Community Chat

[Bhvbum]

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@Carmie wrote:

Here in PA, they are still vaccinating people in catagory 1A. ( medical personal and long term care patients)  They are supposed to be done this week.

They are finally starting to set up venues to vaccinate seniors and others with health issues.  PA is very behind other states.  There are problems getting enough vaccine for everyone.

It will probably be late summer until they make a dent in this state.  The good news is the number of people testing positive is going down.

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CDC says PA has given either one or two doses to 18% of PA population over age 18. That's pretty much in line with most of the other states Virginia is at 19% but we also haven't had the bad weather and snow days like further north you go. 

You can check out on your own state website or go to the CDC website to see how Pennsylvania is faring with the rest of the country. Also it may show just 18% for PA but folks 65 and older are mostly the ones actually getting the vaccines. 

[Bhvbum]

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@Carmie wrote:

Here in PA, they are still vaccinating people in catagory 1A. ( medical personal and long term care patients)  They are supposed to be done this week.

They are finally starting to set up venues to vaccinate seniors and others with health issues.  PA is very behind other states.  There are problems getting enough vaccine for everyone.

It will probably be late summer until they make a dent in this state.  The good news is the number of people testing positive is going down.

Here is phase 1A in Pennsylvania according to their state website:

Phase 1A is the first vaccine distribution step. The vaccine is currently being distributed to:

• Long-term care facility residents
• Health care personnel including, but not limited to:
• Emergency medical service personnel
• Nurses
• Nursing assistants
• Physicians
• Dentists
• Dental hygienists
• Chiropractors
• Therapists
• Phlebotomists
• Pharmacists
• Technicians
• Pharmacy technicians
• Health professions students and trainees
• Direct support professionals
• Clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities
• Contractual HCP not directly employed by the health care facility
• Persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease among or from health care personnel and patients
• Persons ages 65 and older
• Persons ages 16-64 with high-risk conditions:
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

[pitdakota]

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@skatting44 wrote:

 Well, not much one can do abt it other than  have your name on 5 different  lists to try to receive the covid 19  vaccine . It won't happen any faster  unless  these  state bureaucrats  get moving and releasing the vaccines to  wlk in / drive through clinics   and  MD offices . Wv  Govenor said they kept the process Simple ... they did not over complicate  vaccinating the most vulnerable. Unfortunately the CDC guidelines  on what category  one fell in  was  based on  age or profession or that one was a politician . 

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____________________________________________________________

Not all states are following the CDC guidelines or they submitted plans that somewhat follow the guidelines but they diverged from many of the categories and did things differently in their states. 

There are many different factors that go into defining who is "vulnerable".  Front line medical workers for the most part received high priority to be vaccinated first in almost all states.  But age and medical condition was not the only factor evaluating who was vulernable.

In my state, they chose to place emphasis on those older individuals that resided in long term care facilities.  At the time each state was to submit their plan to the federal government back in the fall 2020 nursing homes in my state had the greatest burden of disease in terms of new cases and deaths than any other population in the state.  Consequently, they put those people first.  Meaning someone aged 70 with a whole host of medical problems would have to wait until those individuals were vaccinated until they started vaccinating another group.

No vaccination program is ever going to meet the needs of what everyone wants.  Here we have a loud and verbal group berating our governor for not including childcare workers of any age in group 1A.  According to them, the older people can continue to stay at home and minimize their risk, while the younger ones working with children need to be protected via vaccination and therefore should take priority.  

Although I am pretty familiar with the different categories as suggested by the CDC for priority in vaccinations, no where do I see politicians as being identified as a group in any of the categories.  States may have made decisions to include legislators, etc. as part of their plan, but that was not a CDC guideline.

Additionally, they can't roll out vaccine they don't have.  Thank goodness we purchased more vaccine just recently so that both Moderna and Pfizer will be providing more vaccine.  But they can't roll that out over night either.  Approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will certainly make things quite a bit better in terms of vaccine supply.

If I remember correctly, you are  a nurse?  If so, think about getting out there and volunteering to help get the vaccine they do get in arms.  Retired?  No problem, executive order to cover retired nurses and md for administering covid-19 vaccines.

Still working?  No problem.  The drive thru site I vounteer with routinely has nurses that are currently working that volunteer a day off when they can to administer vaccines.

