

That's for places that are first come first serve as in appointments aren't being done which I believe FL is one of the only main ones I can think of.

As far as desire to get vaccinated that entirely depends on who you talk to and what area you're in. There are news stories all over about people who are not wanting it from healthcare workers, to minorities, to elderly people.

What is def. true is that there are people who are very eager to get it but we still have others who are not wanting it. A distrust of the government is a big one. This is something that is being watched in the minority community that has been hit hard by COVID. We do still have an "issue" with desire to get vaccinated and we shouldn't gloss over that because there's others who are eager to get it.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

In areas where the vaccine is now available to seniors, people are camping out overnight to get in line- of all the issues we are having here, I don't believe at this point desire to get vaccinated will be one of them.

Reading about seniors camping out and making some big statement that means we don't have an issue with desire to get vaccinated is not really accurate. There are people in our communities throughout our country who are unsure about the vaccine, who do not trust it with some communities having experience in the past showing them this. It's just as important to the virus situation to get them on board. I don't want us to ignore that

 

[Jonfw2]

Reading about seniors camping out and making some big statement that means we don't have an issue with desire to get vaccinated is not really accurate. There are people in our communities throughout our country who are unsure about the vaccine, who do not trust it with some communities having experience in the past showing them this. It's just as important to the virus situation to get them on board. I don't want us to ignore that

I'm not ignoring that.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

After some persistence, I was able to schedule a vaccine appointment for my father.

At 2:00 exactly yesterday, my county (Manatee) opened up reservations for vaccine appointments. And of course the system crashed due to high volume. It was one of the most frustrating experiences. Eventually I was able to access the system, log in, and schedule a time. Unfortunately, the system wouldn't let me confirm the reservation. I tried on 3 different computers and was unsuccessful. After about an hour, the system had a message stating that all appointments were full (Apparently they were gone in minutes but the system was broken.)

At 3:30 Sarasota opened up for reservations. It's a county with a population of 125,000 over 65 and they had 800 doses to schedule. So of course they were gone instantaneously.

I logged into Hillsborough County and by luck was able to schedule an appointment for my dad. He's 71 and works a part-time retirement job which has him screening people and doing temp checks. I tried to schedule an appointment for my mother, but the system of course crashed. The website stated that they were having technical difficulties and to call a number, which would be open until 8pm, to schedule an appointment. The number was busy for hours and when we finally got through, there was a recorded message stating to use the website.

I then had to argue with my father who stated that he would not get the vaccine without my mother. I tried to explain to him that it's not a couples retreat, it's a vaccine appointment, and he's going. With the help of my siblings and my mother, we convinced him to get it without her.

So now my mission is to get my mother an appointment.

Not to make light of your comment but I just love your 'it's not a couples retreat' reason to your father. It's sweet he wanted to do it at the same time as his wife and of course that would have been ideal but one getting it is at least something. And hopefully you can get an appointment for your mother soon!

 

[anniemae]

In areas where the vaccine is now available to seniors, people are camping out overnight to get in line- of all the issues we are having here, I don't believe at this point desire to get vaccinated will be one of them.

I feel like there is less fear of the vaccine. Before it was approved, people were very leary and had a "you first" attitude. Now that it is out and the experts are talking favorably about the effectiveness and people are so close to getting their lives back, it's like everyone is anxious to get it.

I think people just want their lives back and this is the way to do it. Plus seeing all the nurses and healthcare workers getting it has helped. Just yesterday on the news they showed the first nurse to receive the vaccine just had her second dose yesterday. I had such a feeling of hope.

 

[Jonfw2]

I feel like there is less fear of the vaccine. Before it was approved, people were very leary and had a "you first" attitude. Now that it is out and the experts are talking favorably about the effectiveness and people are so close to getting their lives back, it's like everyone is anxious to get it.

I think people just want their lives back and this is the way to do it. Plus seeing all the nurses and healthcare workers getting it has helped. Just yesterday on the news they showed the first nurse to receive the vaccine just had her second dose yesterday. I had such a feeling of hope.

As you should! I am currently waiting for a call back to schedule mine! They will start vaccinating the Moderna placebos tomorrow.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

I'm not ignoring that.

The other person is exactly right about the minority community, to name one. They have been very affected by this virus, hospitalizations, deaths, and case numbers. It's been talked about a lot the struggle to get community leaders on board with promoting the vaccine and it being safe to take, with getting those in the minority community to even begin to think about trusting the government who in the past have not always shown they care enough about them.

It's great that there's a high desire for some seniors who are camping out but by saying of all the issues you don't believe a desire to get a vaccine will be one of them and using the example of those seniors you are ignoring at least one group of people who really do still have an issue with a desire to get the vaccine. It's an uphill battle and we need them vaccinated too.

