Vaccinated and Hopeful

[Sphinx]

Yes, there's snow on the ground, and it's cold, and a frigid weekend is forecast, but the sun will set at 5:01 tonight compared to 4:19 at its earliest in December. Even as winter howls, the spring approaches, minute by minute. day by day.

And so it is with the end of this Covid nightmare.

My wife and I have just had our first vaccine shots (at UConn Health), two people in a fast-moving, unending line. We are both today carrying appointment cards, with specific date and time, for our booster shots in mid-February. We will be among the several million who will have two shots in their arm by the time the tournaments begin in March. Anyone care to sell us tickets?

Bottom-line, it's happening -- and it will only accelerate. Even as infections spread, even as the death toll mounts, people are being vaccinated -- one by one, one after another, minute by minute, day after day.

Be patient. Keep the faith.

 

[husky429]

Yes, there's snow on the ground, and it's cold, and a frigid weekend is forecast, but the sun will set at 5:01 tonight compared to 4:19 at its earliest in December. Even as winter howls, the spring approaches, minute by minute. day by day.

And so it is with the end of this Covid nightmare.

My wife and I have just had our first vaccine shots (at UConn Health), two people in a fast-moving, unending line. We are both today carrying appointment cards, with specific date and time, for our booster shots in mid-February. We will be among the several million who will have two shots in their arm by the time the tournaments begin in March. Anyone care to sell us tickets?

Bottom-line, it's happening -- and it will only accelerate. Even as infections spread, even as the death toll mounts, people are being vaccinated -- one by one, one after another, minute by minute, day after day.

Be patient. Keep the faith.

Appreciate the positivity Sphinx. I'm sitting at home because I was exposed and positive (but had basically no symptoms) right now, so the perspective is appreciated.

I've been frustrated by how long things are taking in my school. We were told early February for vaccines a few weeks ago, now it has been pushed to March at the earliest, with a caveat that that may not happen.

I just want to be able to travel this summer. Either Europe or SE Asia. If I can do that, I'll be happy.

 

[87Xfer]

Yes, there's snow on the ground, and it's cold, and a frigid weekend is forecast, but the sun will set at 5:01 tonight compared to 4:19 at its earliest in December. Even as winter howls, the spring approaches, minute by minute. day by day.

And so it is with the end of this Covid nightmare.

My wife and I have just had our first vaccine shots (at UConn Health), two people in a fast-moving, unending line. We are both today carrying appointment cards, with specific date and time, for our booster shots in mid-February. We will be among the several million who will have two shots in their arm by the time the tournaments begin in March. Anyone care to sell us tickets?

Bottom-line, it's happening -- and it will only accelerate. Even as infections spread, even as the death toll mounts, people are being vaccinated -- one by one, one after another, minute by minute, day after day.

Be patient. Keep the faith.

Congrats! Wife and I are early 50s and not front-line, so we're pretty far down the vax list. Lord knows when we'll get them. Feeling like Fall may be a good bet....

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Great post. Congrats on the Fauci Ouchie. I always start turning thoughts to spring right around the Super Bowl. Sun stays out til almost dinner time, texts about softball start swirling, that fat groundhog. Spring will be here soon and hopefully a much different than last year.

 

[BlueMAB]

that fat groundhog.

is gonna have to dig his way out tomorrow. Someone bribe him for an early spring prediction.

 

[Hankster]

Being 70 and Diabetes 2,I thought the VA or outside family doctor would of called me by now. I am not pressing it or complaining. I understand who is priority. So I will wait patiently. Here in Pennsylvania it's hard to tell what the plans are really. On anything.

 

[Stinger92860]

Connecticut has done an good job on the vaccination program. I’m proud to say one of my daughters is the clinical director for Nursing at Fairfield U. She helped organize the use of nursing students to help provide vaccinations for Yale New Haven. I’m 63 but I have no underlying issues, for which I am lucky. I’m thinking I won’t receive a vaccine until mid summer, unless the J&J vaccine is available. I would prefer the Moderna mRNA vaccine given a choice. My mother had her first Moderna shot a week ago, no issues.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Getting my first shot on Friday. I can't wait to move on from the whole Covid nightmare, but have questions with the 'new deadlier' strain arriving in the U.S.. I'm lucky to be working, but will be keeping an eye on how state governments, businesses and schools open things back up. I got tired of the politics and talking points from both parties and hope, truly hope, common sense and safety aren't compromised all of a sudden.

