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My Vaccine Experience: Thank you, Gov. DeSantis
I am fortunate to live in Florida. Gov. DeSantis, unlike others (yes, I’m talking about you, Andrew Cuomo) used statistics on the virus and common sense in setting priorities for vaccine distribution. Instead of prioritizing drug addicts and prisoners, the people in Florida to receive the first wave of vaccines are people 65 and over and healthcare workers.
DeSantis also allows Floridians to get their vaccine in any county, a good thing because my county was not prepared for the onslaught. They initially only had phone lines set up for taking appointments. Because they were receiving approximately 100 calls per second, people were waiting on hold for literally hours. Therefore, I had figured I would be getting the vaccine sometime in March or April.
However, a woman in our community posted a link to Advent Healthcare’s website where appointments could be made online. Within about three minutes, I had an appointment eight days out in the West Parking Lot of the Orlando Airport. Ten minutes later, I had an e-mail from Advent confirming my appointment and asking a few basic questions: Have you had any other vaccine in the last 4 weeks? Have you had symptoms? Etc.
In the next few days, I heard about other healthcare facilities having set-ups at locations such as the Orlando Convention Center parking lot. People said that when they got there, they had been directed to a waiting parking spot, they stayed in their cars and the healthcare workers came to them, giving them the shot through the car window. They were then directed to another parking spot to wait for 30-minutes to make sure there was no immediate allergic reaction. They then left with an appointment for the second shot.
That was what I expected, but Advent was set up differently and it was incredibly efficient. On the way into the parking lot, depending on the letter of your last name, you were directed to one of two parking areas. You were told to walk over to the entrance of their treatment area. Their set up consisted of large canopy tents with white picket fences to direct you. There were polite, friendly employees everywhere to make sure you knew where to go.
First, you checked in at a table according to the letter of your last name. The person pulled out my printed appointment form, gave me my vaccination card to fill out, and directed me to the next person. She pointed me to another tent where I was told by someone else to go to Table #10 (because it was empty). The nurse there took my vaccination card, pasted on the label which showed the vaccine type (Moderna) and lot number, and she recorded the date and the Advent location. Then she gave me the shot and directed me to another table. They gave me more printed information and wrote down the current time and the time that I could leave the observation area.
From the time I walked up to the entrance to the time I was ushered to the observation area was five minutes. I was to sit in the observation area for 15 minutes and during that time they would give me an appointment for the second shot.
Someone came up to me to set up my next appointment. She asked if I had a smart phone and what kind it was. I pointed my phone camera at the little square on her phone which pulled up the appointment page on my phone. I had two days to choose from and picked a time. Then I had to fill out my information which took no time, because my phone knew my address, e-mail, phone number, etc. I got a confirmation e-mail a minute later.
When my 15 minutes were up, I walked back to the car where my husband was waiting; the elapsed time – 20 minutes.
The only downside to the whole experience was that my appointment was late Friday afternoon. It took us only 30 minutes to get there because we were going against rush hour traffic. It took us two hours to get home. So, for the next appointment, we are going to have a nice dinner in Orlando before heading home.
Published in General
Feel the Envy! I live in the bluest of blue states, and Dictator is still blaming the Trump administration for screwing things up, when doses are available here and not being given out! No two sources give the same information on where and when vaccines might be available, and for whom. My healthcare clinic has a big sign on their web site stating that they are NOT giving vaccines, except for first responders and medical care personnel with a voucher from their employer giving permission. Yep, make it as difficult as possible, so Dictator can delay removal of restrictions, due to not enough people being vaccinated (when it’s their fault not enough people have been vaccinated!).
I look forward to the return of the day when no American would think of speaking of one of his or her public servants allowing him to get a vaccine in any county, as if that were an act of benevolence.
My wife is a retired nurse with an active license in Pennsylvania. We live in South Carolina. There are 34 states that respect each other’s license but 16 blue states don’t participate Pa being one of them. She was asked by the hospital where she had volunteered to help give injections but with the red tape involved getting her license transferred it would take 5 to 6 weeks. I researched and found that our Governor had just signed an emergency order to grant a temporary license until the end of the pandemic. Because she will now considered a health care worker she got her vaccine yesterday morning and shot nine holes in the afternoon. She was tired last night but fine this morning. I get mine on the 26th.
I live in Texas, and I got a surprise email on Monday inviting me to sign up for a shot, which I got on Wednesday. I am not sure why I got the email, because I do not have a relationship with that hospital group outside of a senior citizen gym membership. (That group is the only one in town giving out mass shots.) But I was happy to show up and get the shot.
