CNN: How some states are administering Covid-19 vaccines at twice the speed of others...

[sprinkleeninow]

More than 31 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been distributed to states and other jurisdictions in the United States, but only 12.2 million -- 39% -- have actually been administered, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[This strongly chaps me...]

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/health/states-vaccinating-faster-west-virginia/index.html

[SunSeeker]

1. Looks like the key was partnering with local pharmacies. And not being strict about who can get it.

"The biggest thing that we've done is backed away from the (federal) standardized program," West Virginia Governor Jim Justice told CNN."

We have instead partnered with all the pharmacies in West Virginia. We felt like that, from a state perspective, would be limiting our ability to rapidly distribute and administer the vaccine to the population in need if we had gone with the federal program," he said.

By acting independently, West Virginia started vaccinating in long-term care facilities about a week before other states started.

The state also broke from federal guidance on groups prioritized to receive the vaccine first, emphasizing speed over specifics.

[Klaralven]

2. If you have an important job to get done, give it to someone who has done it before.

The pharmacies give flu shots, shingles shots, etc.

Primary care clinics give most of the rest, e.g. DTP boosters.

Setting up a new infrastructure is a bad mistake.

[genxlib]

3. I disagree 180 degrees

If you have a big task to do, don’t give it to people who already have a full time job.

The rate that pharmacies and clinics give shots is no where near as fast as could be done in a temporary setup. We should be setting up gigantic temporary locations in unused public spaces like convention centers.

I find this article to be frustrating because they are comparing slow to glacial and congratulating them for it. It’s all too slow. Be need to go big and do it fast. If we aren’t giving it out as fast as they are making it, then we are failing.

[Klaralven]

5. They administer about 200 million flu shots each fall within about 3 or 4 months

Flu vaccine season is over, so they have all that unused capacity now.

[Hekate]

9. Because of the need for social distancing & the space to accommodate that, plus the space to...

....have people wait around after in case of a bad reaction — according to the clinic I’ve been getting updates from, they can only do 1/6 as many injections compared to flu shots in a given amount of time. And they don’t have as much vax as they want....

For mass vaccinations lots of space is needed, like fairgrounds, and lots of additional people to do the job.

I’ll go to whoever can take me and DH first — clinic or county. We are over 70 and even tho the governor is now lowering the “old age” schedule to age 65, the supply is just not there yet, because Trump lied.

[Hekate]

6. Veterinarians know how to give injections. EMTs know how. Student nurses know how.

It is actually not that difficult and the need is overwhelming. The National Guard should be brought in to help with logistics.

You know, the last smallpox outbreak in this country was in 1946 or 1947. Vaccination in the city was a huge priority, contact tracing was a huge priority. There were no fancy-schmancy computers and stuff, yet they got it done.

The last polio outbreak was about 1954. It was devastating. Then the vaccine was developed and parents brought their kids to makeshift clinics, and lined up around the block to get their kids protected. The clinic I went to was a classroom in my elementary school.

WE USED TO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. IT IS LOGISTICS 101 and EPIDEMIOLOGY 101.

[demtenjeep]

4. I NEED to get mine SOON no response from BOE so sent to my Gov. Kelly

Last edited Sun Jan 17, 2021, 03:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Good afternoon board member xxxx

I am writing today to express a couple of issues. I know they are not brand new issues but they are heavy on my heart and feel I must express my voice to be heard. I am a wonderful teacher. My parents say so, my kids say so and the Golden Apple I won would also indicate that others feel the same. I Have been a teacher for 25 years, 20 of which I have proudly served with the xxxxx Schools. My passion is teaching. I remember when I was in Kindergarten, we were asked to draw what we wanted to be as adults and I drew a picture of the teacher. Although my path was different than others I was able to fulfil my dream of being the best teacher I can be.

However, my body has fought me all the way. About 15 years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. As a result, I have to take Chemo which leaves my immune system weak. I have had pancreatitis 12 times, I also have contracted C-Diff and Campylobacter. Each of these are serious dangerous life threatening diseases. All require hospital stays and have all caused me to be in deduct the last 10 years. Last year I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance because of a suspected stroke. In the end it was Bells Palsey. Bells Palsey is a virus as are C-Diff and Campylobacter. Because I take chemo and my immune system is weak, my doctor and specialist assume that I get a virus from someone in my building (Kids or Staff) and my body manifests itself differently causing me to contract diseases differently than others. This year I had to quarantine 4 days because of suspected Covid , then my sister passed away and then I had a huge crohn's flare-up. Again I am in deduct and it is only January. Through this all, I have been proud to teach my children But this year I have been deathly afraid to teach. Since I teach Middle School and we have been remote all this time, I have been able to do my best even though I worried about the adults in my building as many have expressed this virus was a hoax and the only time they wore masks were in school because they had to.

On November 30 I had a doctor appointment with my gastro doctor who expressed horror that I was in a building with so many other people. He started filling out paperwork to allow me to teach from home since my children were also remote. In a wonderful turn of events, the board also agreed that night to allow us to teach from home and I did not have to go through the red tape of trying to convince others that I needed to be different and teach from home. I felt HEARD and VALUED as a teacher, as a person and as employee

On Friday Jan 8, on the deadliest day of the pandemic, I received news that we might be back in the building next week WITH children. I was horrified. As a historian, the analogy that first came to mind was surviving the Titanic only to die on the Carpathia. Or in military terms to die in a needless battle after the peace treaty was signed because some upper management hadn't gotten the news the war was over. .

Oh Jan 6 during the domestic terrorist attack on our nation's capital, some lawmakers had to shelter in place with congress people that refused to wear masks and as a result, there is a covid super spreader event now and they have had the first round of vaccines.

Vaccines are here. Teachers and sick people like me are next in line to get them. I understand our students have been out of school a long time but so have we teachers. We are making connections with our students and working hard. I teach PBS students. These are the hitters, biters, throwers, wall climbers, screamers, elopers and many other activities that daily jeopardize our health. During online learning I have witnessed several pick their nose and eat their findings while on screen, I have had another tell me he doesn't wear F%#@ masks because his daddy says covid is a hoax. Most have not been staying at home or social distancing. All of these concern me as a teacher.

We are not even over the wave of Thanksgiving Covid flare-ups and Christmas has only been 2 weeks ago and experts say it could be another month before we fully realize the cases from then. I am not understanding why we can't wait until Spring Break to bring everyone back. By then vaccines will be in place AND post Christmas waves will be over.


I want my kids back. I love my students and they love me-but that can not happen if I am dead.

Thank you for listening

[Hekate]

8. All the best to you