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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Jan 29, 2021 14:04:02 GMT -5
I always have kept jumper cables in my vehicles. Thankfully the maintenance man was here and agreed to give me a yump. Otherwise I would have had to call you. Good news is it's only 3 hours!
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Jan 30, 2021 11:03:34 GMT -5
Looks like the J&J vax is on deck. They are reporting only about 65% efficacy in immune response but 85% in preventing severe disease, according to what Fauci said yesterday. Big huge tremendous upside is you only need one shot and it can be stored in regular refrigerators.
If it's approved, should it be given to higher risk groups or say, younger, healthier people and school kids, for example?
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Jan 30, 2021 11:05:49 GMT -5
Oh and there are conflicting stories about manufacturing capabilities. I have heard that J&J can manufacture it "in the billions" relatively quickly (per Fauci) but other headlines are saying they have issues getting it produced at all.
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Post by minx on Jan 31, 2021 14:32:38 GMT -5
This is where my biggest fear is going to enter into play.
Let's say J&J is perfect for about 60% of the population and will do the job just fine. The others need to have the Pfizer or Moderna one.
How are we going to convince the Rallys of the world (and yes, he is the standard I use to measure reactions to changes in medical care) that they belong in the 60% and don't need the higher effective rate? Especially when they see that big beautiful Moderna vaccine being injected into the arms of the unworthy - homeless folks, prison inmates, poor folk.
I really wish the J&J had come out first - people would have been thrilled, and most wouldn't have wanted to go back for more shots.
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Post by minx on Jan 31, 2021 14:43:21 GMT -5
Oh, and a tale of two shots
Friend and her parents got shots this week thanks to a family friend who sat and mashed the refresh button a few hundred times on Wednesday. All three (friend and parents) are in what I'd call high 1B - mom and dad are elderly and have medical issues, and while she's below 60, she has a slew of medical issues and is disabled.
So first parents - they got in through the health department and had their shots at Massaponax HS. They came in - no line. Tons of volunteers, and also tons of medical volunteers - nursing students, EMTs and the like. Got their temp taken did a short medical history, then got the shot. Since she has a history of allergies, they were told they were required to wait for 30 minutes before leaving. She and her husband were escorted to the school library and given a sticker that said 'I can leave at xx) with the 30 minutes time on them. Again, tons of medical volunteers who offered them water, chatted with them, ect. At different intervals, they would come up to people and say "We're so happy you were able to come in - you're free to leave anytime now!" as the time on their stickers came up.
My friend got in at MWH. She checked in and was told to wait in the parking lot for a text to come in. When she was called, there was a line, but not a long one - basically a series of different lines for different things to check off She did see lots of personnel, but wasn't sure if they had medical training or not, because they were all wearing MWH nametags. After the shot, she was told to go to another room and wait for 10-15 minutes (she has no history of allergies) Other room had no sticker to let people know what time you came in, and she said that in looking around she didn't see any type of first aid kits or the like - again, wasn't clear on the people who were 'official' and what skills they might have.
Both said it wasn't a bad experience - friend said that she hoped that as we move forward it's more uniform, and that she really liked the idea of the timed stickers so those supervising the last phase can have a nice clear indicator of when people had actually been injected.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 8, 2021 20:05:41 GMT -5
I just received notification that I can obtain a vaccine starting tomorrow.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 9, 2021 5:22:46 GMT -5
Did you receive one, Bob?
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Post by minx on Feb 9, 2021 10:24:24 GMT -5
It's a little confusing. Mr. Minx received a notice from the state saying he could sign up for an appointment at CVS. He logged into the CVS portal bright and early - second screen asked if he was 65 or older (he is not). He clicked no, and received a message saying he was not eligible for a vaccine at this time.
I read an article this morning saying that CVS would only take appointments for 65 and older, which I have no issues with, but why send a 62yo with underlying medical conditions a notice that they could now go to CVS, when they clearly don't meet the basic starting guideline?
