Covid Vaccine Distribution

[audreyh1]

Got the email this morning so I guess there's just 1 day delay??

Glad you got it. Their system may have gotten bogged down.

 

[Aerides]

Yes, Walgreens has some lag on emails in their system. If you got the confirmation number you should be fine.

Vaccinespotter came thru for us again, my sister booked this morning for monday, a walgreens 5 mins from her house! Looks like they load up new availability on the weekends, at least in S. Fla. Tons of green dots today!

 

[audreyh1]

I noticed that Walgreens in our area would have plenty of availability in our area one morning, then all booked up for the rest of the week. I already had an earlier nearby appointment, otherwise I would have jumped on it!

Wow, I see they have plenty of available appointments for today!

 

[Leo1277]

Yes, Walgreens has some lag on emails in their system. If you got the confirmation number you should be fine.

Vaccinespotter came thru for us again, my sister booked this morning for monday, a walgreens 5 mins from her house! Looks like they load up new availability on the weekends, at least in S. Fla. Tons of green dots today!

Thanks for pointing out the availability on vaccine spotter for South Florida! I had been trying there again and again without success over the last few days, because we are currently scheduled for the second Pfizer more than 150 miles away. Now I could scoop up two appointments just 5 miles away!

A word of caution: we asked for a round 2 Pfizer appointment exactly 3 weeks after the first Pfizer shot, and it claimed we can't get an appointment and will be eligible only one week later; so it seems it is programmed to wait 4 weeks also for Pfizer. Since I (like everyone else here) know this is incorrect, we tricked the system by claiming that we got the first shot 1 week earlier, and it could book us. It's strange and I don't like it, but I think under the circumstances what I did was appropriate.

About the email lag, ours came right away and has the confirmation number; however, it did not specify that it is for Pfizer, while the screen shot we also kept does say that, so it's best to get a screen shot in any case.

 

[audreyh1]

It’s OK to get the Pfizer shot 4 weeks later. 3 weeks is a minimum. 4 weeks may even be better.

 

[RunningBum]

It’s OK to get the Pfizer shot 4 weeks later. 3 weeks is a minimum. 4 weeks may even be better.

21 is the recommended interval for Pfizer. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7011e2.htm . In the study they did 17-25 days for Pfizer, and they say up to 42 days is ok. Unless there's more current info?

 

[ncbill]

Oldest kid finally got their first shot (Moderna) but second shot won't be until after they PCS.

Youngest comes back to town for a doctor's appointment this week & so scheduled their J&J vaccine for next weekend at a local, mass-vaccination site.

 

[explanade]

Got it last night, said schedule change since I got a pair of earlier appointments than the first one.

Has list of things to bring.

Keeping fingers crossed for Monday morning.

 

[explanade]

It’s OK to get the Pfizer shot 4 weeks later. 3 weeks is a minimum. 4 weeks may even be better.

21 is the recommended interval for Pfizer. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7011e2.htm . In the study they did 17-25 days for Pfizer, and they say up to 42 days is ok. Unless there's more current info?

Yeah WG offered me 28 days apart.

At least they let me pick a second shot appt.

Rite Aid said they will give you appt. when you get first shot.

Maybe WG is standardizing on 28 days so they don’t have to automate between 2 different intervals for their scheduling system.

 

[aaronc879]

Yeah WG offered me 28 days apart.

At least they let me pick a second shot appt.

Rite Aid said they will give you appt. when you get first shot.

Maybe WG is standardizing on 28 days so they don’t have to automate between 2 different intervals for their scheduling system.

The place I went for my shot gave me Pfizer and automatically scheduled my next shot for exactly 3 weeks at exactly the same time as the first shot. I did not have the choice to change it.

 

[explanade]

Hmm, that makes me think.

Maybe I should go to Rite Aid a couple of days later for the first shot and they will get me the second shot 3 weeks later.

So even though the first shot at Rite Aid starts later, I would finish with them a week earlier than going to WG.

 

[audreyh1]

When I initially scheduled with CVS for Pfizer shot, they picked a day 23 days out for the second dose. I could pick the time.

The nurse warned me to pay attention as that date approached, because it could switch in a different location in the metro area.

 

[explanade]

Hmm, Walgreens requires me to complete a Vaccine Administration Record.

Asks for all kinds of personal info but a lot of it may be to harvest info. to try to make you a pharmacy customer.

