Covid Vaccine Distribution

[24601NoMore]

Pfizer partnered with a German biotech startup called BioNTech.

So the vaccine was developed by a small startup, not a pharma giant.

Pfizer used its experience to manage the vaccine through the trials and handles the logistics of manufacturing and distribution.

Good clarifications..but as MidPack said, BioNTech has been around since 2008 and has over 1,200 employees.

BioNTech developed the mRNA technology, but Pfizer worked hand in hand with them throughout the development process from March of 2020 on - from determining which of BioNTech's 20 "candidate" vaccines would work and ultimately go into production. That (as I understand from my reading) involved extensive testing that Pfizer was very involved with as well as trials with a couple of the final candidate vaccines.

More importantly from my perspective is that Pfizer is manufacturing the vaccine, so all of Pfizer's know-how, quality controls, etc are involved in getting the vaccine produced and delivered to market.

I'm not aware of a similar situation with Moderna (ie: I don't believe they are partnered up with any big pharma giant like Pfizer to produce and distribute..and I'm not aware of a "Big 4" pharma company being jointly involved in development, testing, etc).

Here's a really good article on the history of the joint development process between Pfizer and BioNTech which first started ~ March of 2020..

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-pf...-time-crazy-deadlines-a-pushy-ceo-11607740483

 

[audreyh1]

We're scheduled to get the Pfizer vacc this Tuesday. I'm inclined to also favor the Pfizer over Moderna just because Pfizer is a MUCH larger company than Moderna (has been around 150 or so years..is one of the "Big 4" drug companies, etc).

Curious..is there anything else that makes you prefer the Pfizer over Moderna?

Actually, I’d been fine with either of the two dose vaccines. But Pfizer would have me the same as DH, so probably more convenient with boosters, etc.

 

[audreyh1]

Why are they getting reimbursed?

Fed govt paid for vaccines and the relief bill will allocate tens of billions for vaccine rollout.

If you have high deductible, insurance may make you pay for those reimbursements?

No, HDHP plans still cover most vaccines with no deductible required as it’s considered preventative.

 

[Gumby]

Yale has my insurance information and I assume they'll charge my insurance and I won't have a co-pay (I haven't had one for other vaccines), but even if I did have a co-pay, it would be worth it.

 

[harllee]

Why are they getting reimbursed?

Fed govt paid for vaccines and the relief bill will allocate tens of billions for vaccine rollout.

If you have high deductible, insurance may make you pay for those reimbursements?

I understand that the Federal government paid for the cost of the vaccine but not the cost of the local health departments, etc to administer the fee ( not yet anyway). Can you imagine how much it is costing to run all these vaccine clinics? I also was told that the health department will not make an individual pay the cost of there is no insurance that pays.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

We're scheduled to get the Pfizer vacc this Tuesday. I'm inclined to also favor the Pfizer over Moderna just because Pfizer is a MUCH larger company than Moderna (has been around 150 or so years..is one of the "Big 4" drug companies, etc).

Curious..is there anything else that makes you prefer the Pfizer over Moderna?

It appears that the Pfizer produced better results than Moderna on older (over 65? 75?) people. Moderna claims that their reduced effectiveness on old folks is probably because their sample of old folks was much smaller, just statistical chance.
Maybe, but maybe not. And I'm unimpressed that their study apparently slighted the people most at risk from Covid.

Also, lab testing shows that the reduction in antibodies when the South African variant is exposed to vaccinated blood, is greater (fewer antibodies) with Moderna than Pfizer. How much that tells us about the real world is unknown. Pfizer is in the process of donating a large number of doses to a province in Austria that's being hit hard by the South African variant, so they can get some real world results. But that will take a while.

When we showed up for our first shots, we didn't know which vaccine we would be getting. When we learned it was Pfizer, we were really happy. Now, 3 weeks after the second shot, we're still happy.
Ask me again in a year...

 

[Koolau]

AFAIK, the standard interval between Pfizer Covid vaxx shots is 3 weeks, and for Moderna it's 4 weeks.

