Vaccination free for-all

[TexasHusker]

I'm not sure but seeing that it is in Detroit, it may be focused on a lower income population. No shows for medical care are notoriously high in that population because of transportation issues, work issues (can't get the day off), child care, etc. I experienced that all the time when I practiced in a very poor area here in NJ. Overbooking is a good solution. The worst that can happen is you run short of vaccines and people need to reschedule.

Requiring appointments is especially cumbersome for low income folks. It probably never occurred to the aristocrats that many folks don't have home computers and smart phones. Setting up a walk-in vaccination site really isn't that difficult.

[Petunia 100]

You all can come visit the midwest... we literally can't give them away in the rural areas

It just may come to that.

[Petunia 100]

We did ours through a mass vaccination site as well. On one of the sheets they handed us, in small print towards the bottom, it said, "see you back here on April 25th for your second dose!". It wasn't exactly obvious, and there were no other instructions. A volunteer said no appointment is necessary, just bring your CDC card as proof that you received your first vaccine here.

I couldn't believe it would be that easy, or that we weren't required to make a 2nd appointment. But, everybody I've since called and talked to says it really is that easy. Sure enough, the app we used (Solv) to schedule our first dose just emailed a reminder and confirmation for our upcoming slot on the 25th!

That just makes sense. It would have been better to give fewer 1st doses and have the 2nd doses available for all who received the 1st dose.

I am seeing available appointments for both moderna and j&j, but again today no available slots for pfizer. I wonder if we currently just aren't receiving new doses of the pfizer vaccine and that is the issue.

[riverwed070707]

You all can come visit the midwest... we literally can't give them away in the rural areas

[ua_guy]

I'm having a lot of trouble of trouble getting an appointment for second dose. Worse case is supposedly the mass vaccine site i went to will email me 2 days before and tell me that I have an appointment. I don't know. It's ridiculous. I think it should have an appointment but it shouldn't be this hard. Our problem is there is a lot of appointments 2-3 hours outside the city but within the city areas it's impossible. So people aren't getting it in the country but in the city people are desperate.

We did ours through a mass vaccination site as well. On one of the sheets they handed us, in small print towards the bottom, it said, "see you back here on April 25th for your second dose!". It wasn't exactly obvious, and there were no other instructions. A volunteer said no appointment is necessary, just bring your CDC card as proof that you received your first vaccine here.

I couldn't believe it would be that easy, or that we weren't required to make a 2nd appointment. But, everybody I've since called and talked to says it really is that easy. Sure enough, the app we used (Solv) to schedule our first dose just emailed a reminder and confirmation for our upcoming slot on the 25th!

[Like2Plan]

This is just wrong. The 2nd dose should be scheduled at the time of the 1st dose. Why are there places not doing this? Around here, if you go for dose 1 of Pfizer today, they will tell you to come back on April 30 for dose 2. They won't leave you hanging. And they will make sure they have that dose reserved for you so they don't run out.

It's a pretty simple concept. I don't know why some places can't manage to do it correctly.

I've seen it done both ways. But, not having a second appointment in hand does lead to a lot of anxiety. I did mine through CVS and I made the second appointment at the same time as I did the first one.

DH went through the county and when he received his first does they told him they would send him an email which would contain another invitation to make an appointment. So, he assumed they would send him an email right away. When they didn't, he ended up calling them and they clarified that the email would be sent about 3 days prior to when he was due for the 2nd dose. I think this might have been because they themselves didn't know where they would be set up 3 weeks in advance. I think they switched manufactures at the place where he received his first dose because they didn't offer any appointments 21 days later at that location, so he ended up getting an appointment for the 2nd dose 24 days after the 1st one at a different county vaccination site.

[disneysteve]

I'm having a lot of trouble of trouble getting an appointment for second dose.

This is just wrong. The 2nd dose should be scheduled at the time of the 1st dose. Why are there places not doing this? Around here, if you go for dose 1 of Pfizer today, they will tell you to come back on April 30 for dose 2. They won't leave you hanging. And they will make sure they have that dose reserved for you so they don't run out.

It's a pretty simple concept. I don't know why some places can't manage to do it correctly.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I'm having a lot of trouble of trouble getting an appointment for second dose. Worse case is supposedly the mass vaccine site i went to will email me 2 days before and tell me that I have an appointment. I don't know. It's ridiculous. I think it should have an appointment but it shouldn't be this hard. Our problem is there is a lot of appointments 2-3 hours outside the city but within the city areas it's impossible. So people aren't getting it in the country but in the city people are desperate.

[Petunia 100]

Just make sure you are using the same manufacturer for the 2nd dose.

Thank you, I am taking care to do that.

[Like2Plan]

Are the first and second dose the same? Same quantity and everything? If yes, I may just try to schedule another 1st dose.

Just make sure you are using the same manufacturer for the 2nd dose.

[TexasHusker]

The problem is that the shots are only good for a certain amount of time once they're prepared so going by appointment minimizes waste.

All appointments do is prevent people from getting the shots. We have had zero problems here. Show up, get your shot, leave. We don't need the gubmit to hold our hand. Most of us are big boys and girls. The states with all of the red tape are also the ones having trouble getting everyone vaccinated.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I'm having trouble scheduling my second dose. A co-worker who got his 1st dose the same day I got mine and I are both searching online daily. I did find a pharmacy in the next county with 2nd dose appointments available, but I didn't bite because I'm not actually eligible (must live or work in the county where you receive your vaccine).

I find it a bit frustrating that it is possible to receive a 1st dose when there is no capacity to give you a 2nd dose. The clock is ticking. If I don't get the 2nd dose in time, am I supposed to start over?

I had the same problem at MLK hospital in Los Angeles. After getting my 1st dose of Pfizer before leaving the hospital I tried to get my appointment for the 2nd dose but the woman handling "check-outs" who was sitting in front of a computer insisted that no appt was needed and to return without an appt. MLK has 2 lines, no appts with 100's of people in line, and an appt line with 5 people in line. My employer was able to schedule me for the 2nd dose at another hospital.

[Petunia 100]

They are identical. You just get it twice.

Good to know, thank you.

[disneysteve]

There should be walk-in clinics throughout cities where you don't need an appointment.

The problem is that the shots are only good for a certain amount of time once they're prepared so going by appointment minimizes waste. I believe they have found that the Pfizer shot can last up to a week out of the super cold freezers so that has helped do things like what you described. I've even heard of individual doctors' offices getting some vaccine supply and being able to expand the vaccination efforts that way.

[disneysteve]

Are the first and second dose the same? Same quantity and everything? If yes, I may just try to schedule another 1st dose.

They are identical. You just get it twice.