Have you gotten a COVID vaccine?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Seeing that in several states in nursing homes and residential living and care facilities. Also, hospitals are relaxing visiting rules.

This was one of the first things that happened in my area last month and this month. It was a great motivator for getting the vaccine for those in the nursing homes although many didn't need much motivation they were rearing and ready to go. Still precautions like masks and time limits and whatnot but a big relief for them being able to see their loved ones.

 

[mom2rtk]

As I was reading about that in the news I was thinking there wouldn't be a point to posting calling attention to you for the same reasons you're talking about just not really helpful for your situation.

I did think it was interesting they are rotating in scheduling the larger doses through the "regions" they've set up in the state. I get the concept but it's like they are blitzing each of those areas and then poof they are gone. At this point even small amount of doses spread throughout the state would be welcomed rather than seeing in the news nearly nadda for the metro.

I saw Parson said the reason Jackson County didn't get any doses last week was a "supply and demand issue"...as if that is new. Of course there's not enough supply..

Yeah, and like no other state has had a supply and demand issue. And yet here we sit in dead last. I swear we are in one of the worst counties in the worst state.

It's ridiculous to base access on whether you had a preexisting relationship with a hospital.

 

[mrs. magoo]

Yeah, and like no other state has had a supply and demand issue. And yet here we sit in dead last. I swear we are in one of the worst counties in the worst state.

It's ridiculous to base access on whether you had a preexisting relationship with a hospital.

I know that I complained about NY and it's roll out but I am so sorry that this is going so poorly in your state. At least NY has the big sites and those are available to everyone. I mean my father and I are driving an hour east to a site since the one in my county has issues. I know people are driving 4 hours north to another site as well.
People become frustrated and angry when things are not explained to them or they do not make sense which seems to be the issue in your state. And don't say you are going to do something and then not do it. I hope that you are able to get an appointment soon for your parents.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah, and like no other state has had a supply and demand issue. And yet here we sit in dead last. I swear we are in one of the worst counties in the worst state.

It's ridiculous to base access on whether you had a preexisting relationship with a hospital.

I agree, I mean I do understand it on the one hand but on the other hand people getting vaccinated in our area protects our area so then it just becomes a limiting factor when the point is to protect the area as a whole.

Olathe Medical doesn't consider me a current patient because I haven't had care with them in the last 3 years so while I filled out their survey for future interest I'm ineligible to get it from them unless the supply is so great it's open to non-patients. Given that right now I'm eligible in Phase 4 out of 5 who knows maybe by that time that will be the case...I mean I'm not holding my breath at this point...

 

[Haley R]

My 95 yo grandma was finally able to get an appointment scheduled yesterday! Her county just yesterday opened it up to 65+ instead of only long term residents and healthcare workers. Took them long enough. My aunt said she called on her phone 46 times from 8 am-12 pm to get her and my grandma their appointments.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I know that I complained about NY and it's roll out but I am so sorry that this is going so poorly in your state. At least NY has the big sites and those are available to everyone. I mean my father and I are driving an hour east to a site since the one in my county has issues. I know people are driving 4 hours north to another site as well.
People become frustrated and angry when things are not explained to them or they do not make sense which seems to be the issue in your state. And don't say you are going to do something and then not do it. I hope that you are able to get an appointment soon for your parents.

MO does have big sites, 9 of them, aided by National Guard though they are still for just the specific tier MO is in. The issue is none of those sites are close to our metro with exception to one that is just out of reach and would really depend on how lenient they are on timing.

Vaccines for the public are starting to come to her side of the state line in our metro but it's limited in who is eligible based on where the vaccine is going.

My side of our metro on the other side of the state line has the same limiting issue with hospitals but has at least started getting the public in Phase 2 going though that just happened last week.

We're just frustrated in our metro, both sides of the state line. Things on each of our state line affect one another, so if either side isn't getting it out to our public it becomes a problem. I've got family members and friends spread throughout our metro in various counties between the 2 states.