Rite Aid doesn't have such a form requirement.

 

[24601NoMore]

Hmm, Walgreens requires me to complete a Vaccine Administration Record.

Asks for all kinds of personal info but a lot of it may be to harvest info. to try to make you a pharmacy customer.

Rite Aid doesn't have such a form requirement.

When we signed up for our Rite-Aid appt, the confirmation email said to fill out a pretty detailed form that we were to download from the website. It was a PDF that asked for all sorts of info including former vaccination history, health problems (about 10 different areas including heart, lung, etc) and a bunch of other stuff. Not knowing any better, I completed forms for both of us that we took to the appointment for shot 1. When we arrived, the check-in person had a printed form and asked that we sign that instead - but didn't take our completed PDF forms. We wound up bringing them back home with us..

Second shot, we were told again by the confirmation notice to bring the completed PDF form. I almost didn't, based on experience the first time around. But wife convinced me to, so we didn't wind up having to stand around and fill out something when we arrived. Good thing we did, as this time they actually wanted the form (go figure!).

So, at least at our Rite-Aid, they did indeed want a form with a whole bunch of health info.

YMMV of course, as it seems like it depends on the person doing the check-in that day, and possibly whatever location you're going to as well.

 

[Boho]

A couple of days ago, Walgreens said there's nothing available for the next 5 days. Today it said there are openings, but after quickly filling out some info it changed to:

We don't have any available appointments coming up within your area.

You can change the location or check back soon!
Appointment availability updates hourly.

So at least I'm getting closer. I'm thinking of scheduling a shingles vaccine for next Saturday or Sunday and when I get there telling them my sob story about missing the 50 and over period and now that it's 30 and over I can't find an opening and I need something walking distance because I don't drive. Maybe then they'll sign me up and I could postpone the shingles vaccine.

 

[Leo1277]

...
I'm thinking of scheduling a shingles vaccine for next Saturday or Sunday and when I get there telling them my sob story about missing the 50 and over period and now that it's 30 and over I can't find an opening and I need something walking distance because I don't drive. Maybe then they'll sign me up and I could postpone the shingles vaccine.

Just be aware that if you get the Shingrix vaccine, depending on your luck or lack thereof, it may knock you out for several days, you may want to read up on this. And because of the waiting time windows between vaccines, it may push back your Covid shot even further.

 

[Koolau]

Just be aware that if you get the Shingrix vaccine, depending on your luck or lack thereof, it may knock you out for several days, you may want to read up on this. And because of the waiting time windows between vaccines, it may push back your Covid shot even further.

As mentioned in the Shingrix thread, DW and I both were thrown for a loop by the 2nd Shingrix shot. As always in the medical world, YMMV.

 

[JoeWras]

I'm slightly jealous of ya'll that got your second shot appointment at first shot time.

As I shared 3 weeks ago, we got a leftover shot from a small pharmacy. Their procedure is "we'll call you a few days before you are due."

From what I hear, they are true to their word. It just makes me nervous. We are due at the 4 week mark.

Reading between the lines... This pharmacy never knows what they will get allocated until late so they have to schedule second shot clinics on the fly based on what they get and when they get it. I.E., they need flexibility on a day-by-day basis.

It is all part of being small (they give out 10s of shots a day) versus the megasites.

 

[Leo1277]

I'm slightly jealous of ya'll that got your second shot appointment at first shot time.

As I shared 3 weeks ago, we got a leftover shot from a small pharmacy. Their procedure is "we'll call you a few days before you are due."
...

I think there's nothing wrong for you to try to hunt for something on your own, and then if you find something, let your original provider know to cancel. We are also getting our second shot at a location different from our first one, which was somewhat inconvenient location-wise. vaccinespotter.org is your friend!

 

[stepford]

I'm wondering about 2nd dose timing. At the time of my first Moderna shot I was scheduled for a 2nd dose 24 days later rather than the recommended 28. According to the CDC 4 days earlier "remains valid", but they encourage an interval of 28-42 days.

From what I've read there hasn't actually been a study showing reduced 2nd dose effectiveness at intervals of less than 28 days. It's just that 28 days was the interval used in the clinical trials and therefore effectiveness data is available for this interval and not for less. It would seem to me that there is nothing special about exactly 28 days (coincidentally a whole number of weeks), but I am no immunologist.

