Covid Vaccine Distribution

[Cayman]

Here's a real life example:


A patient was seen in our clinic yesterday. He had a COVID test. It came back positive at 11:06 AM today. I just went into his chart at 11:22 AM to call him with his result only to find that the nurse from the mAb team had already called the patient with his result and already scheduled his infusion.


It's being handled very quickly and efficiently here at least.

It sure has come a long way. Thanks for the update and thank you for your work and sacrifice as a health provider.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Well earlier this year there was a report that the cocktails haven’t been used routinely.

Well, in the grand scheme of things, "earlier this year" was a LONG time ago. The hospitalizations are down (generally across the US in relation to positive test results) so I think that treatment options early on have gotten markedly better.

I also think that many of the talking heads don't want to be "so certain" in what they say, because they learned early on that as this evolves, being so certain can really bite them in the arse. Like most science, the understanding of it changes almost daily.

 

[disneysteve]

Like most science, the understanding of it changes almost daily.

Most things in science don't change with anywhere near the rapidity that COVID science has been changing. We quite literally get new information nearly every day, every week at a minimum. The J&J vaccine concerns just came out a couple of days ago, for example.


It's been crazy to be a front line provider the past year exactly because of this. Our policies and procedures have been constantly changing as new information became available.

 

[audreyh1]

It sure has come a long way. Thanks for the update and thank you for your work and sacrifice as a health provider.

+1

And thanks for letting us here know how it is supposed to work.

Now if they can only develop monoclonal antibodies that are effective for these new variants. I’m sure someone must be working on that.

 

[disneysteve]

It sure has come a long way. Thanks for the update and thank you for your work and sacrifice as a health provider.

Thanks. I've been a doc for 30 years and the past year has been the absolute most insane experience of my career. In fact, it's definitely part of what really made me look much more seriously at ER. I used to think I'd work until 62. Then I started thinking 60 might work. Now I'm seriously trying to make 58 work. It's been an incredibly difficult year.

 

[audreyh1]

Thanks. I've been a doc for 30 years and the past year has been the absolute most insane experience of my career. In fact, it's definitely part of what really made me look much more seriously at ER. I used to think I'd work until 62. Then I started thinking 60 might work. Now I'm seriously trying to make 58 work. It's been an incredibly difficult year.

Wow! We really appreciate your perspective and sharing as someone on the front lines.

 

[Amethyst]

When I went to schedule our physicals last April, I discovered our primary care doctor had retired. My first thought was, "Ha! Knew what was coming, didn't you!"

Thanks. I've been a doc for 30 years and the past year has been the absolute most insane experience of my career. In fact, it's definitely part of what really made me look much more seriously at ER. I used to think I'd work until 62. Then I started thinking 60 might work. Now I'm seriously trying to make 58 work. It's been an incredibly difficult year.

 

[disneysteve]

When I went to schedule our physicals last April, I discovered our primary care doctor had retired. My first thought was, "Ha! Knew what was coming, didn't you!"

What perfect timing on their part. I'm sure the pandemic advanced a lot of doctors' exit from the workforce. If they were close and could walk away and not deal with it all, good for them. They were forced to close their offices anyway. Perfect time to just be done for good. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite there yet.

 

[Amethyst]

That's how I felt, although I was sorry to lose him. He helped me with a problem I had, and directed me to a specialist whose guidance was spot-on.

We are locked into "preferred providers" and, so far, haven't found a primary care doctor I'm comfortable with. Current one's front office is very poor at patient communication.

That said, I try to cut all medical/dental practices some slack around the extra burdens imposed by the pandemic.

What perfect timing on their part. I'm sure the pandemic advanced a lot of doctors' exit from the workforce. If they were close and could walk away and not deal with it all, good for them. .

 

[disneysteve]

Current one's front office is very poor at patient communication.

This is such a common complaint. Many patients change doctors not because they didn't like the doctor but because they couldn't stand the office staff.


Having been a PCP for 24 years, I know how incredibly difficult it is to find and retain good front desk staff. The job is a ridiculously hard, high stress position, but reimbursement is such that practices just can't pay much for that job. So you get people with limited education and not-so-great people skills willing to work for low wages. It's a lose-lose all around. We don't value primary care nearly enough in our society and it shows in a multitude of ways.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

My best friend is a nurse in Erie, PA. PA just opened up vaccination to ALL ages. He's doing his normal job in the hospital and also volunteering for overtime to work in the vaccination location. He said there are many, many free appointment times for vaccination. The demand is not happening. It will be interesting to see if we even reach 50% vaccinated in my area.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

My best friend is a nurse in Erie, PA. PA just opened up vaccination to ALL ages. He's doing his normal job in the hospital and also volunteering for overtime to work in the vaccination location. He said there are many, many free appointment times for vaccination. The demand is not happening. It will be interesting to see if we even reach 50% vaccinated in my area.