But transparency in the issue goes a long way and both of our states have had their fair criticisms from citizens and local officials and health departments regarding lack of communication and lack of understanding in the method used.

 

[Grabnar]

I just was unblinded from the Pfizer trial that I was in; I was officially in the treatment arm and received my 2nd dose of the vaccine back in August of last year

 

[Jonfw2]

I'm in the Moderna study, which started unblinding a few weeks ago. They (wisely) divided us into two groups based on age and occupation. I'm in the second group, so I go in to find out the news on Feb 15. If I got the placebo, I will get the real vax on the spot and then dose 2 a month later.

 

[Grabnar]

I'm in the Moderna study, which started unblinding a few weeks ago. They (wisely) divided us into two groups based on age and occupation. I'm in the second group, so I go in to find out the news on Feb 15. If I got the placebo, I will get the real vax on the spot and then dose 2 a month later.

The 15th is my next visit, I called ahead a few weeks ago and asked to be unblinded early if possible. I think they're leaving it up to your local site's discretion.

 

[Jonfw2]

The 15th is my next visit, I called ahead a few weeks ago and asked to be unblinded early if possible. I think they're leaving it up to your local site's discretion.

Gotcha! Well, I just sit at home for work, so if older people or front line workers get to go in before me, who am I to complain?

 

[DopeyDame]

Northern California Kaiser seems to be doing the same. overall it says health care workers, care facility residents and those 75 and older. when you read on it says they will contact those 75 and older for appointments.

My mom did, indeed, get contacted by Kaiser out on the east coast. I've been soooo impressed by them. She had her first shot two weeks ago, was in and out in under half an hour, and they scheduled her for her second shot while she was there for the first. Hopefully you guys have a similar experience soon!

 

[Mango7100]

I'm in the Moderna study, which started unblinding a few weeks ago. They (wisely) divided us into two groups based on age and occupation. I'm in the second group, so I go in to find out the news on Feb 15. If I got the placebo, I will get the real vax on the spot and then dose 2 a month later.

I just started Novavax trial...I got injected with something last week with a 67% chance it’s the real thing. Next dose in 2 weeks. I have had zero side effects, not even arm pain. They will unblind when they receive authorization as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree, I mean I do understand it on the one hand but on the other hand people getting vaccinated in our area protects our area so then it just becomes a limiting factor when the point is to protect the area as a whole.

Olathe Medical doesn't consider me a current patient because I haven't had care with them in the last 3 years so while I filled out their survey for future interest I'm ineligible to get it from them unless the supply is so great it's open to non-patients. Given that right now I'm eligible in Phase 4 out of 5 who knows maybe by that time that will be the case...I mean I'm not holding my breath at this point...

I had that thought as well. Even if they aren't doing a good job getting to my elderly parents, then at least do a good job getting shots in arms to start building some protection in the community. But I just have this unsettled feeling that they aren't doing very well at that yet either.

Apparently there is a location in St. Jo and also MU Health Systems in Boone County allowing enrollment for non locals. So my mom is checking with my dad to see if he wants to travel to get vaccinated.

I'll be watching the new distribution to pharmacy system now to see if that might be a decent alternative.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I had that thought as well. Even if they aren't doing a good job getting to my elderly parents, then at least do a good job getting shots in arms to start building some protection in the community. But I just have this unsettled feeling that they aren't doing very well at that yet either.

Apparently there is a location in St. Jo and also MU Health Systems in Boone County allowing enrollment for non locals. So my mom is checking with my dad to see if he wants to travel to get vaccinated.

I'll be watching the new distribution to pharmacy system now to see if that might be a decent alternative.

