Today, I discovered that the site isn't broken. It's just a really bad user interface. But, now there are no more appointments available. It says to check back soon. Gah!
COVID19 Vaccinations-How's It Going?
- Thread starter Andy M.
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Today, I discovered that the site isn't broken. It's just a really bad user interface. But, now there are no more appointments available. It says to check back soon. Gah!
Just Cooking
Master Chef
I see many who are having difficulty with appointments.
We have always (since becoming qualified for Medicare) had supplemental insurance, either HMO or PPO. Our current HMO (Cox Essence Health Care) made arrangements and scheduled our appointments.
I kinda thought that was a given for older folk.
Ross
Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
It's not just the scheduling, Ross, it's where the vaccines are being given. The governor is holding back from local hospitals, clinics, and drug stores so that the distribution sites are big and centralized. Most very close to Boston. Even Barnstable County (all of Cape Cod), which had the 3rd oldest population in the nation, has had to drive a long way - Provincetown to Gillette Stadium is 116 miles one way. They were just allowed to set up their own arrangements, but they don't get many doses to distribute.
Just Cooking
Master Chef
I see. I didn't realize that it is a distribution problem.
We don't seem to have that here in MO.
Ross
Kathleen
Cupcake
I was fortunate to get a link that allowed me to make an appointment. I signed up when vaccines were first starting so I could be notified of availability. I've not yet received anything about an appointment from them, but got an email this past week that they have me on a list. I'll turn down the opportunity when it comes through because I have already received my shots. However, it is a horrific system here. I simply got lucky in getting an appointment.
OP
OP
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
It seems many states are experiencing issues with the huge volume of traffic on the websites.
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
If that's the Virginia Department of Health, you can change your status, so they can contact someone else to receive the vaccine.
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
Since the previous administration didn't communicate with states about vaccine distribution - when, where and how much they would get - they didn't have the information they needed to make plans. They couldn't set up vaccination sites and staffing, supplies and the necessary storage facilities. They're scrambling to catch up.
Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
MA has sites, but we're out here in what Himself calls "The Frontier". [emoji1] The mass vaccination sites are mostly clustered near Boston, or at least the eastern part of the state. And I would rather mostly hide in my house and shop infrequently and wait for the governor to alot more inventory nearby. Also, DC keeps saying they'll send MA so many doses, then fewer than promised show up. However, maybe my earlier complaint helped. Himself got an email yesterday offering him the chance to get an appointment!!! It's at the community center in the next town over. It's not until March 30th, but he did get to pick the time. You all know what a sleeper-inner he can be, but he should be able to get there at 4. LOL!
Still, it boggles my mind in what our government with private enterprise has been able to do in just one year. Studying a new virus, formulating a vaccine, trying to get a huge country with a large, varied population vaccinated...and not with something as simple as sugar cubes, mind you. [emoji6] Amazing. The best analogy for this was something I heard on a Marketplace broadcast. The virologist Kai Ryssdal was speaking to said it was like building a plane once it was already in the air. He didn't mention, though, that the plane builders didn't have the extra pressure of passengers dying.
Still, it boggles my mind in what our government with private enterprise has been able to do in just one year. Studying a new virus, formulating a vaccine, trying to get a huge country with a large, varied population vaccinated...and not with something as simple as sugar cubes, mind you. [emoji6] Amazing. The best analogy for this was something I heard on a Marketplace broadcast. The virologist Kai Ryssdal was speaking to said it was like building a plane once it was already in the air. He didn't mention, though, that the plane builders didn't have the extra pressure of passengers dying.
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
I was referring to December and January, when the vaccines first became available. There were no federal plans for distribution, so states couldn't plan. It's much better now, but like I said, states are still scrambling to catch up.
Coronaviruses have been studied for over a decade now, so it wasn't entirely new to virologists. The first vaccine available was the Pfizer vaccine, which was developed in Germany with no support from the US federal government. And, of course, the former guy discouraged people from getting the vaccine, which is why so many people are afraid to get it now. So many lives could have been saved last year with different leadership.
OP
OP
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
In MA, regardless of vaccine availability, the MA website for booking an appointment couldn't handle the volume. It had to undergo revision twice. Then they just opened it up to pre-registration. Where you go online and provide info about your location and category and they will contact you when you are eligible and an appointment becomes available.
GotGarlic
Chef Extraordinaire
Same in Virginia, although, as I mentioned, the medical school/group where my doctor works, had a vaccination clinic and they arranged for people to be on standby in case of no-shows. Since I'm eligible, I got a call for that and fortunately, there were enough no-shows that I got my first shot. So maybe more types of sites will open up like that in other states. I am in an urban area, though, so that helps.
Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
Our town started their own sign-up through the town website somewhere around the end of January. Himself registered about a month ago. I signed up sometime last week. I figured if we stagger our vaccinations and one of us reacts poorly, the other should be good enough to help out.
I become eligible on Monday (3/15). Then, I'll need to sign up early in the morning, every day until I get lucky. My sister (an RN in Texas) told me I can also go to a shot location at the end of the day (last appointment), and if they have doses left, they give them to whoever is there, so no doses get wasted.
CD
CD
I'm still checking the QC government site every few hours. People have said that appointments become available at random times. I have to check if it's true, but I read that this coming week, we will be able to book appointments at pharmacies, not just government vaccination centres.
OP
OP
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
I joined a couple of different Facebook groups for my town for news, info and foodie talk. It was through these groups that I got wind of vaccine availability, first at the town hall for me and later at a local hospital for SO when she became eligible. IF not for these groups, I'd probably still be hunting for an appointment.
I got an appointment at a pharmacy about 2 km away from home. It's for June 28. That was the earliest I could find anywhere near me.
I checked with "my" pharmacy yesterday (Monday) morning and many times during the day. They were already fully booked. Today it wasn't in the list of vaccination places on the provincial website.
I guess they will be back on the list once they have some vacant spots.
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Silversage
Head Chef
I have an appointment this Saturday for my second dose!!!
I have a close-knit group of 8 women friends who socialize together - dinner - theater - parties - etc. All of us will have our second shots done before Easter, so we are having an Easter brunch at Barb's house!!! Yay!!!
It feels so good to see the end of the tunnel in site.
I have a close-knit group of 8 women friends who socialize together - dinner - theater - parties - etc. All of us will have our second shots done before Easter, so we are having an Easter brunch at Barb's house!!! Yay!!!
It feels so good to see the end of the tunnel in site.
OP
OP
Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
SO went for her first shot today (Pfizer). She was in and out in 15-20 minutes.
They gave her an appointment for for he second shot on 4/6/21, but she will be in FL attending to her daughter who is having major surgery.
I sent an email to the hospital that's doing the shots and got a call back in an hour to reschedule to a better date.
I continue to be impressed with the efficiency and professionalism exhibited by these folks.
On a related note, I heard on the news last night that MA is #1 in the nation for states with a population over 5 million.
They gave her an appointment for for he second shot on 4/6/21, but she will be in FL attending to her daughter who is having major surgery.
I sent an email to the hospital that's doing the shots and got a call back in an hour to reschedule to a better date.
I continue to be impressed with the efficiency and professionalism exhibited by these folks.
On a related note, I heard on the news last night that MA is #1 in the nation for states with a population over 5 million.
CharlieD
Chef Extraordinaire
Even with vaccine you have to be careful. One week after I was vaccinated I was exposed to the Corona and got infected. My test results came back today Positive.
