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

[LadyBeBop]

In MO looking at just data rates a story advised 56,720 people are overdue for their 2nd doses. Overdue is defined as within the 21 or 28 day time period. Regardless of whether you can go longer as in the grace period that's the data point they are looking at.

But the information they more looked at was poverty rates: "Zip codes with poverty rates between 20% and 24.9% showed that 8.4% of vaccine recipients were overdue second doses, while zip codes with poverty rates of 25% or more had a 6.8% overdue rate — both are higher than the state average." The state average is mentioned as "Roughly one of every 16 Missouri residents — 6.5%"

The notation however is "the overdue percentage is half the rate of the national average and only reflects the rate for currently eligible tiers rather than the entire population." But regardless looks like maybe mobile units need to hook back around? The article did mention that they encountered people who seemed surprised they needed another dose. One of the organizations that goes into vulnerable communities did say "We're going to call each person and remind them of their appointment time prior to next week." good idea IMO.

I'm not thinking this is a BIG deal at the present moment but it can certainly highlight issues arises that may have not been thought about. IMO part of the correlation they are seeing could be related to jobs in which these people didn't have any opportunity to come in for their next dose (maybe they have multiple jobs who knows), they lacked the information maybe they don't have internet or whatever to know that these vaccines require 2 doses (which I would imagine you'll find people who have all the electronics in the world and didn't know), etc.

Curious mind in me wants to know if there are any stats on race and ethnicity because I know that was being targeted too just like vulnerable areas. That might be helpful to know if they need to beef up the information train in those pockets.

Maybe your state should schedule both doses at the same time.

Here in Kentucky, they're scheduling both doses together. You can't schedule a first dose without scheduling a second dose. I'm on a couple of vaccine Facebook groups, and I hear complaint from those saying first doses are available, but they can't schedule because the second doses aren't.

 

[EACarlson]

Maybe your state should schedule both doses at the same time.

Here in Kentucky, they're scheduling both doses together. You can't schedule a first dose without scheduling a second dose. I'm on a couple of vaccine Facebook groups, and I hear complaint from those saying first doses are available, but they can't schedule because the second doses aren't.

My take on the story was that they were scheduling second doses but people weren't showing up for them.
"We're going to call each person and remind them of their appointment time prior to next week."

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Maybe your state should schedule both doses at the same time.

Here in Kentucky, they're scheduling both doses together. You can't schedule a first dose without scheduling a second dose. I'm on a couple of vaccine Facebook groups, and I hear complaint from those saying first doses are available, but they can't schedule because the second doses aren't.

I live in KS not MO but live at the border so I pay attention to both. Scheduling the 2nd dose will vary where you are at so I can't for sure say every place in MO schedules the 2nd dose when you get the first but I know at least some places are. In this case when they are talking about vulnerable communities at least some are scheduling for 2nd dose, the organization in the article is at least) but people aren't showing up. I was thinking out loud some of the reasons for why.

Back on the KS side in my county they just started scheduling the 2nd dose because there wasn't a consistent supply coming. They were concerned about scheduling the 2nd dose without having the vaccine in hand. The situation has at least changed enough that they feel comfortable doing the scheduling now. I don't have stats for KS but I would be interested in knowing the numbers for missed 2nd doses and if any correlations were noted there. I did see a news story in the last few days say that in KS 17 counties scored high enough on the CDC's vulnerability index. That "measures the number of people living in poverty or who don’t have access to transportation. This means that the vulnerable counties receive a small increase in vaccine doses over and above the allotment they receive that is based on population." I don't have the stats on the CDC index for MO as far as how many counties.

 

[Colleen27]

My take on the story was that they were scheduling second doses but people weren't showing up for them.
"We're going to call each person and remind them of their appointment time prior to next week."

I wonder how much of that might be weather related with the crazy February we had in so much of the country. I know my mom considered postponing her second shot out of concerns about driving and walking (just from the parking lot) in the snow and ice, and probably would have if I hadn't been able to be there to do the driving for her. And we're in a place where that was just normal winter weather. I'd imagine it keeps even more people close to home in areas that aren't used to it.

