Open Thread Update: Vaccination Follies
Seems like I got a lot of company when I got my vaccination – but only after a lot of hoohah.
In our informal poll, almost half – 48 percent – of the nearly 300 respondents reported hours, days and even weeks of stress-filled effort before finally landing a spot somewhere. One respondent in the NYC area waited two months for a spot – and only got one after a friend in far-off Colorado was able to find and book an appointment for her.
“I spent weeks getting an appointment. I was in group 1C. Daytime, afternoon, late nights, you name it, I kept trying. I was registered at multiple sites but always arrived at the site too late online to grab an appointment.”
-Brenda H.
Some 25 percent said it was easy…they were the lucky ones…
“Here in Indiana, the process was both organized and streamlined. A person either went online or called a 3-digit phone number.”
-Cynthia R.
Almost as many – 24 percent – said they hadn’t gotten the shot yet, and thankfully, only 3 percent had their appointment cancelled because the facility ran out of vaccine.
A readers’ tip
Harriet S. offered this advice: “Facebook groups are springing up left and right to connect folks. Start by opening the “groups” tab, then type “help booking vaccine” and a local effort will most likely come up.”
Reactions to the shot varied, from a big ‘nothingburger” to some localized soreness at the injection site to some prolonged fatigue.
And just in case…
If you know anyone who needs the vaccine and is having trouble because of connectivity issues – which particularly impacts low-income and minority populations: OATS is launching Aging Connected to help one million older people get online; if you know anyone who needs connectivity, tell them about it and give them this number to call for more information: 1-877-745-1930.
Meanwhile, we’ll keep the comments and the poll open so you can send us your thoughts.
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
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Comments
I signed up with several sites in February and have yet to hear from them here in Montgomery County, PA?. The rollout of the vaccines has been absolutely horrible. It is incredibly inefficient and this in the middle of a pandemic with several dangerous variants making an appearance. Hopefully things will get better soon but why don’t we follow the lead of other countries and have vaccinators coming to people’s homes and giving them shots? Not everyone has the means to travel to a far location on a moment’s notice and in some instances, worse yet, being told there is no vaccine left or their appointment was never recorded. Everyone should get shots without much inconvenience and it has to be soon.
There were five of us who kept in touch regarding our ability to secure an appointment. The minute one got one, the information was shared. I was able to get mine earlier than the first woman in the link. Now I have the second but will still of course be very careful.
My daughter and grandson were just diagnosed with Covid. They are home but she is afraid for me to visit because of my age. This is very hard as I am so worried.
I spent a month online at various times of the day after I was eligible only to see there are no appointments available at this time. Try again later. Finally a friend hooked me up with a vaccine hunter who was able to get me an appointment in a neighboring county about 1/2 hour drive from my home a week after I was able to contact her. I drove to a Walgreens in Frederick. That part of the process was a piece of cake. I had a bit of a sore arm for a day or two, was tired the first day only and a few days later I did have chills that went away. I get my second dose next week and will be fully vaccinated 2 weeks after that.
I spent weeks getting an appointment. I was in group 1C. Daytime, afternoon, late nights, you name it, I kept trying. I was registered at multiple sites but always arrived at the site too late online to grab an appointment. Beyond exasperating! Finally, I got one. It required driving an hour away to a mass site at the M& T Bank stadium in Baltimore. I received the one dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Can’t say that I experienced any notable side effects.
I must say that as horrible as it was to get an appointment, the day itself went extremely well. I was out in a little over than an hour. It was very well organized. Everyone was efficient, helpful and overall informative . The National Guard personnel were exceptional in asking and meeting needs, including shuttling the elderly and disabled from and to parking.
Very happy for the “one and done.”
After weeks of checking on-line, Walgreen’s in my neighborhood in Queens began giving the vaccine. I checked and went through the process every day and one morning I lucked in. I received my first vaccine shot two weeks ago and will have the second on March 24. Slight pain the next day and sleepy for about a week with the first. Keep at it everyday.
I was fortunate a local church in association with a food bank sponsored a vaccination drive. I didn’t have to make an appt.They got my name from the food bank called me and asked if I wanted the vaccine.I said yes. It was set up as a drive thru. Afterwards I had some soreness for about 5 days in my left arm but that is all. I go for my final dose the end of March.
You sound like biden Your lucky it didn’t KILL you!
Peter:
Don’t be political. The vaccine does not kill. Think of your family and friends.
An offensive comment politicizing a public health intervention that has no place on senior planet’s site. Appreciative of senior planet’s disclaimer in this regard.