Why are NY and Califorina taking so long in the rolling out of the vaccine? The AARP and Alzheimer's Association help us.

seniors speak up we need the vaccine now in NY and CA

Florida hasn’t done such a great job either, and I have observed that all or most of us have a fairly insular view of where blame should go.

Overall, I think things will be moving forward exponentially faster in a pretty brief length of time.

I’m in a slower state too, and I’m wildly eager to be vaccinated.

Even mismanagement during this horrific situation was slow to “trickle down”.

As actual FACTS emerge from this swamp of distrust and rumor, I will no doubt change my opinion, but for me, FACT FIRST.

Michigan is 7th worst in the vaccine rollout according to the CDC.

There is an article in the Detroit Free Press which states many frontline workers are declining the vaccine. This was also stated:

"Launching mass vaccinations over the December holiday season created delays with some individuals intentionally delaying vaccines for themselves until after the holidays and clinics not being operational due to the holidays," said Bob Wheaton, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. "Although it was appropriate to start vaccinations as soon as the vaccine was available, it has caused the rollout to be slower."

I'm in California, and it frustrates me to no end that they still don't have their act together here.

Fortunately, my mom's nursing home was contacted by CVS to let them know they'll be doing a clinic there and need consent forms by January 12. There's no date for the actual clinic, mind you, but it's a tiny step forward.

I just wish they'd have gotten to this before my mom was put on hospice. I wanted to avoid causing her more pain, but now it's unavoidable.

Joel. I think it is the logistics. Even Kaiser, who is SOOOO fast usually on preventative care, is not on the ball now. Here's a few reasons why.
1. They need to give so many injections. Personnel is tied up in hospital.
2. Kaiser can't do the usually drive up and get the flu shot because anyone getting the injection has to stay on site 15 minutes to 30 minutes to be certain there is no deadly reaction (there were two in UK, both cured with epi pen and one in USA also cured with epi pen)
3. Logistically they cannot find venues huge enough to schedule large amount of people to come, stay and return in 21 days.
4. vaccine requires colder than freezer freezing. Dry ice cold. Can last only 6 hours without that.
The vaccine is here and they can't figure how to give it. Figure it out. If they tell all Kaiser patients to come get it there would be lines miles long of people standing in the street and perhaps dying in the street waiting. There's no staff to be spared to send them out to nursing home and they are unable to bypass laws to teach people the simple thing of giving injections; calling back retired folks not easy as it seems.
So basically Joel I would ask you how you would do this. We know they are there and can tolerate no more than 6 hours out of their deep freezers unless on dry ice. Has to be no normal freezer.
I have three friends who have it now. All immune suppressed individuals who have to show up for other IV treatments.
This is a logistical nightmare. It will get done but I won't be surprised if it takes well more than 6 months.

It's got nothing to do with logistics or supply. He would not distribute any vaccines until his own state board of health approved them. So as many New Yorkers die every day and prevention is being denied, most of us are being vaccinated.

There is supply and demand. Demand is much higher than supply.

There are issues with State funding to get said vaccine.

The smaller towns around the country, personnel from those towns need to drive hours to the nearest hospital that has the vaccine in order to get what is allotted to those small towns.

And as mentioned prior, lack of trained personnel to give said shots. Yesterday it was mentioned on the news of getting students who are studying medical care to go out and give shots.

Believe me, I rather have an expert give me a shot. Here in my area is a nursing association that does the flu shots at the local hospitals.... those nurses are great, rarely an achy arm afterwards. I remember when a local pharmacist gave me my shingle shot, I was hoping my arm would drop off it hurt so bad :P

