Covid Vaccine Distribution

[Sue J]

Just got my 2nd Pfizer vaccine dose today. It was from the county health department drive up vaccine site. In Feb when I got my first shot I had a 10 minute wait in line behind maybe 8-10 cars. Today it was totally different. I was in line for over an hour before I even got to the first check point where they take your ID, then another 15 minutes or so until the shot. And it was raining and about 45 degrees. AND I DIDN'T CARE! I was just so appreciative that I was able to get the vaccine! I enthusiastically thanked everyone working to get this done for us. All these people standing out in the cold and rain to get us through the process.

As for DH, who has been unable to find an appointment, I got one for him just last night. I was reading a local Facebook group "Talk of The Town" for our city. Many posts about having a hard time finding vaccine appointments and someone posted about appointments at our local Children's Hospital. I did a quick check and got DH an appointment for next Friday afternoon. It didn't say which vaccine, he's hoping it's the one shot J&J but he will take whatever he can get.

It's 6 hours since I got my shot today and I'm starting to feel the effects. Took tylenol a while ago and I'm going to try to get to bed early. I've heard of worse side effects for the 2nd shot so I have nothing planned for tomorrow.

So happy I'm done!

 

[USGrant1962]

I think this is a day late and a dollar short.. I was hoping they would do something like this in early Feb, but it never happened. Nothing like this is even in the pipeline ASIK. You know what else ticks me off, getting the vaccine is an national emergency, except on Sundays. Basically vaccines around here only go out 6 days a week. If they have doses and trained professionals why on earth can't they vaccine 7 days a week.

I've not seen anything that suggests a shortage of shooters is a problem. Reference?

AFAIK, the bottleneck is vaccine approval and manufacturing/distribution - which have done nothing but ramp up for months.

Heck, where I live physicians and walk-in clinics can't get doses yet and only a minority of drug store/grocery store pharmacies have it. There are plenty of shooters if we can get enough vaccine out.

 

[Leo1277]

Just got my 2nd Pfizer vaccine dose today.
...
It's 6 hours since I got my shot today and I'm starting to feel the effects. Took tylenol a while ago and I'm going to try to get to bed early. I've heard of worse side effects for the 2nd shot so I have nothing planned for tomorrow.

So happy I'm done!

Congratulations! And, it would be great if you could let us know in a day or two how the side effects went for you!

 

[ivinsfan]

I've not seen anything that suggests a shortage of shooters is a problem. Reference?

AFAIK, the bottleneck is vaccine approval and manufacturing/distribution - which have done nothing but ramp up for months.

Heck, where I live physicians and walk-in clinics can't get doses yet and only a minority of drug store/grocery store pharmacies have it. There are plenty of shooters if we can get enough vaccine out.

I never said there is a shortage of shooters, I asked why they haven't managed to run vaccines 7 days a week. Something isn't working right.

 

[cathy63]

Saturdays? You get Saturdays?

I agree with all of your points. Things might be changing now, though; glacially because it's the government, but changing all the same...As Jean Shepherd's mother was wont to say, "Well, we'll see."

We have had a few veterinarians giving shots at the site where I volunteered, and it ran 7 days a week when there was enough vaccine to give out. It's closing this weekend though, partly because the Padres want their parking lot back as opening day is two weeks away, and partly because so many other vaccine sites have come online. In our part of CA, demand is still very high and all appointments are booked.

 

[Gumby]

In Connecticut, we vaccinate seven days a week.

 

[gayl]

Where's California's J&J Vaccine? I keep looking but only find appointments for 2 dose vaccines. Just getting 1 shot or none

 

[ivinsfan]

In Connecticut, we vaccinate seven days a week.

And your vaccine numbers reflect that don't they. . There are a lot of hours in a week and vaccinating 50 to 60 hours a week isn't going to get the job done.