Did they really schedule your second vaxx for two weeks after the first?

OOOPS! Nope. 4 weeks for Moderna. Guess I can't count.

 

[sengsational]

The drive-thru in SC last Friday was staffed with tons of happy, helpful people.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Except for a couple of very minor differences in the after vaccination waiting process, what you described is exactly what we experienced when getting our first and second doses. I doubt the similarity is coincidental which makes me think the CDC or some other agency published a recommended mass vaccination process that these sites are following.

Ours ran very smoothly as well. It was done by the state's reserve medical corps. I am not very familiar with it, but I believe it falls under the national guard (there were many NG members there working).

Appointments were set in 15 minute increments, and the vaccinations were given in an old Sears store. You showed up, stayed in your car and when they got to your time slot, it was announced over loudspeaker and a dedicated FM radio station. You went in, had your phone QR code ready (or preprinted QR code) and got the shot. 15 minutes later you were released. Our appointment time was 2:15 and we were leaving the lot by 3:00. They really had it together.

I am not sure how many people are they getting done at these events, but they have been all over the state the last several weeks and a few have been cancelled because not enough people have been scheduling or showing up.

 

[Freedom56]

Just over 2.9 million shots were administered on Saturday. More FEMA and mass vaccination sites are opening up this week. Now they are projecting up to 3.5-4.0 million shots per day. At this pace I may be able to get a shot in April without cutting the line. We may get back to normal by June.

 

[Calico]

OOOPS! Nope. 4 weeks for Moderna. Guess I can't count.

I'm just glad they didn't hit the "2" instead of the "4" when they set up your second appointment!

 

[PaunchyPirate]

I had my second dose of Pfizer this morning. So far so good 7 hours later. As with the first dose, our small-town local hospital staff ran the operation perfectly.

As of today, our county of 84,600 people has 12.3% fully vaccinated and another 8.6% are partially vaccinated. Our county ranks 6th out of 67 in Pennsylvania per 100,000 population. Not bad.

This is also a county where only about 50% of the local health professionals chose to get the vaccine when offered. This was a statistic directly from the head of our local hospital.

 

[jazz4cash]

I was finally able to schedule an appointment. I’ll be driving pass 3 other vaccination sites about an hour away. Things seem to be pretty messed up here in MD. Almost everyone I know that’s been vaccinated just called a
or showed up with no appointment. I just couldn’t understand why they have been unable to give out appointments (even if it is a long way out). Why not give out numbers like they do at the deli counter. At least you can see your turn is coming up. I’m ow that’s too simplistic. It seems like the local counties are competing with the state. People are pre-registering on multiple sites with no coordination so how can they possibly schedule distribution efficiently?

 

[mpeirce]

Ohio just announced today that 50+ will be eligible as of next Thursday for vaccines. It's been 60+ for a little while.

 

[audreyh1]

Wow, I wish! It’s been so frustrating to wait for my age group (61).

 

[explanade]

I guess the biggest states have a lot of people over 65.

 

[audreyh1]

And/or are using other criteria besides just age.

 

[Koolau]

24 hours post shot, my arm is a bit sore. That's it as far as symptoms. SO looking forward to getting the second shot out of the way. SO hoping we establish enough herd immunity (country if not worldwide) so that we can travel without too many restrictions in the near future. YMMV

 

[athena53]

And one final observation. That may have been the happiest and most thankful group of people I have seen in a very long time. Everyone was in a good mood, both patients and staff. It was a very positive experience.

I noticed that, too. I'm sure the healthcare workers had all seen people fighting COVID, dealt with distraught family members, witnessed deaths... and now they were doing something to prevent it. Probably 99% of the recipients were THRILLED and grateful. I know I was.

 

[Koolau]

I noticed that, too. I'm sure the healthcare workers had all seen people fighting COVID, dealt with distraught family members, witnessed deaths... and now they were doing something to prevent it. Probably 99% of the recipients were THRILLED and grateful. I know I was.

