Vaccination free for-all

[disneysteve]

There's really no point in continuing the back and forth. Either you believe science or you don't. Either you believe masks work or you don't. Either you think the government has the right to issue rules that protect all Americans or you don't. Nothing anyone says here is going to change the minds of people with different beliefs.

Let's try and keep the thread back on the topic of issues with the availability of vaccines, not what your personal beliefs are about COVID in general. There's been more than enough of that.

[TexasHusker]

I have resisted commenting on the original comment because the only thing that came to mind with "farce invented in March 2020" was hydroxychloroquine, injecting bleach and the suggestion that COVID virus would go away by April (2020). (And, then repeatedly claimed that it would go away by itself over the next several months).

That actually was a farce, too. The virus did what respiratory viruses do: Spread. Human behavior didn't change it in any meaningful way, and I challenge anyone to offer up evidence that proves otherwise.

[ua_guy]

That actually was a farce, too. The virus did what respiratory viruses do: Spread. Human behavior didn't change it in any meaningful way, and I challenge anyone to offer up evidence that proves otherwise.

Friends and family of mine have gotten covid, and we've lost 2 while several others had some big scares. I have not gotten covid, nor has my husband. Since very early in 2020 we have kept our distance from others and drastically changed our behavior.

So that's me saying, I listed to the advice of my doctor as well as the people I work with who said to treat this like an infectious respiratory disease. And we didn't get covid. I can respect your position as someone who cuts hair for a living, but not as an infectious disease expert.

[TexasHusker]

Friends and family of mine have gotten covid, and we've lost 2 while several others had some big scares. I have not gotten covid, nor has my husband. Since very early in 2020 we have kept our distance from others and drastically changed our behavior.

So that's me saying, I listed to the advice of my doctor as well as the people I work with who said to treat this like an infectious respiratory disease. And we didn't get covid. I can respect your position as someone who cuts hair for a living, but not as an infectious disease expert.

I'm not an infectious disease expert, but I do know how to discern facts from fiction. The facts are, at least so far, that human behavior didn't change the trajectory of the virus. I am open to facts that show otherwise, whether you are a doctor or a candle stick maker. BTW, I don't cut hair.

[rennigade]

The problem is you are conflating two very different issues here. If you want to jog through a dangerous neighborhood or gorge on unhealthy food, you alone suffer the consequences. Go right ahead. I've got no problem with that. I may think you're stupid but it's your right to do as you please as long as you aren't hurting anyone else.

If, however, you and a bunch of like-minded folks decide they don't want to wear masks during a pandemic, you are putting everyone around you at risk. You don't have the right to do that.

Not exactly. Someone that eats oreo's or any unhealthy food all day every day will impact us all. They are going to drive up healthcare insurance. Same goes for running through chicago at night. YOu get knifed or shot, someone is going to have to patch you back up. Again, healthcare.

Why are seatbelts required when you drive yet riding a motorcycle without a helmet on isnt the law (in some states.) Seatbelts are required to be wore in all states I believe. You would think that you would be the only one who suffers if you get in an accident, yet its the law.

[disneysteve]

Okay folks, any further posts regarding your personal views about COVID will be deleted.

If your post isn't about the availability of the vaccine, which is the topic of this thread, please don't post it. Thank you.

[Like2Plan]

Got Your Covid-19 Vaccine? Now Cancel Your Extra Appointments
Pharmacies and community clinics say uncanceled appointments lead to no-shows, adding to their already heavy workload

https://www.wsj.com/articles/got-your-covid-19-vaccine-now-cancel-your-extra-appointments-11617796160

[disneysteve]

Got Your Covid-19 Vaccine? Now Cancel Your Extra Appointments
Pharmacies and community clinics say uncanceled appointments lead to no-shows, adding to their already heavy workload

Some of the places don't make it particularly easy to cancel your appointments. I've seen a number of posts on our local Facebook groups from people asking how they go about cancelling. They need to make it much clearer on some of the websites and online portals.

[disneysteve]

If you think things are bad in the US, we are phenomenally better than some other countries. I have a good friend in Australia and she had said it's been a disaster there. They did a phenomenal job with shut downs and controlling the spread of the disease, worlds better than we did here, but their vaccination efforts have fallen way short. For one thing, their government healthcare system went big on the AZ vaccine. Now that reports are coming out about possible blood clot risk, they are advising people to not get it if they have any risk factors. She and her husband are both scheduled for a shot but now aren't sure if they should go or not. They both have issues that could put them at increased risk. The problem, along with them personally not being protected, is that the country won't fully reopen until enough of the population has been vaccinated, so this will slow that effort.