 

[Leo1277]

Where's California's J&J Vaccine? I keep looking but only find appointments for 2 dose vaccines. Just getting 1 shot or none

Usually it's mentioned that the J&J vaccine is 65% effective, while both two-shot vaccines are 95% effective. Doesn't sound like a big difference, but what it means is that with the two-shot, compared to no vaccine you have a 5% chance of catching the bug, and with J&J a 35% chance.

This is 7 times as much! So looking at it from this angle, the two-shot versions do look great and keep you seven times safer (of course in the statistical average).

 

[audreyh1]

Texas opened up to 50+ on Monday (although some of the large hub sites near us are still getting through their 65+ wait lists before going broader). I got an e-mail Tuesday afternoon from UT Health where I had pre-registered quite a while ago, saying they had changed systems and I needed to register again. Fortunately I was very quick to see the e-mail, registered, logged back in, and immediately was able to schedule Pfizer #1 for Wednesday afternoon.

Oh man, I’ve been worried about my registration with UT Health RGV. I was getting an update every Friday, but that stopped late Feb. And no email notice about changes - I have them on top priority alert.

I’m watching the HEB vaccine page now for availability.

 

[REWahoo]

Where's California's J&J Vaccine? I keep looking but only find appointments for 2 dose vaccines. Just getting 1 shot or none

I understand the last of the initial supply of J&J was distributed last week and there will be a lag while more is manufactured and distributed.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/corona...0210318-two72bd2szcgljvwkpat2fugky-story.html

 

[Leo1277]

Oh man, I’ve been worried about my registration with UT Health RGV. I was getting an update every Friday, but that stopped late Feb. And no email notice about changes - I have them on top priority alert.

I’m watching the HEB vaccine page now for availability.

Take a look at this search tool, which was suggested by user simple girl, it shows you various options all over Texas: https://www.vaccinespotter.org/TX/index.html

Reload often as they change by the minute and different providers dump their availability at different times. If you are willing to go to Walmart, there are quite a few open right now. If you give it your zip code, it sorts by distance to you. It doesn't show specific times with HEB right now as it does for Walmart, this may mean you have to pick one of the HEBs listed and go to their site and ask for the listed location or zip code. There are also comments on HEB in the text below. I used it for Florida, and could easily make appointments, getting Pfizer tomorrow.

 

[travelover]

I've been vaccinated for about a month but because DW is only 64 3/4, she was way, way down the list. This has been especially difficult as we lost our grandson last November and DW hasn't been able to see her daughter in person to console her. So, DW decided to stretch the truth a little and got a vaccination appointment for Monday. Today, the Governor decided that people 60 to 65 can get vaccinated starting April 1st. That made DW feel a little better, as she is normally a strict rule follower.

 

[Telly]

DW and I are done, second Pfizers 2+ weeks ago. Drive-up outdoor (DFW area) in a stadium parking lot. Never had to wait more than 10 minutes from arrival to shot, very well done. What minimal "paperwork" that needed to be done (and it was minimal!) was done as part of the online signup. Upon arrival, just had to show printed-out paper ticket or phone app ticket with name and date/time slot on it, they scan the QR code, then show driver's license for ID, verify first or second dose and verify type if second dose, tell them which arm. Get vax card, or they sticker your card for second dose, drive into specified vax tent, reconfirm vax type, jab, on to 15 min. wait area. It was a class act!

On 3/15, Texas opened up to Texas 1c, which adds anyone age 50 and over, in addition to the 1a & 1b levels.

I'm still on the email list, so saw emails today for 4,000 initial Moderna shots at the same venue for next week Monday and Tuesday. The time slot reservations to do the 4,000 were filled in 15 minutes. The demand has increased with opening up to 1c. I hope anyone 65 and over who wanted a vax already got it, as it's a tight market again!

DW and I have had zero effects from both Pfizer doses. Next for me is getting the second Shingrix shot, then no more vax till fall flu shot

 

[harllee]

I never said there is a shortage of shooters, I asked why they haven't managed to run vaccines 7 days a week. Something isn't working right.