I am experiencing delays as well. My LO's facility called me the week of December 14th, 2020 to discuss the vaccine. I gave a verbal OK at that time. Caller stated that shots would be given by a pharmacist from the company that provides meds to the facility. Fine. It turned strange after that where she stated multiple times that the "official" authorizations would be mailed to families the same day (Dec 19) to be signed/returned to the facility right away. She almost made it sound like there was a first-come, first-served aspect of this and I was left with the impression that maybe they were not expecting to get enough vaccine for everyone? As if mailing forms to families all on the same day gave all an equal chance at it as some families would return forms quickly and others may not? Anyway, I didn't question that, but I asked if they even HAVE the shots yet and she said "hopefully by Dec 23." Fine. I didn't even receive the magic piece of paper until Dec 28th (the one that was mailed to ALL families on Dec 19). I called to inquire and was told the authorization is due back to the facility by Dec 31st. (Weren't they expecting to start giving shots on Dec 23rd?) I dutifully drove to the facility and dropped off the signed form. I asked when shots were coming and was told "not any time soon." I could have raised heck with the facility, but opted not to because we like them and they can't give shots they don't have yet. I think their plan is in place, so I will roll with it. Delays are frustrating nevertheless and I'm left with "what if she gets a serious case of covid in the meantime while she's waiting?"

The vaccine requires two doses.
The second dose is being stockpiled to be administered to the first dose recipients.

In California, no one should be surprised at the slow roll out. Our governor told us he wouldn’t allow us to the vaccine until he deemed it safe! California is also a sh*t show because nobody prepared for the current situation, not the government not the hospital CEOs, no one. For months we were told there would be a second wave that would be BAD and that winter would be especially bad because COVID + FLU=disaster. Yet nothing was done to prepare. My county had FEMA trailers and overflow centers set up at the airport and the fairgrounds. And then.....hospitals laid off staff and the overflow centers were quietly taken down and now DISASTER! Now there is Not enough staff. Not enough staff also means not enough staff to administer the vaccine and now they’ve realized there’s a big problem. They’ve given all these people the first dose of the vaccine but now they have coordinate and get all these people back in for the 2nd dose at a specific time and there’s another problem if those people get COVID in between doses.

Curious is anyone is paying to the CDC’s reporting on vaccine adverse reactions & deaths? 1 doctor dead. As of a January 1st, 11 nursing home residents have died. Many life threatening reactions. 5 left permanently disabled......scary stuff!

I can give you dire stats on taking a daily baby ASA also, Cali. We are seeing remarkably few reactions to this vaccine compared to the numbers given. Everything has a potential for disaster, including crossing the street.

Here in Florida, the websites for signups have crashed. My elderly relatives (not in facilities) have not been notified when they will even possibly get a vaccine.

Florida has been given the impression of being a Perfect Wonderland for seniors. That is simply not the case. All states have their issues.

In Michigan, we have workers in grocery stores, required to work at $9.65 an hour so everyone has services and supplies and have alot more exposure than the elderly. The wage increase was postponed this year due to Covid.

You are luckly, you lived a life, had a wife you loved and can be secure where you are. Alot of younger people do not have the same security. In my opinion, if there is a choice, a vaccine should always go to a front line worker over someone who can live in comfort in their home. If you ask my old geography professor, this is cyclical because we abuse the Earth which in turn purges. Harsh, right?

All people are important, not just the elderly.

We are not seeing “remarkably few” reactions to the vaccine Alva. We are seeing quite a few reactions. It’s on the CDC website. Do you not follow the science? How many vaccine deaths are acceptable to you? Did you know that a nursing home in NY had ZERO COVID deaths and now, with 80% of the residents vaccinated, they have a major COVID outbreak and 21 residents have died?

from 12/4-12/34 there were already 4,400 reported adverse reactions reported. And multiple deaths

I agree with Stacy about Joel’s post. It’s obvious he has a problem with Cuomo.

From the NY Times:
"After Unused Vaccines Are Thrown in Trash, Cuomo Loosens Rules - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Across New York State, medical providers in recent weeks had the same story: They had been forced to throw out precious vaccine doses because of difficulties finding patients who matched precisely with the state’s strict vaccination guidelines — and the steep penalties they would face had they made a mistake.
On Saturday, state health officials responded to the outcry over discarded vaccines by again abruptly loosening guidelines as coronavirus cases continued to rise.
Now, medical providers can administer the vaccine to any of their employees who interact with the public if there are extra doses in a vial and no one from “the priority population can come in before the doses expire,” the new guidelines read. A pharmacy’s “store clerks, cashiers, stock workers and delivery staff” could qualify, the guidelines said. California last week took a similar step.
This is the second time in two days that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration has loosened the restrictions around who can get vaccinated in New York State. On Friday, the governor announced that medical providers could vaccinate a wider range of essential workers, including teachers, as well as New Yorkers 75 years and older starting as early as Monday. That same day, the governor also expanded the types of medical professionals that can administer vaccines to include licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, dentists and podiatrists."


