Have you gotten a COVID vaccine?

[snappy]

Thanks for reporting your experience.

 

[RamblingMad]

Good news on the vaccine front. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Birdie dog]

Do you know if your second vaccine is sitting in a freezer waiting for you, or if they are relying on getting a second shipment for the second dose. There's a lot of conversation in my area over which is the best - if you have 10000 does, do you give 10000 first shots and assume you'll get the next batch within 3 weeks, or do you give 5000 doses now and save the other 5000 for the second shot for the first round of people?
Just wondering if you know how your area is handling it?

I don't know that answer. But, I'll ask when I work tomorrow.
I know our hospital got 2000 vaccines. I know that tier 1- ER, ICU and COVID staff were the first to receive them. I've already been told that I'll be scheduling an appointment for 3 weeks from today. I did ask about the reliability of the vaccine and how long it's good for. I was told that unfrozen, it's good for 5 days. So, (again assuming) we're making appointments to get the vaccine and they know exactly how many they need. I have no fear of not being able to get the second vaccine due to supply- it would be a waste of a very precious resource.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

That’s how you chose to read it. What I said was I still had to work and do all the things I did before. My kids still go to daycare/school like before. Do I want to get it no. But I’m not afraid to get it bc I feel like it’s inevitable. I never said I was making choices bc I wasn’t afraid. Working isn’t a choice. Grocery shopping isn’t a choice. Neither is sending my kids to daycare. You read what you wanted to and made a judgment based on what you thought I said without knowing a thing about me.

If you say so. It's more than a little strange that you are complaining when I defended people in your position in my response to your first post where you came off as not being in that position at all. Best of luck with all your financial woes.

 

[gotomu212]

thats just insane and to me illogical. The people who get the first dose need the second dose, its just not logical to exhaust the delivery to give everyone dose number one and then hope for the best that dose number two arrives in time.

Its because here we are getting rolling shipments. So there’s another shipment coming next week and the week after and the week after and capacity is ramped up over time. The point is to get the clock running with as many people as quickly as possible.

Just for simplicity say there was 10 doses available this week, 20 next week, 30 next, and 40 the fourth, 70 the fifth, 100 the sixth. If you held 50% of each shipment in 6 weeks you’d have 15 people fully vaccinated (10/2 + 20/2). By using supply as they receive it by week 6 you’ll have 30 people vaccinated (10+20). Apply that over thousands instead of tens and it makes a huge difference. The CDC, FDA, and Pfitter are carefully coordinating to ensure shipment in 4 weeks exceeds current delivery for each state and county.

 

[DopeyDame]

Its because here we are getting rolling shipments. So there’s another shipment coming next week and the week after and the week after and capacity is ramped up over time. The point is to get the clock running with as many people as quickly as possible.

Just for simplicity say there was 10 doses available this week, 20 next week, 30 next, and 40 the fourth, 70 the fifth, 100 the sixth. If you held 50% of each shipment in 6 weeks you’d have 15 people fully vaccinated (10/2 + 20/2). By using supply as they receive it by week 6 you’ll have 30 people vaccinated (10+20). Apply that over thousands instead of tens and it makes a huge difference. The CDC, FDA, and Pfitter are carefully coordinating to ensure shipment in 4 weeks exceeds current delivery for each state and county.

Right - clearly *if* those shipments come in as expected than it's best to do as many as possible now. But there have been concerns voiced (including from our local dept of health) that you're running a risk of not getting those extra doses or of production not being able to ramp up as expected.
I'm honestly not sure what the right answer is - and I'm sure people far more knowledgeable about all of this have thought it all through - but there is a risk either way.

 

[Kitty 34]

Right - clearly *if* those shipments come in as expected than it's best to do as many as possible now. But there have been concerns voiced (including from our local dept of health) that you're running a risk of not getting those extra doses or of production not being able to ramp up as expected.
I'm honestly not sure what the right answer is - and I'm sure people far more knowledgeable about all of this have thought it all through - but there is a risk either way.

Just jumping on your thread as we are discussing those 2nd doses.

Are the 2nd doses different then the first doses? All I know is my Alpha support lady told me that when it's my time to get a vaccine to make sure the doses are made at the same company.

 

[Feralpeg]

I have not gotten the vaccine. I did speak to my oncologist about it on Monday. I asked him how it would be communicated to those in charge that a person falls into a particular category for vaccination. He is being vaccinated next week, but said they have not been given any info on how the process will work beyond health care workers. He said it would differ by state. Based on the general criteria issued, I would fall into the second category, but each state has the final say as to who gets it when. He did tell me to absolutely get it when I am able.

 

[Feralpeg]

Not sure how many here are old enough to remember the polio outbreak in the US back in the 50’s. (I’ve only read/studied about it during school). Eerily similar environment back then as what we are experiencing now with SARS-COV-2. People stayed indoors, minimized touching and interacting with others, wore masks and gloves.