 

[Kitaman]

Getting my 2nd shot Tuesday (Moderna). Won't mean much though because my wife is not vaccinated. Just will have to do the errands, with mask on.

I will still visit stores during off hours, not letting my guard down. I believe I'll be able to visit my elderly father (not vaccinated yet) come March. I'm just happy that I'll be less likely to contract the virus and infect my wife who has medical issues. That's good enough for me until weather warms, then I'm golfing and fishing like crazy. Lot of catching up to do.

 

[huskeynut]

Florida is vaccinating 65 and above. Both my wife and I received are first shot 2 weeks ago. Next shot in 2 weeks. Community sponsored a COVID POD this past week. Over 2,600 residents over 65 vaccinated.

 

[Drumguy]

Got our first last week in NH where we qualify at 65. 2nd is scheduled for 2 weeks. The process was slow and inefficient as the National Guard had to walk back and forth from tents to cars to give shots and we drove 45 minutes to the site and back. Not complaining, as I feel very lucky to have gotten it, but we need to speed this up so everyone can get vaccinated. I like what I heard about giving it to pharmacies like the flu vaccinations - got get this going faster!

I would have wanted teachers and other front line workers - waiters and grocery clerks to get it before me, but I didn't make the rules, so my wife and I got our shots.

 

[superjohn]

Got our first last week in NH where we qualify at 65. 2nd is scheduled for 2 weeks. The process was slow and inefficient as the National Guard had to walk back and forth from tents to cars to give shots and we drove 45 minutes to the site and back. Not complaining, as I feel very lucky to have gotten it, but we need to speed this up so everyone can get vaccinated. I like what I heard about giving it to pharmacies like the flu vaccinations - got get this going faster!

I would have wanted teachers and other front line workers - waiters and grocery clerks to get it before me, but I didn't make the rules, so my wife and I got our shots.

It's hard to believe how slowly we are doing this.

 

[Chuck]

New Jersey's vaccination plan has been odd. Some parts appear to have been well planned, others are reactionary despite having nearly a year to think through the plan. A main problem has been that the primary way to sign up is through various websites. You have to check each site (often), to find a slot. That's not something most elderly are savvy about. Then they opened the flood gates and made anyone with particular medical conditions eligible. Those conditions include obesity (not even reality show sized morbid obesity) and smokers ("I smoked a cigarette last night, I'm eligible"), not Type 1 Diabetes. So 2/3rds of the state is eligible and there's no way to really verify.

Once signed up, the process was pretty good. Being a somewhat fat guy I'm eligible and found a slot at my county mega site. I went last weekend and got the Pfizer shot. I received a return appointment while getting signed in. The national guard helped keep things moving smoothly and everyone was super pleasant and efficient.

While I'll still be careful because my wife won't get the shot for months, it's some peace of mind. Also, I no longer need my car's gps now that I have a microsoft chip in me (just a joke. Hope that's not considered political!)

 

[Sphinx]

Good news from my brother and his wife. UConn Health notified them last week that their upcoming first-shot appointments were canceled. Yesterday, UConn called them and said they could come right over and get their shots. Within an hour, they were both vaccinated. Might have something to do with other people canceling because of the storm. Whatever the reason, UConn seems determined to get shots into arms.

 

[87Xfer]

My wife works for a network of health clinics, and she was told that as a result our family has access to a vaccine. The problem is we are in CO, and we would need to get to SoCal to get vaccinated. I don't see that happening. So we wait.

 

[TWG236]

Living in Orange County, Florida and both my wife and I received our first shot on January 19, scheduled for our second shot on February 16. Hard time making the first appointment, but receiving the shot was very organized and took less than an hour.
. Received our appointment for the second shot prior to taking our first.

 

[Drumguy]

one thing that the National Guardsman who gave us our shot told us is happening in NH, is that any appointments that are missed resulitng in extra availability, they are calling all the local fire and police departments and vaccinating them. So they aren't wasting any shots - all the departments are on standby!

 

[superjohn]

Why is it so difficult to vaccinate people? Like Chicago for instance open up Soldier Field, Wrigley, and Comiskey and you could vaccinate 100,000 every day easily.

 

[Greedo]

Being 70 and Diabetes 2,I thought the VA or outside family doctor would of called me by now. I am not pressing it or complaining. I understand who is priority. So I will wait patiently. Here in Pennsylvania it's hard to tell what the plans are really. On anything.