Now, with so many people wanting this vaccine, myself included, I think that is unforgivable. I have no problem waiting my turn, but I'm sorry - this vaccine was approved a month ago. He was so concerned with making sure the vaccine was distributed "equitably" (I'm not sure what that even means) that we are about 1 million vaccinations behind where they originally said we'd be at this point.

i only object to Joel’s repeated posts about Cuomo. Right or wrong they’re political and I don’t care for political posts on Aging Care.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7002e1.htm

Vaccine reactions: Yes, I do follow CDC. 11.1 reactions to the vaccine for every million doses given so far. I do also follow the reliable science on the subject.
I was asked how many"reactions" I find acceptable. Yes, this many for sure, and a good many more. Certainly preferrable over the 340,000 deaths we have had so far from the disease. As I said, life is not without risk. You take a risk when you walk down the stairs. You take a risk when you cross the street. When you take an Aspirin.
So far most are mild reactions with the exception of some more severe less often, but cleared at once with an epi pen. this is why you will be asked to remain on site for 15 minutes after your injection.
There are many fewer reactions to this vaccine than bee stings. Many fewer than peanut allergies. And some well publicized anecdotal stuff like the "dead doctor" are already debunked.
I recommend anyone worried about the Covid vaccine reactions versus getting covid 19 itself discuss with their doctors and follow the doctor's recommendations. If a history of severe reactions to anything then you already have your epi pen and be sure to take it with you. Make you own decision about getting the vaccine, and I am great with that.
I will be first in line soon as I am able. So I will feel very protected myself; it will be much less a concern to me whether you choose to be vaccinated or choose not to. In fact, I often include the "Shhhhhhhh. I've got this" picture of Charles Darwin on my pages.
My opinion, for what it's worth. And hey, we all got one.
We've been living with this since March. I myself have hope for the next 6 months to bring us some relief of the numbers we are seeing dying now--about 3,000 per die I hear. But time will tell.
And of course there is always long term stuff we cannot yet know about. Guillian Barre came later if I recall. Thalidomide problems also took a while to show. We can't know what we can't know until we know it.

The Florida dr’s death hasn’t been debunked. Try again.

On Tuesday my MIL was given the vaccine. She is 85 yrs old, in LTC with mild dementia and memory loss, bed bound but no other real health problems. She is on a thyroid med. She had covid in May and made a full recovery. We were called Wednesday morning by her facility that she was having a fever of 101.5, lethargy and some vomiting. Because she is prone to UTIs they decided to test her and put her on antibiotics preemptively. We called her this morning and for the first time ever she didn't seem to know who we were, was very confused and couldn't finish the phone conversation. I just was informed by the facility that she tested negative for a UTI. Just information to pass on to others who need to also make the vaccination decision for their LO. We debated a long time with her other sons about whether or not to give her the vaccine. The jury is still out until we see how this plays out. I will post back with any updates.

So excited and happy. Partner and I have appointments for Kaiser, Covid 19 vaccine. First injection on 1/28. Yippee. I feel like I just won a lottery.

Workers at the J & J loading docks especially caught my attention as they were filmed autographing boxes ready for shipment. Some boxes looked like a wall papering project. A younger group, proclaiming the value of what they were doing. So the get the drift -get the vaccines to the people who are desperate for hope and relief. "Leaders" need to be thrown in the warehouses, pull up their pants, tie their boot strings and stop passing blame to others.

I recall major news networks and public officials downplaying both the Spanish flu and the annual winter common flue as a major cause of deaths. So flu deaths were portrayed to be business as usual and COVID merely a bump in the road. That was the initial messaging. "Leaders" downplayed COVID.