 

[AvidDisReader]

Received my second dose yesterday. To me the BIG news is Texas feels confident enough to totally end all lock downs and remove the mask requirement. This is just the beginning, as I am sure there will be several states that will watch to see if there is a spike. If not, many more will join in including Florida.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I wonder how much of that might be weather related with the crazy February we had in so much of the country. I know my mom considered postponing her second shot out of concerns about driving and walking (just from the parking lot) in the snow and ice, and probably would have if I hadn't been able to be there to do the driving for her. And we're in a place where that was just normal winter weather. I'd imagine it keeps even more people close to home in areas that aren't used to it.

It would only be a small slice IMO but it didn't help. A lot of the missed vaccinations were just put off to the week after if the administrator cancelled them. But they are talking about over time. The main discussion was poverty level observation with the rates of missed doses being higher there. Not knowing you even needed 2 doses is an information issue, not being able to take off work for a 2nd dose, not having the means as easily to get to your 2nd dose, etc And just thinking of another thing let's be real how many people on this thread kept saying "just get it into arms" and had little concerns over people getting the 2nd dose. If that's the message someone heard elsewhere especially efficacy rates for just 1 dose they may choose not to get the 2nd dose irrespective of anything else. I also have thought back to what I've seen several posters over various threads discuss regarding side effects of the 1st dose and not wanting to go back to the 2nd dose.

FWIW MO does get cold temps like that, they've had it before, polar vortex from a couple years ago. The issue was the length of time it went on and consecutively.

 

[Colleen27]

Received my second dose yesterday. To me the BIG news is Texas feels confident enough to totally end all lock downs and remove the mask requirement. This is just the beginning, as I am sure there will be several states that will watch to see if there is a spike. If not, many more will join in including Florida.

Isn't Florida already fully open without a state mask mandate? Some cities/counties and businesses have their own mandates, but nothing from the state.

That's something that struck me in all the outrage posts I've seen on socials about Abbott's decision - there are maybe a dozen states that never had a mandate in the first place, but TX is under more fire for lifting theirs than those other places were for never having one to begin with. I'm not sure I agree with his timing but it kind of feels like a "no good deed goes unpunished" situation that states that did attempt to control spread are likely to face as they take steps back toward normal. Even in my state, where there are still a fair number of restrictions and a state mask mandate in place, the governor is getting criticism for relaxing those measures (allowing indoor dining as of last month, now easing the capacity limits from 25% to 50%) because of a very slight uptick in cases and the confirmed presence of the UK variant.

 

[AvidDisReader]

To follow up, I am not saying ignore the Science. Yes, let us all listen-that is why I received the shot. It is time to stop the shut downs in ALL states. I saw a report that estimated some 160,000 deaths in last year from suicides, alcoholism, and other isolation due to COVID shut downs. We need to get our lives back. No more social shaming because you wish to visit relatives. No more social shaming because we do not wear a mask. For those who feel the need to wear a mask, that is their prerogative, but lets stop shaming those who no longer want to. The Science tells me vaccines are coming out faster than a lot thought they would and the number of Covid cases are reducing drastically (even more drastic is the drop of death rates due to Covid).

 

[mom2rtk]

In MO looking at just data rates a story advised 56,720 people are overdue for their 2nd doses. Overdue is defined as within the 21 or 28 day time period. Regardless of whether you can go longer as in the grace period that's the data point they are looking at.

But the information they more looked at was poverty rates: "Zip codes with poverty rates between 20% and 24.9% showed that 8.4% of vaccine recipients were overdue second doses, while zip codes with poverty rates of 25% or more had a 6.8% overdue rate — both are higher than the state average." The state average is mentioned as "Roughly one of every 16 Missouri residents — 6.5%"

The notation however is "the overdue percentage is half the rate of the national average and only reflects the rate for currently eligible tiers rather than the entire population." But regardless looks like maybe mobile units need to hook back around? The article did mention that they encountered people who seemed surprised they needed another dose. One of the organizations that goes into vulnerable communities did say "We're going to call each person and remind them of their appointment time prior to next week." good idea IMO.

I'm not thinking this is a BIG deal at the present moment but it can certainly highlight issues arises that may have not been thought about. IMO part of the correlation they are seeing could be related to jobs in which these people didn't have any opportunity to come in for their next dose (maybe they have multiple jobs who knows), they lacked the information maybe they don't have internet or whatever to know that these vaccines require 2 doses (which I would imagine you'll find people who have all the electronics in the world and didn't know), etc.

Curious mind in me wants to know if there are any stats on race and ethnicity because I know that was being targeted too just like vulnerable areas. That might be helpful to know if they need to beef up the information train in those pockets.

