Until now, the vaccine rollout in America has been a nightmare. In Florida it has been an embarrassment. (You might remember my column about getting on a list with the Health Department to get a COVID 19 vaccine appointment in Florida. It turned out that list was meaningless.)
Talbot County has recently vaccinated a number of its citizens. Its Tuesday briefing provided good information about access, but I could feel the frustration of Talbot citizens trying to get the vaccine.
But at least Maryland is attempting to distribute the vaccine fairly, then there is Florida.
To date, 39,000 non-Florida residents have been vaccinated. That’s right, 39,000! 39,000 would have vaccinated all this county’s senior citizens, educational, and essential workers; and all of Talbot County! But for reasons that we can only surmise, Florida became a popular vaccination destination for wealthy Argentinians, Canadian residents, and who knows who else (with Uncle Sam footing the bill). Just recently, Florida restricted the vaccine to residents and “snow birds.”
In my Florida county, vaccines have been distributed by privilege. An exclusive country club and gated community in Key Largo, Ocean Reef, mysteriously vaccinated 1200 residents (which is incredible given that many are International residents, and all Key West was given fewer than 1300 total doses). Florida is investigating how they “jumped the line.”
In Key West, the Health Department distributed the vaccines to their friends and relatives. There is still no roadmap for nonaffiliated qualified residents to receive the vaccine. Vaccine distribution to the privileged has been reported everywhere. Houston and other states are investigating “International Vaccine Vacations” and other states report unqualified people being vaccinated due to “connections.”
Another frustration for me has been watching people get vaccinated on TV as if they are providing a public service. Vice President Pence, Vice President Harris, and President Biden took a leadership position by doing so. But seriously, local leaders, celebrities, reporters, give me a break. I would get on TV in a bathing suit if I could get the vaccine. That would be a true “profile in courage.”
Back to Florida. Publix (a regional grocery store and pharmacy chain) is now distributing COVID 19 vaccines throughout Florida (to those over 65). This is how it works. At 6 a.m. on a pre-announced date, the Publix COVID 19 appointment website goes live. To prevent the system from crashing, a limited number of users are allowed access. The rest of us wait in the queue, hoping that we will be able to get into the site before all the appointments have been filled (usually by 8:30 a.m.). Most of us do not get in (there are over 250,000 people waiting), but the website announces the next date that appointments will be available. When the next date arrives, we do it all over again.
On one of these dates, I got in. The system was cumbersome. I selected an appointment by county and then filled in two pages of medical data. By the time I finished and clicked the “submit” button, the appointment had been booked by someone who was quicker or got access before I did, and I had to select another appointment date, re-enter the medical data and click “submit.” That appointment, too, was taken. Soon, all the appointments in my county had been filled, but I found an appointment 5 ½ hours away. I grabbed it.
One of the advantages of this system is that anyone with an Internet connection can wait in the queue. So elderly citizens who are not computer savvy can get their friends and relatives to book an appointment. I was able to make appointments for others who could not navigate the system.
Acme recently announced that they will be distributing vaccines and I suspect that they will use a similar system. So set your alarms and find someone with an Internet connection who is willing to help.
It is chaotic, but it is also fair. Getting into the system is like winning the lottery. No special privileges needed, just tenacity and good fortune.
According to the Biden administration, national pharmacies won’t be able to distribute vaccines before the end of February. I wish that they could get them sooner. In remote, underserved areas there need to be alternatives, but in most areas, allowing pharmacies to distribute the vaccines would benefit the economy, reduce cost, make it a fair system, and help overworked, dedicated local Health Departments.
Before expending the effort to educate those who don’t want the vaccine, I recommend that we start with the millions of people who do. Once they see the benefits and the minimal side effects, they will be less resistant. And if vaccinations are required to live in a post-COVID 19-world, people will comply.
The vaccine rollout has been badly mismanaged. Operation Warp Speed was only warped. But let’s not try to “boil the ocean”. Let’s help our Health Departments by taking advantage of one of America’s strengths, our businesses. In my limited experience, they are ready, willing, and able.
Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.
Pam Reynolds says
We feel your frustration and enjoyed reading your article. Thank you.
Angela Rieck says
Thank you for reading it…I hope that in two months, this will be a distant memory…but it is going to be a long two months.
Francine De Sanctis says
Thank you for your very candid recount of the trials and tribulations of trying to get vaccinated during the pandemic.
Having to drive 5-1/2 hours, is a testament to your commitment and patience. I think I would have kept quarantined a little longer! Yes, this entire nightmare that is COVID19 will long be remembered as what NOT to do when you know a virus is coming!