Here in NC the big vaccination sites run 7 days a week 12 hours a day as long as they have vaccinations to give. There are plenty of staff to give the vaccines, the shortage is in the vaccines itself.

 

[JoeWras]

I understand the last of the initial supply of J&J was distributed last week and there will be a lag while more is manufactured and distributed.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/corona...0210318-two72bd2szcgljvwkpat2fugky-story.html

Right. The CEO has always been guarded with his comments, emphasizing they will meet their commitments by June.

Later comments give some details and they expect it to really ramp up sometime in late April.

One more thing... This is pretty cool. Merck has agreed to manufacture vaccine supplies for J&J at the Durham, NC facility. These are competitors cooperating.

But here's the thing. It is going to take time for this plant to get upgraded and on-line.

 

[DrRoy]

I am 61 and have an abnormal blood condition, but not officially "with preconditions". DW has gotten both shots as a hospital volunteer. I become fully eligible next Monday, but Tuesday we are leaving home to travel (with distancing) for several weeks. We have been trying everything to get an appointment, but nothing showed open. Two days ago at the grocery store, we noticed that the clinic there was active, but only by appointment until 5:00.

Later that day we were getting back to the house after walking the dog and at 5:30 ran into our next door neighbor at the end of her driveway. She said that she had gotten a message from the medical group that we also happen to be in that she could schedule her first shot. We never got such a message. She also said that a few days ago, the clinic at the store had extra shots at the end of the day and her son and his wife had been able to get them. This was kind of driving us crazy.

Back in the house, a little before 6:00, we were starting to fix dinner and DW got a text from the neighbor. She was at the store and was asked if she wanted a shot from extra doses that were available! I just jumped into the car and raced over there. I told them my age and that I have this blood thing and they said fine, so I got my first shot of Pfizer!!

 

[JoeWras]

I am 61 and have an abnormal blood condition, but not officially "with preconditions". DW has gotten both shots as a hospital volunteer. I become fully eligible next Monday, but Tuesday we are leaving home to travel (with distancing) for several weeks. We have been trying everything to get an appointment, but nothing showed open. Two days ago at the grocery store, we noticed that the clinic there was active, but only by appointment until 5:00.

Later that day we were getting back to the house after walking the dog and at 5:30 ran into our next door neighbor at the end of her driveway. She said that she had gotten a message from the medical group that we also happen to be in that she could schedule her first shot. We never got such a message. She also said that a few days ago, the clinic at the store had extra shots at the end of the day and her son and his wife had been able to get them. This was kind of driving us crazy.

Back in the house, a little before 6:00, we were starting to fix dinner and DW got a text from the neighbor. She was at the store and was asked if she wanted a shot from extra doses that were available! I just jumped into the car and raced over there. I told them my age and that I have this blood thing and they said fine, so I got my first shot of Pfizer!!

Web sites, technology, notification lists, etc. are all frustrating.

WHO you know is the power of finding a vaccine. That includes some of our fine members here who have helped others.

In your case and in mine, we knew someone who connected us with leftovers.

BTW, on Nextdoor, a neighbor noticed a web site that opened up 100+ slots overnight. She connected a whole bunch of people with appointments.

Not all of us like to spend our time cruising sites at 3am.

 

[Aerides]

Where's California's J&J Vaccine? I keep looking but only find appointments for 2 dose vaccines. Just getting 1 shot or none

The initial supply of J&J, which was approved just 3 weeks ago, included distribution of less than 4 million shots nationwide, as those were all that were made/delivered. Meanwhile the US is administering 2-3M shots per day of all kinds, so J&J is still just a small percent available. And that's for the whole US.

For the whole US. They have, however, promised 20m by the end of this month, (I don't know if that's dribs and drabs or a big shipment). But it will be a while before they are on even footing, volume-wise, with Moderna and Pfizer.

I think at this point we're still waiting for the supply/demand thing to tip. And the bottleneck isn't staff or facilities, it's doses...but they are coming.