Unless you are homebound, there is volunteer work you could be doing to help in the effort. 

I will suggest that instead of just complaining and as the ole saying goes becoming part of the problem, become part of the solution.  You might also see first hand the challenges they face and learn just a wee bit of the monumental challenge this whole vaccination program actually is.

[Carmie]

@Bhvbum   I have read what is supposed to be happening, but I can tell you there is not enough vaccine available for all of these people.

A friend of mine is in a long term facility.  I am her POA so I get weekly updates.  On March 6, they will be able to give the second jab to the patients who still haven't received it yet.  The whole facility could not be vaccinated at the same time and they had to wait weeks for more vaccine to become available.

People are eligible, but they cannot be vaccinated.  We are just now setting up places where people can sign up to be vaccinated.  This past week, the VA center began to see   Vets, but they ran out.

They are also starting to use empty stores as vaccination centers, but again, they cannot vaccinate many people due to shortages.

PA is behind all of our bordering states. It has been on the news for quite a while.
There are many excuses, but the bottom line is...it will be some time before those who want to be vaccinated can be no matter if they are 1a or not.

BTW, our prisoners will go to the front of the line shortly, and if they choose to get vaccinated, they will receive $25.  

That is stirring up some interest.

[ID2]

I don't think all the states are abiding by the set rules. I have friends that aren't 65 yet but one is a type 2 diabetic and one is a type 1 diabetic and they were told neither one meets the criteria for the vaccine at this time. 

[skatting44]

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@pitdakota wrote:

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@skatting44 wrote:

 Well, not much one can do abt it other than  have your name on 5 different  lists to try to receive the covid 19  vaccine . It won't happen any faster  unless  these  state bureaucrats  get moving and releasing the vaccines to  wlk in / drive through clinics   and  MD offices . Wv  Govenor said they kept the process Simple ... they did not over complicate  vaccinating the most vulnerable. Unfortunately the CDC guidelines  on what category  one fell in  was  based on  age or profession or that one was a politician . 

---

____________________________________________________________

Not all states are following the CDC guidelines or they submitted plans that somewhat follow the guidelines but they diverged from many of the categories and did things differently in their states. 

There are many different factors that go into defining who is "vulnerable".  Front line medical workers for the most part received high priority to be vaccinated first in almost all states.  But age and medical condition was not the only factor evaluating who was vulernable.

In my state, they chose to place emphasis on those older individuals that resided in long term care facilities.  At the time each state was to submit their plan to the federal government back in the fall 2020 nursing homes in my state had the greatest burden of disease in terms of new cases and deaths than any other population in the state.  Consequently, they put those people first.  Meaning someone aged 70 with a whole host of medical problems would have to wait until those individuals were vaccinated until they started vaccinating another group.

No vaccination program is ever going to meet the needs of what everyone wants.  Here we have a loud and verbal group berating our governor for not including childcare workers of any age in group 1A.  According to them, the older people can continue to stay at home and minimize their risk, while the younger ones working with children need to be protected via vaccination and therefore should take priority.  

Although I am pretty familiar with the different categories as suggested by the CDC for priority in vaccinations, no where do I see politicians as being identified as a group in any of the categories.  States may have made decisions to include legislators, etc. as part of their plan, but that was not a CDC guideline.

Additionally, they can't roll out vaccine they don't have.  Thank goodness we purchased more vaccine just recently so that both Moderna and Pfizer will be providing more vaccine.  But they can't roll that out over night either.  Approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will certainly make things quite a bit better in terms of vaccine supply.

If I remember correctly, you are  a nurse?  If so, think about getting out there and volunteering to help get the vaccine they do get in arms.  Retired?  No problem, executive order to cover retired nurses and md for administering covid-19 vaccines.

Still working?  No problem.  The drive thru site I vounteer with routinely has nurses that are currently working that volunteer a day off when they can to administer vaccines.

Unless you are homebound, there is volunteer work you could be doing to help in the effort. 

I will suggest that instead of just complaining and as the ole saying goes becoming part of the problem, become part of the solution.  You might also see first hand the challenges they face and learn just a wee bit of the monumental challenge this whole vaccination program actually is.