I do think there are more people willing and wanting to get the vaccine as the months have progressed but we do still have an issue with a desire to get one. I hope it improves so I share in your optimism in that part!

 

[gwynne]

That's for places that are first come first serve as in appointments aren't being done which I believe FL is one of the only main ones I can think of.

As far as desire to get vaccinated that entirely depends on who you talk to and what area you're in. There are news stories all over about people who are not wanting it from healthcare workers, to minorities, to elderly people.

What is def. true is that there are people who are very eager to get it but we still have others who are not wanting it. A distrust of the government is a big one. This is something that is being watched in the minority community that has been hit hard by COVID. We do still have an "issue" with desire to get vaccinated and we shouldn't gloss over that because there's others who are eager to get it.

I believe there are a large group of folks who see the importance of being vaccinated, both for them and for society in general.
I hope we work hard to rapidly vaccinate them.
Folks who wish to wait certainly can do that.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I believe there is a large group of folks who see the importance of being vaccinated, both for them and for society in general.
I hope we work hard to rapidly vaccinate them.
Folks who wish to wait certainly can do that.

Absolutely. I think that though is on a general level of just not wanting it just because.

But I treat that way differently than someone of the minority community, for example, who is wary of the government having their best interests in mind. I still think they should get the vaccine I just recognize it may not be as simple as writing them off as they want to wait. In other words I think we should be speaking to the different reasons people don't want it. If it's a distrust in the government let's work on that, let's involve their local community, let's get vaccine education going. If it's because they think Bill Gates is trying to control them...well not sure that can be worked on, IYKWIM?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not ignoring that.

Honestly asking, I think I've only heard of FL where seniors are camping out and its in certain counties where they don't have appointments set up so the only way they can get the vaccine IS by camping out. Do you know if there are other places where this is happening?

 

[Pyotr]

Honestly asking, I think I've only heard of FL where seniors are camping out and its in certain counties where they don't have appointments set up so the only way they can get the vaccine IS by camping out. Do you know if there are other places where this is happening?

As far as I know it's only Lee County. The county put the responsibility of vaccinating on a local hospital which in turn had a "first come first serve" plan.

In the Tampa Bay Area where I live, it has been appointments only. Appointments are scheduled online or a hotline (which is always busy). There are two main issues, the reservations systems cannot handle the traffic, and there are far too few vaccines. Both can work themselves out in time but its frustrating nonetheless.

 

[Pyotr]

Not to make light of your comment but I just love your 'it's not a couples retreat' reason to your father. It's sweet he wanted to do it at the same time as his wife and of course that would have been ideal but one getting it is at least something. And hopefully you can get an appointment for your mother soon!

It's more that he's a big baby. He's going whether he likes it or not.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Switching gears--One of the things that was discussed in a news article yesterday about my state was

1) vaccine data has not been fully input into the system so the number of vaccinated is not fully known yet. A lack of experience with the systems for those inputting it is one of the reasons given but general lag should be expected just given how it's been throughout the pandemic. Well I'd like an accurate number ASAP personally Most of what I have seen thus far is this LTC got a vaccine over the weekend, or this hospital system vaccinated this many people.

2) they are using a hub and spoke process and it was mentioned in contrast to states that may be using more of a hub only process. This jives with the discussion they mentioned earlier with having 5 to 6 distribution centers throughout the state. Whether all those centers panned out and whether all are being used I don't know (they are not disclosing the locations) but there def. is at least multiple centers being used. The governor quote is "very comfortable with vaccine distribution" ...she means the process because I'm pretty sure we all want more people vaccinated.

3) With the hub and spoke it said when the vaccines are being delivered to these hubs they are then delivered to local communities more quickly. A lot of my state is rural. It reminded me of what a poster on this thread or a different one had pasted in about a worker in MI (I think it was that state) using his own personal vehicle to deliver vaccines to a rural area with the discussion being that may have been the only way to get it to that area for quite some time. Will this hub and spoke method work out to a more efficient process? I could see it being that way but too early to tell. I think the road block here is that there simply isn't very many doses being delivered in the grand scheme so even if the distribution may end up being more efficient there's still a big big concern over just how many people are actually getting vaccinated.

4) Because of where I live I get news about both states so there's constant comparison. I do not know if the state next to me is using a hub and spoke throughout the state itself though I imagine they have at least 2 distribution centers (both major metros located on opposite sides of the state from west to east) and they def. are getting it out to various places throughout their state I just don't have the information to know if it's being considered efficient according to the governor.