This seems to be an issue in a lot of places. We have opened up to everyone for a while now and while they are still getting shots in the arms, we are only at 26% of our county being "fully vaccinated." Our states top counties are 30%, 29% and 29% which doesn't bode well as easy as the vaccine is to get here.

There is a push to try and get to the disadvantaged groups out there and there are a LOT of people that live WAY out in the sticks around here. I wonder if a "meals on wheels" kind of solution...door to door service might help some? I know the rates of vaccination would be very low, but at this point...I don't see that it could hurt.

 

[harllee]

Local brewery is giving a six pack of beer to anyone who shows their vaccine card. Local TV showed a long line of people to get the beer. Whatever it takes.

 

[Popeye]

My best friend is a nurse in Erie, PA. PA just opened up vaccination to ALL ages. He's doing his normal job in the hospital and also volunteering for overtime to work in the vaccination location. He said there are many, many free appointment times for vaccination. The demand is not happening. It will be interesting to see if we even reach 50% vaccinated in my area.

Wow! Here in the opposite corner of PA it is a different story. My county borders .Philadelphia. About a week ago I scheduled an appointment for the county vaccination center. Among the four locations, the earliest spot was May 20th.

Then I got lucky this week since I kept looking. I was on the vaccine finder site and saw a bunch of spots come up for Rite-Aid pharmacy locations. I was able to grab one for me and one for my brother next week. Even using two tabs, by the time I booked them both the times were two hours apart. That’s how fast they were being booked. A few minutes later and they were all gone at multiple locations. Tell your friend to send the extras to Bucks County!

 

[Chuckanut]

It' still an effort to get vaccinated in my area, but not the huge mess it was two months ago. Appointments are opening up more often during the week. There is even a scraper site that will list appointments from different organizations on one screen. Needless to say that is very helpful and time saving. People are still filling up the schedules.

One way or the other we will hit herd immunity. I hope it's not the hard way where CV spends a few more years working its way through a large, vaccinated proportion of the population. Ugh!

 

[eytonxav]

I am happy that all my immediate family members (DW, DD, DS/DDIL) are fully vaccinated.

Last fall, my PCP informed me that he is no longer seeing patients and will just be doing clinic oversight at his practice. I wonder if that would have been his decision anyway without the pandemic.

 

[Koolau]

This is such a common complaint. Many patients change doctors not because they didn't like the doctor but because they couldn't stand the office staff.


Having been a PCP for 24 years, I know how incredibly difficult it is to find and retain good front desk staff. The job is a ridiculously hard, high stress position, but reimbursement is such that practices just can't pay much for that job. So you get people with limited education and not-so-great people skills willing to work for low wages. It's a lose-lose all around. We don't value primary care nearly enough in our society and it shows in a multitude of ways.

This is an interesting perception. We seem to have a a competent and effective front-office staff at our local clinic. The nursing staff is cordial (knows our histories too!) and also kind and caring. The doctors we have now seem to rally care and know their stuff. I'd say our current medical ohana is the best we've ever had. I'm sure it varies within the Islands but we are quite satisfied though YMMV.

 

[ivinsfan]

This is an interesting perception. We seem to have a a competent and effective front-office staff at our local clinic. The nursing staff is cordial (knows our histories too!) and also kind and caring. The doctors we have now seem to rally care and know their stuff. I'd say our current medical ohana is the best we've ever had. I'm sure it varies within the Islands but we are quite satisfied though YMMV.

Well the entire staff from PA's to RN to office people of my DH's heart surgeon was the best bunch we have ever worked with and it's not even close.


The doc was 70, founded the heart clinic,and was the nicest most humble guy we've even been in contact with. Our ICU cardiac nurse from his staff told us people fight to be hired to work in his office. And it showed.

 

[CardsFan]

I have had several skin cancers, including melanomas, removed and repaired by the same surgeon. He is very good at what he does, but not great at interpersonal reactions.

His staff,on the other hand, is fantastic at making you comfortable and keeping you informed. This includes one doc that does most of the clean up work, all the nurses, all the other staff I have dealt with.

Finding a good doctor is hard. Finding one with great staff is a bonus.

This is such a common complaint. Many patients change doctors not because they didn't like the doctor but because they couldn't stand the office staff.


Having been a PCP for 24 years, I know how incredibly difficult it is to find and retain good front desk staff. The job is a ridiculously hard, high stress position, but reimbursement is such that practices just can't pay much for that job. So you get people with limited education and not-so-great people skills willing to work for low wages. It's a lose-lose all around. We don't value primary care nearly enough in our society and it shows in a multitude of ways.