Some sites are scheduling both doses at the same time in Missouri. Some aren't.

My parents will be late, but only by a few days. They got theirs through "Operation Safe" on the Cerner campus. That's just how they're handling it. Probably has to do with which vaccine they're distributing on each day. My parents got Moderna. My friend was there yesterday and got a Pfizer vaccine. My parents will be back on Tuesday getting Moderna.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Some sites are scheduling both doses at the same time in Missouri. Some aren't.

My parents will be late, but only by a few days. They got theirs through "Operation Safe" on the Cerner campus. That's just how they're handling it. Probably has to do with which vaccine they're distributing on each day. My parents got the Moderna. My friend was there yesterday and got a Pfizer vaccine. My parents will be back on Tuesday getting Moderna.

Yeah that's what I figured with some doing it some not. That was one of the caveats when I was reading the story because it's only going by prescribed times for the definition of late. I'd say you're not in a bad position being a few days late but weeks late might be a different story.

JoCo is not getting Moderna any longer so I'm interested to see how that affects people who can't go to their 2nd dose tomorrow (the last day the county will have it). The county says they will work with you if you can't make it but you'd be late then for your 2nd dose. I don't know yet if KU Med and others are also getting Moderna removed from them because it's a state thing to send Moderna to places that don't have the cold storage capabilities as much (which of course Pfizer came out and said they can store it warmer so who knows).

It's hard to tell really because I think for the two timelines for some people 3 weeks is better than 4 weeks for scheduling but then for others it's the opposite.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Isn't Florida already fully open without a state mask mandate? Some cities/counties and businesses have their own mandates, but nothing from the state.

That's something that struck me in all the outrage posts I've seen on socials about Abbott's decision - there are maybe a dozen states that never had a mandate in the first place, but TX is under more fire for lifting theirs than those other places were for never having one to begin with. I'm not sure I agree with his timing but it kind of feels like a "no good deed goes unpunished" situation that states that did attempt to control spread are likely to face as they take steps back toward normal. Even in my state, where there are still a fair number of restrictions and a state mask mandate in place, the governor is getting criticism for relaxing those measures (allowing indoor dining as of last month, now easing the capacity limits from 25% to 50%) because of a very slight uptick in cases and the confirmed presence of the UK variant.

I think it's an optics and politics thing (and I don't mean political party actually). The most vocal either way tended to get the most criticism as well as the ones who were the most hands off and then there's a bunch of states in the middle that for the most part weren't talked about nationally or were for small bits of time. But I also think how a state handled a mask mandate makes a big difference. That to me often gets lost in the discussion. State-wide vs not state-wide shouldn't really be the question IMO because we know places without state-wide DO have mask mandates.

In TX the governor has as far as I understood it made it so counties cannot enforce a mask mandate. They can have it but can't enforce it. So yes he dropped the state-wide but he also made it so it's unenforceable for areas that want to still have it. In FL while no statewide mask mandate the counties can enforce the mask mandate if they have one but they cannot fine or assess a penalty (from Sep and on).

TX isn't the first state to do it but the other states Montana, Iowa, Mississippi have largely escaped attention because well you didn't here a ton about them in the new (Montana a bit but not crazy much). North Dakota also repealed theirs but they have gotten in the news more for their cases.

In my state I'll be interested to see how it goes if the state of emergency is removed on March 31st. The mask mandate is a state level enforcement. Counties can opt in or out as they see fit. The state made mask violations a civil NOT a criminal matter with the businesses being the target for enforcement so individuals aren't really fined. What that would look like if the state-wide mask mandate went out the window for counties I don't know because it's not that they can't have it on their own. And for my state when the mask mandate went down in early July over 90 counties out of 105 opted out. In November when the governor forced their hands again (with still the option to opt in or opt out) she got a lot more compliance with only 45 counties at that time opting out. To further complicate things cities can also opt in if counties don't.

I mentioned on another thread for me it's that I would prefer a stairstep approach at this time. Lifting it all and all at once in places that have it when we're fairly still early on in vaccinations is probably going to be perceived to be not the right move even with lower cases. Additionally once you remove a mask mandate it's harder to add it back on at least public compliance and likely even worse now that people are really getting over it. Occupancy limits and closing times and gathering limits? Those are easier to add back on and take off and add back on. My area did that in the Fall and now just removed them again. The business owners sure don't like that up and down but compliance-wise and ease of a directive it's easier to do so. That said like a lot of people have said just because the mandate is removed doesn't mean people won't stop wearing them immediately or that businesses won't stop requiring them.