Journalists and photographers have stayed busy documenting Covid history. In time world leaders, including ours, will want to deny this as a major crises. Photographers and journalists documented the nightmare at snfs in NY and other states. Frontline workers were too busy and worn out to be able to keep the world updated without help from their partners - those documenting this horror.
I think people at the frontlines of historical preservation are essential workers and I hope they can be vaccinated soon, regardless of age.

It concerns me that we can't know this early on what the side effects might be. That said, I think we just have to proceed and hope long-term side effects are rare. People urgently need to get back to work and school and think vaccination is necessary
In the meantime, there is nothing more powerful than the local restaurant, Walmart, Best-Buy, Lowes, beauty and barber stores, medical providers, and God forbid, morticians and tax preparation firms refusing service to those who refuse to wear masks as this logistical nightmare is unfolding. I've concluded elected officials are inept at handling this level of responsibility.

I want a vaccine and hope it doesn't drag into next year! I'm not in the highest priority level but will get a Covid test as a requirement to get some preventive heath exams a week later at the local clinic/hospital. I skipped some stuff last year as there was not even a testing in place and people were still roaming into/out of facilities without masks.

I am shot up here in California, Joel. But it is spotty for certain. Kaiser doing great and seems to have vaccine and Sutter Health just canceled thousands. Meanwhile in Oakland at the coliseum some 4,500 were given the WRONG Dosage by 12 Noon on one day last weeks, but that means at least that many shots were given in one location. Supposedly Gavin has now got Blue Shield involved and they will be "responsible" for all shots at all locations with one online signup. But they got that lovely deal of a contract by having dinner out with Gavin at the very expensive (think 1,000 a meal) French Laundry.
It's a mess, isn't it? But slowly slowly it is getting done, and there is more vaccine coming on now with Johnson and Johnson. We will be able to wait a while I hope and keep ourselves safe.
Gotta tell you that I reacted MAJOR bigtime for a day and one half on shot number two. Well worth it, however. Partner just sailed through both shots.
Joel, hope you say my message of "apology" to you. Hope you are doing well.

The supply in NYC appears to be adequate at last! Walgreens and Duane Reade drugstores are vaccinating over 65 folks.

Meanwhile, my trainer's 87 year old step-grandmother can't get an appointment in Florida and my daughter's FIL in Dallas reports that they have ONE site for the entire city.

In Mass the rollout has been horrible

In Michigan, 40% of people over 65 have had vaccines. Anyone over 50 can sign up and get a vaccine. For the rest of, they are still saying Aug to Oct.

Dallas has more than one vaccination site and you can get them at pharmacies there too.

No wonder with Cuomo. He still has to answer for what he did to the elderly people in nursing homes. Both NY and CA have massive bureaucracies. They are also in horrible financial shape due to decades of spending and driving productive people and businesses out. CA in particular is close to collapse.

The governors of those two states are in a close run for most unpopular govenor. I think Whitmer is a little behind. One only has to follow the behaviors recently exhibited. How wise to cause the deaths of thousands while writing a book on your "brilliance" with handling the pandemic,joke around with your newscaster brother regarding Covid testing and act sexually inappropriately with members on your staff?

I left NY state a few years ago. My friends there have had great confusion dealing with vaccination dates. They get appointments and are canceled. In one case a couple got them because they had an in at a specific pharmacy. I can't fault them as they spent weeks making appointments only to be canceled and are both in their 70's and very high risk.

Riverdale, honestly Whitmer is not that bad. There have been studies which show her actions have decreased the spread of the virus. Our rules are not that strict and we have had few daily deaths for a while now.

Usually, I get sick a few times a year so does everyone I know. The sanitizing requirements at stores I think helps with colds, flu, etc. Most people I know have not been sick this year, overall. I think it is unfortunate it took Covid to make stores sanitize. My hope is going forward, the cleaning practices continue just as a good safety practice. They are trying to pass a law for all employers not to have to pay sales tax on cleaning supplies and
PPE to keep people safe.


No offense but yeah maybe he was inappropriate with his staff or women in general but so was Clinton and Trump so that is not really an issue for Covid. Just my opinion as usual.