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 9, 2021 10:56:19 GMT -5
Small world. I did not receive their notification but being ever vigilant, at least most days, lol, I looked up the registration with CVS before I got on here. Same dealiio, no joy if you are under 65. That was not a feature of the reporting I've seen but it is what it is. It also asked "AND have registered with the health dept" so I'm gonna say you have to be both over 65 AND be registered with your local doh, meaning the doh is working this out with cvs to get things going.
I've heard the Krogers out here are doing vaxes too but there's a lot of discussion there about who can and can't get it from there, and when you try to call the stores it's a 1:10000000 chance of getting through at any given time.
Our doctor's office said that for the time being no one should call to make an appointment to get it. They will call you if they determine you are eligible. Sounds about right, right? FML.
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Post by minx on Feb 9, 2021 11:33:39 GMT -5
Yeah - the doh is coordinating and directing people to the appropriate sites.
Don't have an issue with that, just directing someone to a site they're not even eligible for
And they aren't releasing the pharmacy sites so they don't get inundated with calls.
At the food pantry last week, we were passing out flyers telling people to go register to get in line. They also had an option where you could call a number and a volunteer would help you get registered.
I'm telling myself that we are making progress, but there will be some setbacks.
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Vaccines
Feb 9, 2021 11:48:20 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 9, 2021 11:48:20 GMT -5
Not having any power or input anyway, I think they are doing about as good of a job as we could expect under the circumstances.
According to the VDOH website, VA has vaxed over million 1st doses. The second is way way behind that. Considering the fact that they approved the one in dec and the other in Jan I'm surprised we're even talking about double digits percentages in a blue state, and not mass confusion slash panic.
She is set to start a new MS drug on Friday and I was hoping we, but at least I, would've gotten one before then. She rarely goes out so her biggest risk factor is me. And even though I try to be cautious, I'm not always. The truth is you can do everything you can do and still get it.
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Vaccines
Feb 9, 2021 15:33:53 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by bobathon on Feb 9, 2021 15:33:53 GMT -5
I have not yet pursued getting one, so haven't been notified.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 9, 2021 18:54:15 GMT -5
First of all, the motivation said registration would start at 0515. A friend tried at exactly that time, and was rewarded with the response that VA was not offering vaccines at CVS currently. He and I both kept trying off and on over the next hour and finally got through to get turned away as not being eligible. Since they start vaccinating 1b~ Eli blue people in VA on Friday, I’m going to try again then.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 9, 2021 19:59:16 GMT -5
The site has changed. I just checked again, for grins, and got this. Every site is fully booked.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 10, 2021 0:43:01 GMT -5
Now they’ve added a link that allows you to schedule an appointment, but only if you’re = or > 65 AND you’re on the VDH list. 🤣🤣
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Post by k9krap on Feb 11, 2021 3:36:39 GMT -5
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Post by minx on Feb 11, 2021 9:48:07 GMT -5
Neighbor was able to get appointments at CVS for his family (himself, wife, and disabled 22yo daughter). Not sure what CVS is doing, but it's sure as hell confusing!
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 11, 2021 10:55:57 GMT -5
Have you ever BEEN to CVS?
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Post by bobathon on Feb 11, 2021 13:10:37 GMT -5
You can see this 30 foot long receipt, you don't have to ask.
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Post by minx on Feb 11, 2021 13:19:05 GMT -5
I am wondering how CVS is going to set this up - the space they used at MWH was rather large - lots and lots of spacing. I've never been in a CVS that wasn't crowded with garbage.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 11, 2021 20:02:09 GMT -5
I was wondering the same, minx. I’ve gotten all my vaccines at the one here in king George and they gave them right there at the pharmacy counter. (Actually, my first flu vaccine there was given in the hallway to the bathroom and pharmacy area so at least there was a little privacy.). Maybe they’ll use the “minute clinics” or whatever they’re called?
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Post by k9krap on Feb 23, 2021 19:05:57 GMT -5
I’m scheduled to get my first dose of the Moderna vaccine Friday morning.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 24, 2021 20:24:10 GMT -5
And my panic attacks have kicked in. I’ve had a hippo on my chest all afternoon and my tinnitus is more than deafening.