[Like2Plan]

Some of the places don't make it particularly easy to cancel your appointments. I've seen a number of posts on our local Facebook groups from people asking how they go about cancelling. They need to make it much clearer on some of the websites and online portals.

I was taken a little bit by surprise that folks would make more than the one appointment for J&J (or more than the required 2 appointments for the 2 doses for Moderna and Pfizer) in the first place--especially since the appointments can be hard to come by.

But, I will admit that some of web sites are easier than others to navigate. It seems like some of the commercial entities are collecting marketing information (asking questions not related to vaccine eligibility) in addition to making the appointment. I found vaccine availability for a family member and while he was answering all these questions--his appointment slot disappeared which was very frustrating.

[Like2Plan]

If you think things are bad in the US, we are phenomenally better than some other countries. I have a good friend in Australia and she had said it's been a disaster there. They did a phenomenal job with shut downs and controlling the spread of the disease, worlds better than we did here, but their vaccination efforts have fallen way short. For one thing, their government healthcare system went big on the AZ vaccine. Now that reports are coming out about possible blood clot risk, they are advising people to not get it if they have any risk factors. She and her husband are both scheduled for a shot but now aren't sure if they should go or not. They both have issues that could put them at increased risk. The problem, along with them personally not being protected, is that the country won't fully reopen until enough of the population has been vaccinated, so this will slow that effort.

I don't think things are bad here in the US. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international

I think the US is doing very well (but, doesn't mean we can't always do better, right?)

I look at this web site every day to see how we are doing. AK and NM had been the undisputed leaders for quite a while, but some of the other states are catching up--SD and HA

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/28/960901166/how-is-the-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-going-in-your-state

https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ND-COVID&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0oCDBhCPARIsAII3C_HvVHnklRX9uf7pm_VuwakenbOH_Avb2kLQqmeh8A_YLtUP5gY3p0QaAr0nEALw_wcB

[disneysteve]

I was taken a little bit by surprise that folks would make more than the one appointment for J&J (or more than the required 2 appointments for the 2 doses for Moderna and Pfizer) in the first place--especially since the appointments can be hard to come by.

But, I will admit that some of web sites are easier than others to navigate. It seems like some of the commercial entities are collecting marketing information (asking questions not related to vaccine eligibility) in addition to making the appointment. I found vaccine availability for a family member and while he was answering all these questions--his appointment slot disappeared which was very frustrating.

People are trying to get the soonest appointment they can. They make one appointment but then keep trying to get something sooner. I totally understand that.

I've heard similar stories about people being in the process of scheduling and by the time they got through the sign up, the appointment slot was gone. That's just poor programming. They should do it the way tickets are sold where a timer pops up and tells you that the tickets are being held for that amount of time. If you don't complete the purchase, the tickets get put back in inventory.

[Like2Plan]

People are trying to get the soonest appointment they can. They make one appointment but then keep trying to get something sooner. I totally understand that.

And that might explain why a lot of places won't make appointments very far out -like only next day appointments.

[disneysteve]

And that might explain why a lot of places won't make appointments very far out -like only next day appointments.

That's a lousy solution. Only booking next day makes it hard or impossible for people who work and people who may need to make transportation arrangements to get to the vaccination site.

[Like2Plan]

That's a lousy solution. Only booking next day makes it hard or impossible for people who work and people who may need to make transportation arrangements to get to the vaccination site.

I would agree with you that it is not ideal, but probably better than not getting shots in arms or even worse-- having precious vaccine go to waste. (Or, overbooking--what happens if everyone shows up and then folks aren't able to get to the vaccine?)

From the WSJ article:
"In Detroit, one of the biggest vaccine operations in hard-hit Michigan has seen hundreds of no-shows since opening last week. Roughly 15% of booked appointments didn’t show on the first days the site, at a downtown football stadium, was open. That day, though the site administered fewer shots than it had capacity for, no doses were wasted, state officials said. Organizers have since started overbooking appointments to ensure as many people as possible are vaccinated."