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  Since you want to make this personal. Than Yes, I am out there  rolling up my sleeves doing the work of caring for the ill and  caring for a Grandson, so  I've  taken my chances  during the pandemic .  You have no  right to judge me  . I am in high risk category   not only age but serious health issues  .  So, your calling me out iand making this personal is Not warranted . You can have your opinion but  your  attacking me making accusations  is ridiculous. You are not my Boss and I have a full plate .

[pitdakota]

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@skatting44 wrote:

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@pitdakota wrote:

---

@skatting44 wrote:

 Well, not much one can do abt it other than  have your name on 5 different  lists to try to receive the covid 19  vaccine . It won't happen any faster  unless  these  state bureaucrats  get moving and releasing the vaccines to  wlk in / drive through clinics   and  MD offices . Wv  Govenor said they kept the process Simple ... they did not over complicate  vaccinating the most vulnerable. Unfortunately the CDC guidelines  on what category  one fell in  was  based on  age or profession or that one was a politician . 

---

____________________________________________________________

Not all states are following the CDC guidelines or they submitted plans that somewhat follow the guidelines but they diverged from many of the categories and did things differently in their states. 

There are many different factors that go into defining who is "vulnerable".  Front line medical workers for the most part received high priority to be vaccinated first in almost all states.  But age and medical condition was not the only factor evaluating who was vulernable.

In my state, they chose to place emphasis on those older individuals that resided in long term care facilities.  At the time each state was to submit their plan to the federal government back in the fall 2020 nursing homes in my state had the greatest burden of disease in terms of new cases and deaths than any other population in the state.  Consequently, they put those people first.  Meaning someone aged 70 with a whole host of medical problems would have to wait until those individuals were vaccinated until they started vaccinating another group.

No vaccination program is ever going to meet the needs of what everyone wants.  Here we have a loud and verbal group berating our governor for not including childcare workers of any age in group 1A.  According to them, the older people can continue to stay at home and minimize their risk, while the younger ones working with children need to be protected via vaccination and therefore should take priority.  

Although I am pretty familiar with the different categories as suggested by the CDC for priority in vaccinations, no where do I see politicians as being identified as a group in any of the categories.  States may have made decisions to include legislators, etc. as part of their plan, but that was not a CDC guideline.

Additionally, they can't roll out vaccine they don't have.  Thank goodness we purchased more vaccine just recently so that both Moderna and Pfizer will be providing more vaccine.  But they can't roll that out over night either.  Approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will certainly make things quite a bit better in terms of vaccine supply.

If I remember correctly, you are  a nurse?  If so, think about getting out there and volunteering to help get the vaccine they do get in arms.  Retired?  No problem, executive order to cover retired nurses and md for administering covid-19 vaccines.

Still working?  No problem.  The drive thru site I vounteer with routinely has nurses that are currently working that volunteer a day off when they can to administer vaccines.

Unless you are homebound, there is volunteer work you could be doing to help in the effort. 

I will suggest that instead of just complaining and as the ole saying goes becoming part of the problem, become part of the solution.  You might also see first hand the challenges they face and learn just a wee bit of the monumental challenge this whole vaccination program actually is.

---

  Since you want to make this personal. Than Yes, I am out there doing the work of caring for the ill and  caring for a Grandson, so  I take my chances .  I am ina high risk category   not only age but serious health issues  .  So, your calling me out is  and making this personal is Not warranted . You can have your opinion but  your  attacking me making accusations  is ridiculous.

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_________________________________________________

@skatting44, not trying to make this personal at all.  Just a suggestion that you could consider volunteering.  We have high risk retired nurses that have come out of retirement working vaccine clinics that have not been vaccinated yet themself. They are to be admired for sure, but it isn't a requirement at all.  It is anyone's decision for sure and each nurse has to make their own decision. 

But it is no doubt, a great way to learn about a vaccination program and the specific monumental challenges they face in administering one with all the challenges and barriers that this particular effort entails.

[bonnielu]

In our area signing up for the Vaccine was a nightmare and those first on the list had little or no computer skills. The system failed and it took lots of those who thought we knew what we were doing to help each other. Hopefully the programs gets sorted out and made understandable and  accessible for all.  