Maybe some people were hesitant about new vaccines back then? But, the slight difference now is that we have a vaccine in less than a year. It took about 4 years to get a commercialized vaccine for Polio back in the 50’s. So, people were probably more willing to take whatever came out by the time one was made available. Jonas Salk (yes, that Salk Institute in San Diego) was the man credited for the vaccine that came out in 1955. By public pressure to quickly do something, the US gov licensed the vaccine manufacturing to a handful of labs. One of these was Cutter Laboratories. A bad initial batch from this company, and government’s efforts to hastily mass produce a new vaccine led to what is now known as the Cutter Incident. The vaccine contained infectious levels of live Polio virus. A couple hundred became paralyzed from Polio and about a dozen died. Obviously, federal regulations and safety protocols have improved drastically since. But, the environment is similar.

ETA: Vaccines are a very poor financial driver for companies. There’s no money to be had in this sector. Therapeutics is where the big bucks are made. Thus, before COVID-19 and Operation Warpspeed, there were only 3 major companies with names on vaccine vials. Now, everyone is in the race with money pouring in, and companies that had no name recognition are now even worth hundreds more than book value on the market. Besides MRNA stock, look at what has happened to CODX, and especially NVAX since the beginning of the year. $1 to $11, and <$4 to $170!! A $100 investment in NVAX could have gotten you about $5,600.

I remember polio very well. I was very young, but I remember seeing the pictures of people in iron lungs. It was very scary. One of my parents friends had polio. She did not have to be in an iron lung, but she lost the ability to walk for several years. My parents did not hesitate when the vaccine became available. We received our vaccination via an injection. Eventually, they started using sugar cubes. After seeing what life was like for many who contracted polio, getting the vaccination wasn't a difficult decision for my parents.

 

[Kitty 34]

I remember polio very well. I was very young, but I remember seeing the pictures of people in iron lungs. It was very scary. One of my parents friends had polio. She did not have to be in an iron lung, but she lost the ability to walk for several years. My parents did not hesitate when the vaccine became available. We received our vaccination via an injection. Eventually, they started using sugar cubes. After seeing what life was like for many who contracted polio, getting the vaccination wasn't a difficult decision for my parents.

I remember a lady across the street from my great grandparents when I was young (in the 1960's) . The Mother was on a bed that moved up and down all day long. I played with her daughter for the couple of summers that I would come over. That lady raised that daughter plus two sons. I just asked my Mother the other day about that lady but she didn't know what ever happened to her. She did have polio, tho. Even as a youngster, I remember her kids being soooo respectful of her.

 

[lifesavacation]

CDC reported a person experienced an anaphylactic reaction today to the vaccine. Looks like it’s going to be important for medical staff to be prepared for allergic reactions.

 

[snappy]

Was that the one in Alaska?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Was that the one in Alaska?

I was just about to ask that, if it is that one looks like they are advising she not get the second dose at this time.

 

[lifesavacation]

Was that the one in Alaska?

I don’t know. I follow the CDC on Twitter and they retweeted that they are aware of a severe reaction in a healthcare worker and they are helping to evaluate the case.

 

[bcla]

I don’t know. I follow the CDC on Twitter and they retweeted that they are aware of a severe reaction in a healthcare worker and they are helping to evaluate the case.

I heard that one recipient has a severe allergic reaction, but the monitoring caught it. At least the one I'm thinking of, the reporting was that this person didn't have any previous severe allergies.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I wonder if people were so suspicious of the polio vaccine or smallpox vaccine when it came out?

With smallpox vaccine starting in the late 1700's and polio in the early 1950's, there was no Internet to create and perpetuate all the many conspiracy theories that run amok on the Net. I recall getting my polio vaccination within a short period of time when it came out. 'Everybody' went to get it. Dr. Salk was a true national and worldwide hero.

 

[bcla]

I heard that there was the possibility that some vials could yield more than 5 doses because they're being overfilled. I know this is normal because they need to deliver at least the volume that's listed on the label.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I recall getting my polio vaccination within a short period of time when it came out. 'Everybody' went to get it. Dr. Salk was a true national and worldwide hero.

https://time.com/3714090/salk-vaccine-history

 

[Heather07438]

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/1...cine-vials-turn-out-to-hold-more-than-thought
A happy surprise as vaccine vials turn out to hold more than thought.

 

[ronandannette]

thats just insane and to me illogical. The people who get the first dose need the second dose, its just not logical to exhaust the delivery to give everyone dose number one and then hope for the best that dose number two arrives in time.

Well, it may be a roll of the proverbial dice but "insane" is a bit extreme. The various Provincial health authorities in Canada are responsible for determining their own distribution protocols. Quebec, for example, is going to distribute their entire allotment at once and wait for more supply to use as 2nd doses. Ontario on the other hand is giving half and saving half. Those are the only two provinces I could find information on quickly. Overall, it does not seem like our Federal government has any lack of confidence that our supply will arrive on schedule.