 

[audreyh1]

Take a look at this search tool, which was suggested by user simple girl, it shows you various options all over Texas: https://www.vaccinespotter.org/TX/index.html

Reload often as they change by the minute and different providers dump their availability at different times. If you are willing to go to Walmart, there are quite a few open right now. If you give it your zip code, it sorts by distance to you. It doesn't show specific times with HEB right now as it does for Walmart, this may mean you have to pick one of the HEBs listed and go to their site and ask for the listed location or zip code. There are also comments on HEB in the text below. I used it for Florida, and could easily make appointments, getting Pfizer tomorrow.

Yes, I saw that link, thanks. I already have the local pharmacy pages up and watching. Unfortunately the feature to limit search by zip code and distance doesn't seem to work for me as it lists places 300+ miles away. Some places are 600+ miles. An what is listed is not sorted by distance. Texas is big!

 

[Leo1277]

Yes, I saw that link, thanks. I already have the local pharmacy pages up and watching. Unfortunately the feature to limit search by zip code and distance doesn't seem to work for me as it lists places 300+ miles away. Some places are 600+ miles. An what is listed is not sorted by distance. Texas is big!

It's interesting, this system seems to be behaving differently in Texas from how it behaves in Florida. When I tried it, in Texas it didn't even show the locations of the places on a map, and that search by distance function may not be working. I looked for some Texas zip codes to try, but as you said it didn't sort. I tried it in a few other states relevant for me and it worked there; sorry about that.

Now, with "local" pharmacies you may have to wait longer, at least in my case, none of the places within 30 miles did have anything over the last four weeks. Perhaps you can try the browser search tool to check whether at least some possible cities show up in the vaccinespotter site.

 

[ivinsfan]

Here in NC the big vaccination sites run 7 days a week 12 hours a day as long as they have vaccinations to give. There are plenty of staff to give the vaccines, the shortage is in the vaccines itself.

I'm seeing a pattern here in regards to the states that have good vaccine numbers.


I'm finally seeing the state track facilities by how quickly they get shots in arms. And the quicker they get them in the arms the more doses they get next week. Some of the slow pokes get less doses.

 

[harllee]

I know people who have traveled hundreds of miles to get the vaccine. Some friends drove from Florida to NC to get the shots. If you can get the J&J one shot then driving a long way to get the one shot would not be as bad. I guess it just depends how eager you are to get vaccinated. Personally I would have drive all day and night to get the shots for me and DH.

 

[audreyh1]

It's interesting, this system seems to be behaving differently in Texas from how it behaves in Florida. When I tried it, in Texas it didn't even show the locations of the places on a map, and that search by distance function may not be working. I looked for some Texas zip codes to try, but as you said it didn't sort. I tried it in a few other states relevant for me and it worked there; sorry about that.

Now, with "local" pharmacies you may have to wait longer, at least in my case, none of the places within 30 miles did have anything over the last four weeks. Perhaps you can try the browser search tool to check whether at least some possible cities show up in the vaccinespotter site.

I actually am not available to make an appointment until March 30, so I’m not in trouble yet. None of the sites are offering appointments past Mar 25. So I’ll keep watching HEB and CVS in my area.

I was originally complaining about not being able to find out if I was still registered with UT Health RGV, and I can get from them is a auto email reply. The other poster got an email with a link to re-register because their system had changed, and I received no such communication.

 

[Chuckanut]

Where's California's J&J Vaccine? I keep looking but only find appointments for 2 dose vaccines. Just getting 1 shot or none

I can't answer for California, but up north in Washington state (The best thing next to Canada) they are getting about 60k doses a week of Pfizer and Moderna combined, and about 2,500 a week of JnJ.

They want more JnJ for vaccinating people whose jobs keep them away from vaccination sites, thus making it harder to get the 2nd dose on time. (Yes, I know the 2nd dose can be delayed for 6-12 weeks, but they are going by-the-book.)