In PA you qualify to get the vaccine now. It's a mess though, the doctor or whoever will not call you. You will need to reach out to pharmacies and your health care provider to find one that has an opening. Just keep calling and eventually you'll get into one. I believe Weis and Wegmans are offering the vaccine too if you have those near you.

This website will show you that you're eligible and identify vaccine providers in the state: COVID Vaccines in Pennsylvania

 

[DCHuskyFan]

I get Dose 2 Friday morning. I am military. While I would like to see vaccination numbers going up more quickly, I do have a feeling of optimism. Btw, an unexpected side benefit of getting vaccinated is that my post-divorce social life has improved.

 

[District-Husky]

Me, my wife, and mother-in-law all got the 1st shot Monday night. Just happened to go to the grocery store during the "storm" that night and the pharmacist waived me down to give me a shot b/c so many people failed to show for their scheduled appointments. I'm not remotely at risk, but given how empty the store was and how many shots they had to give out so they didn't go to waste, I took the shot. Follow up in March.

 

[auror]

We've vaccinated more people with at least one shot than total confirmed positives, so we're off to a good start. Long way to go still for herd immunity, though.

 

[ucp990411]

Healthcare worker going for my 2nd shot Monday here in VT. My wife just turned 66 and is a teacher but not eligible yet - probably late March they say.

 

[UCTitleTown]

2nd shot today. Woo-hoo!

 

[Conndog]

I’m a health-care worker, got my 2nd shot last week. Did get chills and body aches for that day & next, but nothing more. I’m keeping my card with dates of shots for future travel , event entry, etc. my vaccine was Moderna

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Me, my wife, and mother-in-law all got the 1st shot Monday night. Just happened to go to the grocery store during the "storm" that night and the pharmacist waived me down to give me a shot b/c so many people failed to show for their scheduled appointments. I'm not remotely at risk, but given how empty the store was and how many shots they had to give out so they didn't go to waste, I took the shot. Follow up in March.

Better to give the dose to someone than throw it in the trash.

 

[Hankster]

In PA you qualify to get the vaccine now. It's a mess though, the doctor or whoever will not call you. You will need to reach out to pharmacies and your health care provider to find one that has an opening. Just keep calling and eventually you'll get into one. I believe Weis and Wegmans are offering the vaccine too if you have those near you.

This website will show you that you're eligible and identify vaccine providers in the state: COVID Vaccines in Pennsylvania

Thank you Greedo for the information. I will do that. The word had it that CVS had it, however there are signs at the CVS here that say they don't have it. The VA where I am surpassingly is compiling a list of Seniority. Meaning age and/or health. However, thanks for the info. I really appreciate it.

 

[VA Blue Dog]

75 and on the list here in VA for 3 weeks and they say I have 4 more weeks to wait. My wife is a teacher and she is still waiting too. VA is slow.

 

[Hankster]

75 and on the list here in VA for 3 weeks and they say I have 4 more weeks to wait. My wife is a teacher and she is still waiting too. VA is slow.

Yes VA here in PA also. 75 and up. According to the patient advocate this morning, 75 and up is a huge list. That tells me people are taking care of themselves. He explained that is the largest list. So, I signed up for it. You don't have to. They will call you anyway when it is time. However the sign up gave the indication if you signed up stating "YES" you will be called much faster. To get it on the outside, is a total mess. Talked to Rite Aid Pharmacy this morning. Everything points to call them for scheduling, however he said no, you have to go on the website at the state and hope you get in for signing up. He himself admitted PA is a total mess with this. Not surprised.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Why is it so difficult to vaccinate people? Like Chicago for instance open up Soldier Field, Wrigley, and Comiskey and you could vaccinate 100,000 every day easily.

No you can't. For one there isn't that much vaccine available. But the logistics are more difficult than that. Gillette Stadium and Fenway are mass vaccination sites here in metro Boston, and Gillette will get up to 5,000 a day. There are staff on hand, and a waiting area post vaccine to handle the reactions. Most are none to minimal, some are not and some are severe. Meanwhile, you've got to distance everyone through all of that.

My mom and dad got the vaccine down in Beaufort, SC, and it was drive up. Meaning you never got out of the car. Stick your arm out the window for the shot. They did it on the local HS football field. You then parked for ten minutes in the waiting area and a nurse checked on you for adverse reactions before clearing you to leave. Distancing is completely solved in that situation. They are going faster than we are.