I typically don't show my emotions (except with these) I didn't see much other than a bunch of old people (and I'm one of them) standing in line, waiting for their turn. DW and I scored a couple of chairs and scooted them along as we waited. I'd say half the folks were there as couples. We had a 15 minute wait time following the shot to be certain we were all right. Most folks just stared off into space or looked at their phones. I didn't see any emotion, but maybe it was just me. The folks administering the vaccine injections were courteous, friendly and professional. Other than the big line, I wouldn't have noticed a difference from the flu shot clinic I attended at the start of flu season. YMMV

Oh, I almost forgot!

 

[ivinsfan]

I typically don't show my emotions (except with these) I didn't see much other than a bunch of old people (and I'm one of them) standing in line, waiting for their turn. DW and I scored a couple of chairs and scooted them along as we waited. I'd say half the folks were there as couples. We had a 15 minute wait time following the shot to be certain we were all right. Most folks just stared off into space or looked at their phones. I didn't see any emotion, but maybe it was just me. The folks administering the vaccine injections were courteous, friendly and professional. Other than the big line, I wouldn't have noticed a difference from the flu shot clinic I attended at the start of flu season. YMMV

Oh, I almost forgot!

I'm guessing that is due to your location, you haven't lived it until you see your state leap to the one position for Covid positive numbers...from what I've seen your state has had low numbers for the entire year.

 

[Koolau]

I'm guessing that is due to your location, you haven't lived it until you see your state leap to the one position for Covid positive numbers...from what I've seen your state has had low numbers for the entire year.

Absolutely true, but as a state we have (arguably) been the most devastated economically by the virus. Our life blood is tourism which essentially ended early in 2020. Though it's very slowly coming back, I can't count the number of businesses I used to frequent that will now, never reopen. Our big bakery LOVES Bakery just announced its permanent closing after over 100 years in business. We bought almost all our bread there (in the day-old store). If the winds were right, I could smell the bakery blocks away as we approached. Now, it will be gone. Another bakery JUST announced its closing as well. Most of the "chain" restaurants will survive - they always do. But the mom-and-pop-unique-flavors-and-experiences are now mostly gone. I suppose as we get back to tourism-as-usual (someday) others may take their places, but it will never be the same. We as a state have changed - I think profoundly - so I consider that I HAVE "lived it." It's a different experience than other states, but Hawaii has been as badly affected as many other states. Again, it's arguable, so YMMV.

 

[harllee]

My DH and I both cried after our first shots because we were so happy.

 

[Sunset]

.... so I consider that I HAVE "lived it." It's a different experience than other states, but Hawaii has been as badly affected as many other states. Again, it's arguable, so YMMV.

HI was affected economically because we were dying. We also get the economic hit as well for all the tourist/bar/restaurant things.

We in IL had the advantage of normally staying inside more during Winter anyhow, so perhaps it was less of an effect on us

 

[ivinsfan]

Absolutely true, but as a state we have (arguably) been the most devastated economically by the virus. Our life blood is tourism which essentially ended early in 2020. Though it's very slowly coming back, I can't count the number of businesses I used to frequent that will now, never reopen. Our big bakery LOVES Bakery just announced its permanent closing after over 100 years in business. We bought almost all our bread there (in the day-old store). If the winds were right, I could smell the bakery blocks away as we approached. Now, it will be gone. Another bakery JUST announced its closing as well. Most of the "chain" restaurants will survive - they always do. But the mom-and-pop-unique-flavors-and-experiences are now mostly gone. I suppose as we get back to tourism-as-usual (someday) others may take their places, but it will never be the same. We as a state have changed - I think profoundly - so I consider that I HAVE "lived it." It's a different experience than other states, but Hawaii has been as badly affected as many other states. Again, it's arguable, so YMMV.

An economy can recover, it might take time. If you were worried sick about your older relative that got Covid in the nursing home and died, that's pretty permanent. HI has very strict lockdown travel rules which worked but every action has a reaction.

Let's hope things rapidly find a "new" normal for all of us.. I want us all to be happy and covid stress free.