Angela Rieck says
Through a quirk in the system, I only had to drive two hours to a closer pharmacy. But the other people for whom I booked an appointment, still had to drive the 5 1/2 hours. I was hoping that I would get patience as I aged…oh well…I have to keep trying! Thank you for reading my column.
marian says
Everyone of us who has attempted to get vaccinated feels your pain and we appreciate your honest and revealing article. I’m on at least three lists but have no real expectations of receiving that email that will be sent to me for my appointment date until February. And don’t try calling the Acme stores that you mentioned in your article, I called five (two in DE) and they don’t answer the phone in the pharmacy departments. And it drove me crazy seeing our gov and his wife getting the shot – what’s that about? Yes he’s obese but probably only in his 60’s and those who are afraid to get the shot then respect their opinion and don’t use your getting an early shot as encouragement for them, that’s bs.
Angela Rieck says
It is unbelievably frustrating and the more I try, the more impossible it seems…hopefully Acme will use the system that Publix uses…it is clunky, but there at least is a path to getting a vaccine. I wish you the best of luck (and don’t give up!).
Florida Sunshine says
I as a Florida resident feel the pain (and not in the arm)! Hoping with all the sites I’ve heard from friends, neighbors and articles like this, that I will one day get the vaccine! Thank you for sharing.
Angela Rieck says
Good luck to you…the Publix lottery is ready and waiting, good luck!
ckayhoe says
Are you a resident of MD or Florida ? Are you also a Snowbird,that pays No state taxes in Florida ? Get in line like the rest of us.
Angela Rieck says
Thank you for asking. I am a resident of Florida and pay taxes in both Florida and Maryland…hope that helps.
Angela Rieck says
I am a Florida resident, thank you for asking. The point of this column is that there is no “line” in many Florida counties, since the Health Department is only giving it to their friends, patrons and family; so there is no “line” to get an appointment. When Publix began offering vaccines, that was our first alternative to getting access to an appointment, however, Publix has only been allocated between 500-1,000 vaccines per week in our couty (and for two weeks so far). There are estimated to be 22,000 qualified people at this time in the county…the next closest county where Publix is providing them is over 5 hours away. But we are lucky, because if we “win the vaccine lottery” we can make the arduous drive. There are many who do not have access to cars or the finances to ride and they have no roadmap to getting the vaccine. If we can allow pharmacies to do this, many more will get access.
Mary Hun-Miller says
I decided to cast a wide net to look for my vaccination. As part of the 1C group, I was eligible to receive the vaccine on January 25th. The week prior I started filling out every request form I could find, in my county as well as others, by going to the Maryland covidvax website. I learned that Walmart and Giant were starting to vaccinate on the 25th and phone numbers for Walmart were listed on the website. I called four Walmarts in my surrounding area. Despite hearing a recording that they had no vaccine, by asking to speak to a pharmacist I was able to be placed on a list. Only 3 questions were asked: name, birthdate, and phone number. The weekend prior to my eligibility for the vaccine I received a phone call and an appointment for January 25th, the first day of my eligibility, although it was at a store 1 1/2 hours away. Since then, 2 other Walmarts have called me with appointments. I feel very fortunate that I was able to get the Moderna vaccine and realize that I had probably beat the rush when it came to Walmart’s entry into vaccinating Maryland residents. I was one of the lucky ones and I am very grateful. My advice: be proactive and sign up everywhere that you can.
Angela Rieck says
Thank you for sharing this information. In Florida, I depend on the “dog park network.” If we hear of something we let each other know. Great to hear that Walmart has it…that will help everyone.
Marty Sikes says
Angela: your description of getting an appointment at a Publix in FL is completely accurate. For four mornings I got up at 5:30 and tried to get in using my old ipad, my new ipad, Al’s new ipad and my iPhone — for well over an hour I sat by keeping all four devises “awake” while watching the screens refresh every minute. How exciting to finally see instructions on how to proceed — and yikes how nerve-wracking being told the time was already taken or the Publix I chose was now full — to be sent backward to fill out part of the form again and hurrying as fast as possible to select another Publix, or date or time. The third morning I was successful and got an appointment for Al — two days later I was finally successful and will get my first shot on Tuesday. WHEW!!! Never have we been so willing and happy to get a shot!!! The interesting thing I think is that both times I was able to finally get through and make an appointment was on Al’s ipad. We think it is a lucky ipad — maybe we should rent it out?😂
Angela Rieck says
Congratulations, you could get a lot of $$$ for that lucky IPAD. Good luck with your vaccine!
Marty Sikes says
I should add that we tried four times calling in to the Lee County registration number and were not successful — with both of us redialing as fast as possible for over 100 times each call-in day. Thank you Publix!!!