[skatting44]

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@pitdakota wrote:

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@skatting44 wrote:

---

@pitdakota wrote:

---

@skatting44 wrote:

 Well, not much one can do abt it other than  have your name on 5 different  lists to try to receive the covid 19  vaccine . It won't happen any faster  unless  these  state bureaucrats  get moving and releasing the vaccines to  wlk in / drive through clinics   and  MD offices . Wv  Govenor said they kept the process Simple ... they did not over complicate  vaccinating the most vulnerable. Unfortunately the CDC guidelines  on what category  one fell in  was  based on  age or profession or that one was a politician . 

---

____________________________________________________________

Not all states are following the CDC guidelines or they submitted plans that somewhat follow the guidelines but they diverged from many of the categories and did things differently in their states. 

There are many different factors that go into defining who is "vulnerable".  Front line medical workers for the most part received high priority to be vaccinated first in almost all states.  But age and medical condition was not the only factor evaluating who was vulernable.

In my state, they chose to place emphasis on those older individuals that resided in long term care facilities.  At the time each state was to submit their plan to the federal government back in the fall 2020 nursing homes in my state had the greatest burden of disease in terms of new cases and deaths than any other population in the state.  Consequently, they put those people first.  Meaning someone aged 70 with a whole host of medical problems would have to wait until those individuals were vaccinated until they started vaccinating another group.

No vaccination program is ever going to meet the needs of what everyone wants.  Here we have a loud and verbal group berating our governor for not including childcare workers of any age in group 1A.  According to them, the older people can continue to stay at home and minimize their risk, while the younger ones working with children need to be protected via vaccination and therefore should take priority.  

Although I am pretty familiar with the different categories as suggested by the CDC for priority in vaccinations, no where do I see politicians as being identified as a group in any of the categories.  States may have made decisions to include legislators, etc. as part of their plan, but that was not a CDC guideline.

Additionally, they can't roll out vaccine they don't have.  Thank goodness we purchased more vaccine just recently so that both Moderna and Pfizer will be providing more vaccine.  But they can't roll that out over night either.  Approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will certainly make things quite a bit better in terms of vaccine supply.

If I remember correctly, you are  a nurse?  If so, think about getting out there and volunteering to help get the vaccine they do get in arms.  Retired?  No problem, executive order to cover retired nurses and md for administering covid-19 vaccines.

Still working?  No problem.  The drive thru site I vounteer with routinely has nurses that are currently working that volunteer a day off when they can to administer vaccines.

Unless you are homebound, there is volunteer work you could be doing to help in the effort. 

I will suggest that instead of just complaining and as the ole saying goes becoming part of the problem, become part of the solution.  You might also see first hand the challenges they face and learn just a wee bit of the monumental challenge this whole vaccination program actually is.

---

  Since you want to make this personal. Than Yes, I am out there doing the work of caring for the ill and  caring for a Grandson, so  I take my chances .  I am ina high risk category   not only age but serious health issues  .  So, your calling me out is  and making this personal is Not warranted . You can have your opinion but  your  attacking me making accusations  is ridiculous.

---

_________________________________________________

@skatting44, not trying to make this personal at all.  Just a suggestion that you could consider volunteering.  We have high risk retired nurses that have come out of retirement working vaccine clinics that have not been vaccinated yet themself. They are to be admired for sure, but it isn't a requirement at all.  It is anyone's decision for sure and each nurse has to make their own decision. 

But it is no doubt, a great way to learn about a vaccination program and the specific monumental challenges they face in administering one with all the challenges and barriers that this particular effort entails.

I get it but you can suggest in a general manner to everyone . You have no idea what I understand abt setting up a vaccination clinic . You made it personal by telling me what I should do and accusing me of not fulfilling my calling as a nurse to help others which I have done for almost 40 yrs . You have no idea how I have put my own life at risk in being a nurse during these trying times. .

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[pitdakota]

@skatting44   I never implied what you might or might not have risked in your nursing career.  Thank you for your years as a nurse.  

And no I don't know what you might know about vaccination programs, but I can assume a great deal of what you might not know about the current covid-19 vaccination based on what you posted.  But understanding the program or not isn't a requirement to volunteer. 

I see that you took offense that I didn't address it to just anyone, but not everyone is a nurse that can volunteer to help get that vaccine in arms.  That is when the doses are available. They  need healthcare  professionals to reconstitute, draw up, calculate the time of storage, number of times of vaccine movement, etc.  Not just anyone can do that. That requires a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist.  

Evidently, we don't see eye to eye, which is absolutely ok.  In the meantime, I wish you well and hope you have a good evening.