Tipsters, tech-savvy kids, pharmacy hopping: How Americans are landing coronavirus vaccines

[Gothmog]

My son and a friend each have the local TV app on their Iphones and saw at 9:55AM that the City of Houston was opening slots at 10 and called/texted me. I got lucky When the City of Houston did its first round of vaccine registrtions, it was limited to city of Houston residents. DSHS made Houston remove that requirement. I am also the waiting lists wtih two of my doctors, my pharamacy, my local county health department (they got 1000 doses for a county with a population of neary one million people) and a hospital where I had surgery a couple of years ago.

Houston vaccinated 5,000 people today and I am happy to be one of them
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/16/covid-vaccine-hunt/

The expanded availability of the two authorized coronavirus vaccines has unleashed a free-for-all among pandemic-weary Americans clamoring for lifesaving protection and a return to some type of normalcy.

Those searching for a shot face a decentralized system of vaccine distribution operated by cash-strapped public health departments and a disparate network of clinics and medical providers, all crushed by unprecedented demand for a shield against the virus decimating American life.

While many Americans have had no problem getting shots, others like Cohen have spent hours trying to get vaccinated, to no avail. The challenges in vaccinating people mirror the botched rollout of coronavirus testing as a mix of government and private providers navigate unfamiliar terrain while communicating with the public in different ways......

But the task is not as simple as booking a flight. The state website directed her to several small medical facilities offering the vaccines, but their online appointment system had error messages and their listed phone numbers led to recordings saying they were out of supply. Covert has spent hours waiting on hold on a state hotline but has yet to speak to a person. By Friday, the small sites were no longer listed and the website for a newly added university hospital hasn’t functioned all morning.

“It feels like I’m trying to get a Beyoncé ticket,” Covert said. “It feels like I’m fighting bots on TicketMaster.”

[enough]

1. Glad you got it, but this is dystopia. NT

[wishstar]

2. Same situation in NC and will be even worse now that age was just lowered to 65

Demand just for the 75 and older has overloaded phone lines and crashed the Covid website server each day for past week. Starting Monday 65 and older can try to get a slot which will be even harder since there is only one source for vaccine so far. No vaccine yet at CVC or other pharmacies and none yet at doctors offices for Phase 1b.

Very stressful and time consuming having to wait to hear on TV news or from email bulletins or checking website repeatedly and then furiously typing in to nab a spot especially for many older folks who arent tech savvy or have physical and mental limitations.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. I have a few risk factors

Diabeties and others.

I can't even begin to figure out how to get my shot. I am very limited as to where I can go to get a vaccine.

In the suburbs everything is built around the car owners.
Everything is too far from everything else.


I suspect it will be a very long time before I
can get a shot. I have no clue how I would even access the vaccine.

My doctor is a medical assistance doctor who does not give a shit I don't see her advocating to help me get a shot.

I'm on my own and it sucks.

[Gothmog]

5. I had to drive 30+ miles each way to get my vaccination

I live in the suburbs and the vaccination site was at Minute Maid park which is over 30 miles from home. It was not convienent but I got a reservation and made sure that I got the vaccination. My main goal is to be able to go into my office to work on deals on a regular basis. Working remotely is fine but it is easier to work at the office.

They were supposed to vaccinate 5000 patients and ended up vacinating 6122 and ran out of vaccine. Houston is supposed to get 9000 doses in next week.

[moonscape]

6. I think now is a time of maximum confusion, but that

as supplies increase and the Biden team works with states on shots-in-arms issues things will become more clear, or info will be more acccessible.

State and county/regional websites and ino lines will be helpful, and injection centers will be publicized. Hang in there. I have quite a few issues (on active chemo for one) and am having to do the same. I’m in a more poplulated area than it sounds like you are, so that’s a real advantage, but I do think things will sort out for those of us who want it. Reaching those who don’t and who are in rural areas will be the greastest challenge.

[Hortensis]

4. We're waiting until we don't have to hunt and pounce. Of course,

since we're retired we also don't have to be out risking ourselves. Some really need to get it as soon as possible, and we hope they do.

[scarletlib]

7. Me too.

Not going to hunt for vaccine or jump lines even though I could justify due to medical issues. Will wait for Biden reorg and rollout. My preference is that essential workers of any age get first priority and the very frail elderly, but I am not in charge.

[Hortensis]

8. Agree. Btw, Pfizer says IT has the second doses those already vaccinated need.

Reuters: Pfizer Inc has been holding on to second doses for each of its COVID-19 vaccinations at the request of the federal government and anticipates no problems supplying them to Americans, a spokeswoman said in a statement on Friday.

Trump's Warp Speed is such a mess that they apparently didn't know where they were.