To Vaccinate or Not---The Rat Flu Odyssey Continues

[Falcon3]

Good explanation, thanks. I’m all for prioritizing equity in the vacc schedule, but when it hampers efficiency, some flexibility is warranted. I checked eligibility on the Walgreens calc and they said I’m a go for Thursday. I’ll wait for WA to open the next sub-tier tomorrow and see where that goes.

[highangle]

As it was explained to me in one location (no idea if this procedure is widespread but it makes sense), they only pull out one vial at a time as needed, which has (I think) 6 doses. So at most, if people cancel or don't fill up the slots, they only truly throw out 5 doses and likely less than that. The remainder of the vials stay in the deep freeze. Which still sucks, vaccines should be going in people's arms! But at least they aren't being tossed.

I imagine that some vaccination locations do not have deep freeze capability, so perhaps more doses are being thrown out there, but I cannot imagine that in the morning they would bust out 100 doses out of the deep freeze just because they have 100 open vaccination slots for that day, and throw out 80 of them because only 20 people show up.

J&J doesn't require special cold handling. Unpunctured vials of Moderna vaccine can be kept in the fridge for 30 days, and room temp for 12 hours:

How to Thaw, Prepare, and Administer the Moderna Vaccine

Vaccine may be thawed in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Refrigerator: Between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F). Unpunctured vials may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 30 days.
Room temperature: Between 8°C and 25°C (46°F and 77°F).
Unpunctured vials may be held at room temperature for up to 12 hours.
Do NOT refreeze thawed vaccine.
Use vials in the refrigerator before removing vials from the freezer.
Use CDC’s beyond-use date labels for this vaccine to track storage time at refrigerated temperatures.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-1...rna/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-1...sen/index.html

[Ted Striker]

I start a job in utilities next week where I won’t be able to distance, but apparently I’m still not eligible to sign up even though they will likely have to throw out doses at the end of the day.

...checked eligibility on the Walgreens calc and they said I’m a go for Thursday. I’ll wait for WA to open the next sub-tier tomorrow and see where that goes.

I would think utilities falls under the umbrella of construction, so you should be legit.

[GoldMember]

Now.. now... I feel your frustration, I'm in a younger healthy group too. That said... I feel sure they are not throwing out doses of vaccine.

If it doesn't bother you just lie when you fill out the eligibility form. They are no longer checking. My GF in Seattle added 12 years to her age to get the jab.

This is something else that really irritates me. While the State can't seem to get off their rules kick and provide regional or county by county control over eligibility, authorities are making it easier and, in some cases, encouraging people to lie about eligibility by not requiring Phase Finder or other means of validating eligibility while stating they're relying on the honor system. In other words, 'we're too good to change but we believe you're not above lying and ask you to do so.' Seriously, WTF? Let the local authority who knows the situation at that very time make the decisions as to whether to open it up and quit forcing the citizens into moral decisions that they otherwise wouldn't make. I can't remember where I saw it but one county on the west side essentially said they can't open it up beyond state requirements but lie and no one will question you. What a load of crap. Power mongers want to control.

[RootSkier]

I feel bad for you guys. Here in Missoula, there are literally hundreds of appointments available tomorrow (for anyone over 16). And some today. If that doesn't work, how about Thursday? Oh, you want the weekend? Sure thing.

[Falcon3]

I feel bad for you guys. Here in Missoula, there are literally hundreds of appointments available tomorrow (for anyone over 16). And some today. If that doesn't work, how about Thursday? Oh, you want the weekend? Sure thing.

Hm Bike Hangar offers lifetime free tuneups on my bike since I bought it there. Maybe this weekend is a good time for the 3.5 road trip over there...

[nutmegchoi]

New York State finally opened for 30 and up.
Called the hotline and miraculously got an appointment on April 12th while there’s not a single availability within 50 mile radios.

[The SnowShow]

Shot 1 Moderna done. Like someone said, easier and better organized than voting.

[jackstraw]

As it was explained to me in one location (no idea if this procedure is widespread but it makes sense), they only pull out one vial at a time as needed, which has (I think) 6 doses. So at most, if people cancel or don't fill up the slots, they only truly throw out 5 doses and likely less than that. The remainder of the vials stay in the deep freeze. Which still sucks, vaccines should be going in people's arms! But at least they aren't being tossed.

I imagine that some vaccination locations do not have deep freeze capability, so perhaps more doses are being thrown out there, but I cannot imagine that in the morning they would bust out 100 doses out of the deep freeze just because they have 100 open vaccination slots for that day, and throw out 80 of them because only 20 people show up.

As of March 12th we (NH) had wasted 2384 shots. I think we're improving. I know several people now that have been called up before their appointment to get an 'extra'.

https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-has-was...hbors#stream/0

[RoooR]

I feel bad for you guys. Here in Missoula, there are literally hundreds of appointments available tomorrow (for anyone over 16). And some today. If that doesn't work, how about Thursday? Oh, you want the weekend? Sure thing.

You get it at Lucky's? They're churning them out here. That one location can probably do over 600 a day and there are at least a couple more spots like that. Only 100k in Missoula county, so won't be long till everybody that wants one has one.

[Danno]

As of March 12th we (NH) had wasted 2384 shots. I think we're improving. I know several people now that have been called up before their appointment to get an 'extra'.

https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-has-was...hbors#stream/0

Of the wasted doses, state public health officials say 1,542 were lost due to broken vials or syringes. Another 724 shots expired and could no longer be used after being pulled out of freezers to thaw, while 118 doses have gone missing.