In any case I am tempted to just take my existing 24 day appointment rather than fight for one at 28, but I'm curious about opinions/cautions others might have.

 

[Leo1277]

I'm wondering about 2nd dose timing. At the time of my first Moderna shot I was scheduled for a 2nd dose 24 days later rather than the recommended 28. According to the CDC 4 days earlier "remains valid", but they encourage an interval of 28-42 days.

I would not worry about it, and trust when they say that 24 days is ok. Such kinds of bodily functions have wide ranges of possible reactions, which you can see already from how the side effects vary from person to person. But it's also not too hard to hunt for yourself for a second dose appointment exactly 28 days out for peace of mind.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

I'm wondering about 2nd dose timing. At the time of my first Moderna shot I was scheduled for a 2nd dose 24 days later rather than the recommended 28. According to the CDC 4 days earlier "remains valid", but they encourage an interval of 28-42 days.

From what I've read there hasn't actually been a study showing reduced 2nd dose effectiveness at intervals of less than 28 days. It's just that 28 days was the interval used in the clinical trials and therefore effectiveness data is available for this interval and not for less. It would seem to me that there is nothing special about exactly 28 days (coincidentally a whole number of weeks), but I am no immunologist.

In any case I am tempted to just take my existing 24 day appointment rather than fight for one at 28, but I'm curious about opinions/cautions others might have.

The clinic where we got our Pfizer shots, scheduled us 17 days after the initial instead of 21 days. I asked about that and the orderly (?) said 17 days was acceptable.

After some research on the internet, I learned that 17 days was definitely not recommended by the CDC. Couldn't get through on the phone to change it, so drove down there and changed it to 20 days, best I could do.

When we showed up at day 20, the same orderly said that yeah, they'd been told not to schedule at 17 days, go 21; they were calling people to reschedule. But we never did get a call, without my taking the initiative, we would have been 17 days.

That may or may not make a difference, but it's my life and I'm not much interested in somebody else spitballing the timing.

Your choice.

 

[Ready]

Evidence shows the first dose of Pfizer and Moderna to be 80% effective after 2 weeks. The second shot just provides a booster. It increases immunity to 95% and possibly extends the amount of time you are protected. The trials were done with specific time periods between doses, so that is what evidence we have to evaluate the results with. But I can’t imagine how a difference of a few days could really be significant. I would just do whatever you feel comfortable with. If appointments are easy to obtain, just go ahead and space it out to 21 days. But if you have a confirmed shot at day 17 and you can’t confirm a later date, I wouldn’t pass on the shot over a few days.

 

[explanade]

Just got back from my first shot at Walgreens.

What a mess. They have you check in and then you wait. I got mine about an hour after it was scheduled and since I got there early, I waited about 75-80 minutes.

There were probably at least 2 dozen people waiting to check in or waiting to get the shot. One person giving shots behind a makeshift little booth.

People were hanging around and there were regular store and pharmacy customers.

It took 3-5 minutes each time someone went into the booth before they came out. Apparently he verifies some of the details you entered in the form.

So I saw a lot of people well under 50 at this WG in CA. Not overweight or unhealthy-looking people, thin, dark-haired people under 40.

I guess they either were in essential jobs or had health conditions. A couple of them drove off in Teslas -- I went outside a couple of times while waiting.

I'm trying to change my second appt. but the WG website now shows no availability and they probably won't let you schedule more than a week out.

Some websites like Albertson's (Safeway and Luckys) don't let you schedule anything but first dose.

 

[gayl]

Just got back from my first shot at Walgreens.

What a mess. They have you check in and then you wait. I got mine about an hour after it was scheduled and since I got there early, I waited about 75-80 minutes.

There were probably at least 2 dozen people waiting to check in or waiting to get the shot. One person giving shots behind a makeshift little booth.

People were hanging around and there were regular store and pharmacy customers.

It took 3-5 minutes each time someone went into the booth before they came out. Apparently he verifies some of the details you entered in the form.

So I saw a lot of people well under 50 at this WG in CA. Not overweight or unhealthy-looking people, thin, dark-haired people under 40.

I guess they either were in essential jobs or had health conditions. A couple of them drove off in Teslas -- I went outside a couple of times while waiting.

I'm trying to change my second appt. but the WG website now shows no availability and they probably won't let you schedule more than a week out.

Some websites like Albertson's (Safeway and Luckys) don't let you schedule anything but first dose.

I thought you were getting J&J