It's honestly like a caste system here if you're a patient within the hospital you're high up on the caste. Maybe for logistics it makes it easier for the hospitals to work off whatever they are considering current patients with the supply they have and I'm glad for the hospital systems that are reaching out to their patients instead of people having to do that but still. If you freed up that requirement you're still getting to the end goal of people getting protection, eligible people under whatever phase you're on would still get it but you expand the opportunities for people to get it.

We already have enough distance between us all in the metro it's a bummer people would have to drive so far just to get a glimmer of hope at getting it but yeah if your parents are willing to drive a bit it may be their better option in the near future.

I'll be watching too to see how it goes with the pharmacies.

 

[KBoopaloo]

My over 75 aunt and uncle got their first Pfizer dose yesterday. We have three hospital/healthcare workers in the family who are now all fully vaccinated with Pfizer - none had any side effects beyond a sore arm. Impatiently waiting here for the next step of our current phase to open up so my parents can get vaccinated. I am way at the back of the list.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Yeah, and like no other state has had a supply and demand issue. And yet here we sit in dead last. I swear we are in one of the worst counties in the worst state.

It's ridiculous to base access on whether you had a preexisting relationship with a hospital.

I agree. IMO, the vaccines shouldn't be connected to hospitals or doctors offices. They should only be offered in locations that everyone has access to. There have been many reports of hospitals doing a horrible job managing the vaccinations. It makes no sense to me that they would still be sending the vaccines there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I agree. IMO, the vaccines shouldn't be connected to hospitals or doctors offices. They should only be offered in locations that everyone has access to. There have been many reports of hospitals doing a horrible job managing the vaccinations. It makes no sense to me that they would still be sending the vaccines there.

So far it's been really limited at the hospitals to health care workers. It's going to be the real test how they do it with people from the public instead of employees of the same hospital system the vaccine is being administered in.

Your point is actually a question on my county's FAQ board:


They have a point about patients being used to it, I know a lot of posters were saying their parents didn't understand why they couldn't get it at their doctor's office so I really don't think that's something that should be taken away completely.

I don't have a problem with hooking up with hospitals it's more the patient vs non-patient part right now. Without a vaccination center near people and only allowing patients at the hospital it's too severely limited when the point is to get members of the community vaccinated. That's the situation mom2rtk is in and the situation my county was in until just very recently. It means many people are left out when they really shouldn't be. That 65 year old will still be out and about in the community regardless of them being a patient at X hospital.

The interesting thing though is my county will be using Children's Mercy hospital for teachers to be vaccinated (and this started this week with special education teachers and those working at the state's school for the deaf) and that is not a patient-dependent thing so it can be done, it is being done, it's just not being done for everyone who is presently eligible.

 

[Kamy04]

I just got my first dose of Pfizer!!!!!! I am so excited. Going to move my arm around extra tonight and will report back tomorrow.

I get my second in three weeks. Then 7-10 days after that I’m going to Target!!! (Still masked and distanced). Lol. I haven’t been in stores in months and I want to walk aisles aimlessly.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I agree. IMO, the vaccines shouldn't be connected to hospitals or doctors offices. They should only be offered in locations that everyone has access to. There have been many reports of hospitals doing a horrible job managing the vaccinations. It makes no sense to me that they would still be sending the vaccines there.

I agree with you. CA made the mistake of directing most(?) of their vaccines to the two big health care systems (Kaiser and Sutter), and it's created bottlenecks and inconsistency between counties. I still don't know why they didn't just take all the empty stadiums in CA and turn them into mass vaccination sites from the beginning. 24-7. You shouldn't have to be a Kaiser or Sutter patient to get a vaccine.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've had this funny feeling all along that maybe Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, would be the perfect location for a mass vaccination spot on the Missouri side of the state line in KC. I said earlier in the thread it would probably happen as soon as the season was over. I found myself wondering if they'd really hold up rolling out life saving vaccinations until after the season is over. Yet days before the season ends (one way or another), here's the news that they are in now in talks. And I find myself wondering if they really held things up for football.

https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas...oronavirus-mass-vaccination-location/35398544