So much less than 1,000 for the kinds of waste we're discussing. Broken vials and syringes or missing doses is an entirely different problem.

[RootSkier]

You get it at Lucky's? They're churning them out here. That one location can probably do over 600 a day and there are at least a couple more spots like that. Only 100k in Missoula county, so won't be long till everybody that wants one has one.

No, we went to Hamilton last week (off a waiting list at Sapphire Health). I thought the Lucky's clinics were doing 1000 per day and the same at the fairgrounds. Either way, I thought it was going to be a battle trying to get an appointment for a few weeks but happy to say I was dead wrong about that. Hell, you can even choose your vaccine right now!

And you're right, we are already at 40% ++ with at least one shot so it shouldn't take more than a few weeks until everyone who wants it has it.

Unfortunately I fear places like the Bitterroot/Flathead will never even get close to herd immunity.

[bagtagley]

WaPo poll saying on the fence numbers decreasing as more people get vaxxed, down to 17% (9% probably not, 8% definitely not). Gotta figure a bunch of those people say “hell no” on the phone but quietly get poked anyway. Anecdotally, the number of camo/American flag/these colors don’t run clad folks at my vax site tells me our biases and what we see on the news doesn’t necessarily represent reality. Still a lot of unvaxxed but much better than the 30% we were hearing initially.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Out here in Grand County, USA is seems we have enough vax for everyone. No sign up, no checking of ID, does not appear to be any need to fib (check the box that says something like "works in proximity to public"), wait in your car for 10mins. at the Fairgrounds, nurse jumps up on your running boards and sticks a tiny needle in your arm. Done.

If you got in that line on Friday, I don't think you'd be taking a vax from anyone that "needs it more". I can't say what the rules and regs are but for whatever reason, it seem like we are in defacto Phase 2.

[Danno]

Out here in Grand County, USA is seems we have enough vax for everyone. No sign up, no checking of ID, does not appear to be any need to fib (check the box that says something like "works in proximity to public"), wait in your car for 10mins. at the Fairgrounds, nurse jumps up on your running boards and sticks a tiny needle in your arm. Done.

If you got in that line on Friday, I don't think you'd be taking a vax from anyone that "needs it more". I can't say what the rules and regs are but for whatever reason, it seem like we are in defacto Phase 2.

Yeah, I have heard that about Grand Cty. Lots of people heading to Mesa Cty too, same idea.

[G. Gordon Liddy]

Oof! Got the J&J yesterday. Got my ass kicked last night and still feel pretty shitty today. Glad I know it's working I guess, but a bigger punch than I expected!!

[Ted Striker]

Anecdotally, the number of camo/American flag/these colors don’t run clad folks at my vax site tells me our biases and what we see on the news doesn’t necessarily represent reality.

The people I know who won't get it are pseudo-woke white collar small c conservative-to-small L libertarians who think they're smarter than everyone else.

[puma]

Pfizer shot 1 done. Still had doubts it was going to happen until it went into the arm!

[GoldMember]

Pfizer shot 1 done. Still had doubts it was going to happen until it went into the arm!

Cool! Aren't you glad you didn't drive to WW? Or lie?

[Foggy_Goggles]

Lots of people in my neck of the woods (including me) have been traveling elsewhere precisely because vaccines are more available there. I don't know whether that's because people in those areas aren't demanding vaccines or because they're getting an inequitable amount of doses, but I have my suspicions.

OK, come with the suspicions. Also, if you if you come to Grand County for the vax and their becomes a need to restrict access base on residence of qualification, please respect that. Of an if there is ever another pandemic, us bumpkins out in the sticks get to come down and take up capacity at "your" hospitals without getting the hairy eyeball.

[skaredshtles]

Moderna #1 in da arm.

[Adolf Allerbush]

New York State finally opened for 30 and up.
Called the hotline and miraculously got an appointment on April 12th while there’s not a single availability within 50 mile radios.

Were you one of the folks on TGR that had COVID early on? If so, interested to hear/read if you have side effects from the vax.

I'm older, but not that old, and Oregon is now 45 and up if you have a health condition. We help with caretaking for my in-laws and my grandparents, so that's eligible in OR. Waiting for Pfizer 2 to happen on 4/18. Glad to be in this process finally.

[Danno]

OK, come with the suspicions. Also, if you if you come to Grand County for the vax and their becomes a need to restrict access base on residence of qualification, please respect that. Of an if there is ever another pandemic, us bumpkins out in the sticks get to come down and take up capacity at "your" hospitals without getting the hairy eyeball.

My suspicion is that places that have an abundance of vaccines aren't getting more per capita, there is just less demand.

I did not lie about my home's location, and would not have lied to get the vax (I did not get vaccinated in Grand Cty, FWIW). And I was never one of those people saying "if we can't recreate in Grand County then you shouldn't be coming to our hospitals!" And yet in the throes of the lockdown, I did not leave my county to recreate there and always respected the need to stay close to home (until summer when I went camping some but still stayed "isolated"). Maybe you have me confused with someone else?

ETA: somewhere in this thread is my rant about the way vaccines have been administered. It's been a fucking shit show.

[bagtagley]

The people I know who won't get it are pseudo-woke white collar small c conservative-to-small L libertarians who think they're smarter than everyone else.

Yeah, it’s across the board. I also know a few “hippie” anti vaxxers that are just operating as they always have, which is to say, selfishly.

[Ted Striker]

Yeah, selfish/self-centered is the common thread.