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Post by minx on Feb 25, 2021 10:43:07 GMT -5
Oh Pam, I am sorry. If it helps, I had no problems whatsoever with my first dose - was easier than a flu shot. Get my second one tomorrow.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 25, 2021 20:09:22 GMT -5
It’s not being shot that caused the panic - it was reorganizing my routine to accommodate it. I also need to hit the post office as I went for my annual visit to my box and it was jammed so full I couldn’t get it open. Some of my tax documents are still sent there so I have to do it.
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Post by minx on Feb 26, 2021 10:24:50 GMT -5
Mr. Minx got an email to schedule his first dose - he goes next Thursday.
My second one is tonight after work.
And I read an article in the NYT saying that the Biden administration is ramping up both capacity and distribution. They're working with businesses to get places set up for clinics, like sports arenas, and have companies like Target agreeing to give their employees paid time off to get vaccinated. Spokeperson said the message they want to sent and have spread is simple:
Wear a mask, keep your distance, get vaccinated
About damn time! Can you imagine where we could have been if the message last year at this time had been Stay home, wear a mask, keep your distance
Hopefully, the light we're starting to see will get brighter now.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 26, 2021 11:34:29 GMT -5
We registered on 1/21 as 1B and still have not gotten a call, text, or email. I'm hoping that if they call they'll leave a message because we simply do not answer calls we don't recognize or CID doesn't identify by name/org.
The National MS Society has a bulletin that those taking certain DMD (Disease Modifying Drugs) wait 4-6 weeks before starting the DMD after the full series of vax or waiting 4-6 weeks after getting the DMD to get vaxed BUT that they are both equal in terms of risk/benefit no matter the timing... annnnnd as it would turn out, she had her first infusion of Ocrevus at UVA yesterday. Which is one of the DMDs. I fully expected them to call us today or monday for the vax, just because that's the normal way things work in our world. Her second infusion is the 11th.
At this point we have NO goddamn idea if she should get it if called or if they'll let you reschedule to meet your needs. I would get mine this afternoon if they called.
And Pam, I get the panic attacks sometimes from change in routine. More recently they have been those choking, gagging, coughing fits and massive outbreaks of sweating. I'm probably going to have to take an extended break from my beer because anything over 3 or 4 is causing them too, and those have been the full "take me to the ER" variety. The night before last was really terrible and the stress of knowing I had to get up early and get her to UVA by 9am made it that much worse. The Ativan didn't hardly touch it.
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Post by minx on Feb 26, 2021 11:55:11 GMT -5
Yay for finally having good enough weather to make it out for the first infusion! How did it go?
Both Mr. Minx and I were emailed to set an appointment - check your junk/spam mail to make sure you didn't have any notifications go there.
And I will say that I wonder how the vaccine itself is being distributed in terms of area. Can't see Lynchburg being in an area where they wouldn't have any capability of storing it though.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 26, 2021 13:00:16 GMT -5
It went great and thanks for asking. The appt was at 10 but they didn't get her "premed" started until 11 but she was done about 3:45 which included an hour observation after the infusion. No issues with side effects at all up to the time I'm typing this. She had a long night because they gave her solumedrol again, premed, and fluids. Not much sleep and a lot of trips to the loo. Hopefully that all subsides by tonight because if she don't sleep, nobody sleep.
As far as getting vaxed in LBG, I only know that there have been only 3000 doses getting here per week and IIRC that's for the entire health district which includes Campbell, Amherst, and Bedford counties and the city of LBG. It would be interesting to know what the Roanoke district is getting in comparison. The gubnuh said they were getting complaints in SWVA but the numbers were proportionate to population everywhere in the state. Yeah, and I'm a Somali jet pilot.
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Post by minx on Feb 26, 2021 13:39:13 GMT -5
Maybe it's proportional to the COVID deniers in a particular area.
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