 

[JoeWras]

Let's not panic about open spots at vaccination sites. At least not yet.

Look, people have heard about the nightmares many of us have had and have thrown up their hands and said, "enough." They are waiting for easy vaccination scheduling, or walk in. In some places, that is starting to happen. If so, pass the word. We need to burn through the "easy appointment" people before calling vaccination rates a failure.

I would also like to see some states include rural areas as "underserved." Right now the effort in my state has been to certain urban areas. There are a lot of rural folks who don't or cannot travel and will literally need clinics very close or directly to their home. Of course, many of us (I'll put myself in this) haven't helped the situation earlier when we snapped up the rural spots in neighboring counties. This discouraged a lot of people who just would rather forget it.

This is both a sprint and a marathon. It isn't over, and our authorities also need to keep their eye on the ball and pivot their perceptions, and also drop their preconceived notions and bias about politics of certain counties.

 

[audreyh1]

Agreed, I think it’s premature to worry about lack of vaccine takers. More of an outreach program is needed, and make it way easier to get vaccinated.

 

[Koolau]

I wanted to share what I consider a "bright spot" in the pandemic. We have a Lt Gov. who is also a PRACTICING physician. He has been our point person in communications to the state through the media. I'd say he is on the news in one fashion or another 5 nights of the week. To me, he seems clear headed, non-political, careful but not overly reactive to Covid numbers, etc. In short, he gives me a good feeling about the progress the state has been making. I've been very critical - and most of that has been directed at the Governor AND the Mayors of the various Islands. Dr. Green, on the other hand has been the one who as been the voice of reason.

With all this in mind (and remember the potential blood clot issue with J&J was not announced at the time of this recording) I want to present a YT presentation - about 35 minutes about our State's situation and response with respect to Covid.

I have been concerned about the mayors overreaction to Covid. I've been concerned about the Covid "passport" situation. I've been concerned about "tourists vs locals". I've been concerned about those "refusing" to be vaccinated. I have been extremely concerned about our homelessness issues. I think Dr. Green addresses ALL of these issue and more in a very cogent and straight forward manner. He doesn't worry about (respectfully) disagreeing with other governmental leaders (mayors, specifically - maybe even the Governor if you listen closely.)

Okay, so this YT video will not be for everyone. It's kinda long. I just want to present a Q&A session that is (IMHO) just about as good as it gets when it comes to communicating with the public about Covid. Kudos to the news staff as well.

As always, there is the YMMV factor. Perhaps more so than usual. If you know of another person (or group) who is routinely availbable to the public doing a better job of communication, please share with the Forum. ALOHA

 

[Dreamer]

Thanks. I've been a doc for 30 years and the past year has been the absolute most insane experience of my career. In fact, it's definitely part of what really made me look much more seriously at ER. I used to think I'd work until 62. Then I started thinking 60 might work. Now I'm seriously trying to make 58 work. It's been an incredibly difficult year.

Thank you for the healthcare that you have provided during your 30 years and especially for the last difficult year. I am so thankful and appreciative of all the healthcare professionals who have worked so tirelessly during this pandemic.

 

[Boho]

I finally found a bunch of openings at various Walgreens stores today. Not the one nearest me, but I found one almost two miles away that I'll be walking to and probably from. I made the appointments for both shots five minutes ago. My first one is tomorrow. No choice on the date for the pharmacy I chose.

And now I'm wondering if this is part of the new expanded pharmacy availability that I heard was coming this month. Maybe I should have checked other drug stores first, for something a mile away instead of two.

 

[USGrant1962]

Let's not panic about open spots at vaccination sites. At least not yet.

Look, people have heard about the nightmares many of us have had and have thrown up their hands and said, "enough." They are waiting for easy vaccination scheduling, or walk in. In some places, that is starting to happen. If so, pass the word. We need to burn through the "easy appointment" people before calling vaccination rates a failure.

I would also like to see some states include rural areas as "underserved." Right now the effort in my state has been to certain urban areas. There are a lot of rural folks who don't or cannot travel and will literally need clinics very close or directly to their home. Of course, many of us (I'll put myself in this) haven't helped the situation earlier when we snapped up the rural spots in neighboring counties. This discouraged a lot of people who just would rather forget it.

This is both a sprint and a marathon. It isn't over, and our authorities also need to keep their eye on the ball and pivot their perceptions, and also drop their preconceived notions and bias about politics of certain counties.

Agreed. Most states just opened vax to half of the adult population this week. The half that has been told for months that they are not vulnerable or important. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot of procrastination in that group due to the crappy messaging.