 

[lifesavacation]

My take on the story was that they were scheduling second doses but people weren't showing up for them.
"We're going to call each person and remind them of their appointment time prior to next week."

I think this is one of the issues in my county. We don’t just get doses of vaccine. We get x number of 1st doses and x number of 2nd doses. People are no showing or cancelling their 2nd dose. So instead of just getting the vaccine into any arm, they are storing the vaccine for a 2nd dose and they have more on hand 2nd doses than they actually need right now.

 

[mrs. magoo]

In some ways creating the vaccine seems to have been the easier part. Distribution of the vaccine has become such a catalyst - who should be prioritized? How much vaccine is coming each week? Who should be running vaccine clinics? Things seem to be getting a bit smoother but there are still many bumps in the road. I am hopefully that the doses made will make things speed up so that the college kids can get it before the return to school in the fall. I am hopeful for a more "normal" summer and fall.

 

[Jonfw2]

In some ways creating the vaccine seems to have been the easier part. Distribution of the vaccine has become such a catalyst - who should be prioritized? How much vaccine is coming each week? Who should be running vaccine clinics? Things seem to be getting a bit smoother but there are still many bumps in the road. I am hopefully that the doses made will make things speed up so that the college kids can get it before the return to school in the fall. I am hopeful for a more "normal" summer and fall.

I think we're super focused on this not because it's as big of a problem as it appears, but because it's happening in the now. I truly believe that in a few weeks, we will be amazed it was ever an issue.

Don't forget: at the beginning of January, we were vaccinating a couple hundred thousand people a day and now it's 2 million.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I am NOT saying I know more than people who live there. In fact, let me be totally clear: I do not know more than those of you who live there.

I am saying one thing and only one thing: JNJ never promised to have all those doses here this week and the state never said they did, That's it. Have all the negativity you want, but don't use examples to justify that negativity that aren't true.

Again, you have no idea what our state told us. Stop acting like you’re the expert on what was said here.

 

[Jonfw2]

Again, you have no idea what our state told us. Stop acting like you’re the expert on what was said here.

It was posted here!!! They said "as soon as next week". Scroll back a few pages and you'll see it.

 

[DLgal]

It was posted here!!! They said "as soon as next week". Scroll back a few pages and you'll see it.

So kind of like how they said we can all expect to have enough vaccine for all adults who want one "as soon as the end of April" and then a day later, it became "by the end of May?" Kind of like that?

So you are agreeing that I can't hold them to this timeline and it really doesn't mean what they are saying it means?

Just checking.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

I think we listen way too much to promises. Comments aren't often genuine. They've earned a degree in being vague. This makes it more difficult to hold them accountable

I agree.

The confusing part to me was if we agree that sometimes what is said isn't what ends up happening or that projections change why is that selectively applied to one stance but not another. I'm not trying to drum it all up but that was my take on the back and forth and other talks throughout this thread. Sometimes we're right sometimes we're wrong, sometimes things work out far better than we hoped and sometimes they don't.

 

[Jonfw2]

So kind of like how they said we can all expect to have enough vaccine for all adults who want one "as soon as the end of April" and then a day later, it became "by the end of May?" Kind of like that?

So you are agreeing that I can't hold them to this timeline and it really doesn't mean what they are saying it means?

Just checking.

No...I am simply saying this: you posted that the state promised X number of JNJ vaccines this week. They did not. They said AS SOON AS this week. That's it.

Look, be as negative about this as you want. You are entitled to be so, and it's needed here amongst all of us optimists. But just be accurate about it.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

No...I am simply saying this: you posted that the state promised X number of JNJ vaccines this week. They did not. They said AS SOON AS this week. That's it.

Look, be as negative about this as you want. You are entitled to be so, and it's needed here amongst all of us optimists. But just be accurate about it.

It's actually both and I'm really not trying to stir it up.

“The three-week preview we that were given by the Biden Administration: 380,300 next week, the week after and the week after. So it’s consistent,” said the governor. “By the way, they update that allocation every week, so those numbers are subject to change.”(yes the underlined is important but the statement was made).

A tweet did say "NEW: CA is expecting 380,000 doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine as early as next week. We expect that number to increase as supply becomes more available."

Both from 2/26