My wife, who actually has a doctor in that system, has not received an invitation, but she is younger than me and our suspicion is that she hasn’t crossed the threshold for qualification yet.
Yesterday there was an announcement that the state is opening a mass vaccination center in a former mall location, so that might speed things up even more.
I saw a report today that Texas is #2 in per capita vaccinations among large states, which to me basically comes from not having a blue state tyrant in charge.
ADDED: today we are #1
Well, with limited amounts of vaccine, there is pressure on decision-makers about availability. I think it’s a credit to DeSantis that he acts responsibly.
A lot of people I know are going to various sites for the vaccine, including a fire station, high school, a local college, etc. They all seem to involve long waits, but most of those I’ve talked to are happy they did and are reporting no side effects.
My wife and I are 69 and 70 and in good health, so we’re going to wait for a while, to let everyone who really needs it to go first. I’m hoping all the teachers get it and the kids get back to school full time.
One of my wife’s friends in Florida was touting on-line that he got the vaccine a few days ago. Just a month ago he was complaining that he had the virus (no serious symptoms) and was ranting about Ron DeSantis’ horrible management of the situation. So he already had it, but jumped in line ahead of those who haven’t. Nice guy.
I listened to Jay Bhattacharya’s interview here a couple of days ago. He said that while co-morbidities do add to your risk of serious outcomes from COVID, the single most important risk is age. For every 8 or 9 years of age, your risk doubles.
Insty reports:
If you’re going to run the state by administrative fiat, shouldn’t you at least be good at it?
Most of the people who get the disease report no side effects.
I think those are mutually exclusive.
Age is a lot more significant than comorbidities- but in fact they are highly correlated. A majority of the over 55 population has comorbidities by some studies and the COVID mortality begins a significant rise at that age. One of the frustrations of the vaccine role out is the ingenious numbering system many states use- 1a, 1b, 1c etc-what ever happened to 1,2, 3? I guess you hurt peoples feelings if they aren’t number 1 ( do we get a trophy?). Florida has the right idea- get everyone over 65 ASAP (altho I wouldn’t allow vaccine tourism).
Exactly.
I didn’t know Florida was doing that. It occurred to me last night that this is what I would do.
I really like DeSantis.
Whereas my younger brother, a 53 year old with no major health issues, is currently in ICU with a Bipap mask to help him breathe because of Covid-caused bilateral pneumonia. Doctors said he was a very serious candidate for a ventilator two days ago when he began to spiral downward quickly. He had a similar attitude to yours, @randywebster. Wore a mask when required but wasn’t particularly worried about his potential for serious symptoms.
I’m 100% against universally requiring masks, lockdowns, etc, but two other people I know with comorbidities died this week (both active people still working in their 60’s) and my brother is still battling the inflammatory effects of the virus so our family will continue social distancing for now. Take care out there, everyone!
I am so sorry to read this, Diane. I will say a prayer for your brother.
I had an email invitation from a local hospital where I have had care to sign up for the vaccine. They were offering them at many locations around the state (Colorado). My appointment was just a few days out, at a convenient time and place (this place happened to be an urgent care center). The shot was in my arm 5 minutes after I got there, since I had filled out their required forms on line ahead of time. I had to stay 15 minutes for observation during which time they made the appointment for my second shot. I was given the Pfizer vaccine. Easy peasy. So far, my arm is only slightly sore. I had the shot this morning.
As of now, our local sites are limiting it to age 75 or older, emergency and health care ees, teachers, etc. I can wait.
Wow! Your experience was a lot more efficient than mine. Even though my hospital system is administering the vaccines, several employees have been scheduled, at odd hours, when no one is available to give the shots. Fortunately, I got mine at work, so I got paid for the experience and didn’t have to drive more than usual.
I, too, am sorry for your brother. But, I’m going to take my chances. If I get Covid and die, well, I’m taking that chance. If we give in now, we’ll be subject to lockdowns twice a year every year from now on.
And Donald Trump?
Sure. If it weren’t for his efforts, the vaccines would not exist.
Edit: Hey, I just found out the age has been lowered to 65. But every time slot is full for now.
My state, PA, is rolling out at a snails pace
Especially if they are dead, although I have seen a few people that would probably complain even if they were dead…
Pennsylvania is in the middle, ranked #25.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/states-ranked-by-percentage-of-covid-19-vaccines-administered.html
My state, Maryland, is down near the bottom.
Maryland is the archetype for government-run anything.
Including its fake Republican
governordictator Larry Hogan.Governor Northam was so embarrassed by Virginia’s 48th-place finish that his face turned black.
“We will make the Goobernor comfortable . . .”