Vaccination - what's your trick??

[Dave says]

I’ve been eligible since January 18. I’m registered everywhere. But not a peep from anyone. I see people posting here all the time. What’s the trick? How did you make it happen?

[Dorian Gray]

1. In NYC

you can't just register. You have to scroll on the multiple on line login places for hours until you get lucky. That is how we got one for my husband and my friends who are all teachers. His parents did the same, and got appointments in two weeks.

Persistance.

[Hekate]

13. Same in my county in California

Once I was notified they’d gotten 6,000 additional doses, I got on the portal at the crack of dawn & started scrolling. Took me about an hour and a half of abortive registrations to get a hit.

Hubby and I got our #1 shots on Monday.

[Dorian Gray]

16. Yay!

My husband had his second dose this week. It's such a relief that one of us was able to do it. Can't wait until it's my turn.

[brooklynite]

41. You don't say where you are, so its hard to provide specific information that would be useful...

In NYC I would checkout Turbovax.info.

[Dorian Gray]

49. I'm in BK

I'm not able yet to get vaccinated, but I used turbovax to snare an appointment for my father in law. My husband's appointment was made before turbovax became a thing. And I spent a morning refreshing until I got his slot (at health and hospitals after his original appt. was cancelled because of low supply.)

I'm hoping by the time I'm ready to book mine, it'll be easier. (and hoping they'll open up for people in their late forties soon!)

[VickiSmith]

2. TN

I got an appt on the State site. My husband called and got one by phone.
Both vaccines at the Health Dept. He got his 1st Feb 19th. Mine will be March 3rd.

[Dave in VA]

3. What state are you in?

I haven't been checking everywhere, just Virginia.

Here you have to register in the Virginia Department of Health web site and then you just keep checking availability at the locations giving the vaccine. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, local health departments, etc.

[Towlie]

11. Dave says doesn't say. How's that for irony?

 
?

[MineralMan]

4. Every state is different.

Since we don't know what state you are in, it's going to be difficult to offer advice.

[Yonnie3]

5. Where are you?

Last edited Fri Feb 26, 2021, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Edit to add:

I checked the CVS site just after posting this and was able to book my shots. Just dumb luck.

In VA I've had no luck. I'm registered with the state since 1/15 and they periodically tell me via text and email, to wait.

Of the people I know who got shots,

Some camped on the CVS website, as they would have for concert tickets, and managed to fill all the appointments in minutes.

Some received texts from friends who were at a site that had excess thawed vaccine. They took anyone over 65.

Others who work in the clinics and hospitals received it from their employer or had appointments arranged through their employer.

[Tree Lady]

10. Yep 2 of the appts my daughter got for older folks

Were on CVS site. She said she was on it constantly.

[Yonnie3]

15. CVS

They just opened up some appointments, but I was reading DU. In a virtual waiting room now.

[Yonnie3]

19. Success!

Last edited Thu Mar 11, 2021, 02:35 PM - Edit history (1)

and local too!

[Tree Lady]

26. yay! glad you got in! nt

[efhmc]

54. HEB here in Texas but now also the county hubs. This one is for TX but have in other states.

https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine-hubs.aspx Good luck. Got an appt there for March 15th but daughter got me one at HEB for last Friday. So cancelled the other one.

[Trailrider1951]

6. I'm in Washington State

I've been eligible to receive the vaccine since January because I'm over 65. I have a Medicare Advantage plan through Kaiser Permanente. They required me to log into my online account and apply for the vaccine appointment. After they determined that I was indeed eligible, they gave me a number to call to set up my appointment. Once I called that special phone number, I was able to set up an appointment for two weeks in the future, Feb. 13th. Well, on Wednesday, February 10, I was informed that my appointment for the 13th was canceled due to the coming snow storm, and I would be rescheduled for February 20th. On Thursday, February 18, I was informed that the vaccine was unavailable (because of weather elsewhere) for my appointment on the 20th, and I would be rescheduled for February 28th. On February 24th, I was again informed that the vaccine would not be available for my appointment on the 28th, so now I am rescheduled for my first dose of the vaccine March 7th. So, you can see that it's a crap shoot in most places, and just having an appointment set up is no guarantee of actually getting a dose. YMMV.

[Tree Lady]

7. Also depends on area in state

My daughter was able to get her dad my ex a appt in CA but I am on 4 different sites trying to get my older mom a appt in CA different area.

I got my appt by my doctor gave me a local email to use, 2 days later they changed email because place was overwhelmed with emails so we squeaked in.

I am in southern OR.

[rickyhall]

8. My doctor supposed to let me know.

I got MedicAid today, Yeah.

[Siwsan]

9. I was checking everywhere for pre-registration options

I was pre-registered with the county health department, the healthcare clinic I use, for starters. Never heard from any of them. I checked all of the local chain pharmacies but none of them even offered a pre-registration, at this time.

I use a shopper's program with a local 'super store' chain (Meijer) and get emails from them, constantly. On Monday I got one about their pharmacy getting the vaccine, with an invite to register so I did. 2 days later I got a text giving me the times available and the next morning I got the first jab and have an appointment for the 2nd, in 3 weeks.

Funny thing is the day I got the text, I had been moaning up a storm about how frustrated I was that nobody was getting back with me.

So, honestly, it's just persistence, checking everyplace you even THINK might be participating. And maybe moan up a storm. Worked for me!

Good Luck!!!

[efhmc]

57. That is great.

[Cornus]

12. Same problem for me in NJ

I registered with the state a long time ago and received an email from them with a link to contact to set up an appointment. I've been doing that daily for two months now and always get the same message...no appointments available, try back later. BTW I'm 81 and part of the 1-B category, most of whom seem to have already gotten their shots!

[demtenjeep]

14. In Kansas, Walmart opened up and I just had to spend a day going to the website we put100 mile radiu

none of the WM in our city were available so we had to drive an hour each way


Then the weather got bad so we spent the night because hubby's appt was 6:40 AM and mine was supposed to be 5 pm but they did him, then me back to back!

then they made our return appts right then and there

[sinkingfeeling]

17. I gave up on my Illinois county and snagged an appointment in a rual

county 45 miles away. Got my first shot ysterday.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. I Was Scheduled

At a school in Grundy County, west of where we live. As a regular sub, I'm eligible in Phase 1b even though I'm not 65.
The county ran out.
They say they didn't get all they were supposed to for February, but that school nurse has her suspicions that some were diverted to 1c people.
Here in our county, my wife's been registered (she's a couple years older than me) for nearly 5 weeks now.
Heard nothing, no updates, no schedules on our county DPH website.
I get that it's the 4th most populous county in Illinois, so there's tons of people eligible. But, absolutely no news in 5 weeks?
This is being managed poorly.

[Maeve]

18. From Ohio--have been on a waiting list since beginning of Feb

But my doctor's health group announced available appointments for next week. Hubby and I snagged ones for next Thursday, but have to drive to the next county to find actual availability--40 minute drive.

Different states, different communities (I live in a populous county; appointment is in a rural county)

[mnhtnbb]

20. I decided I wasn't going to chase an appointment

because I had just moved into a new house from an apartment and was overwhelmed with moving related things to do. Plus I was relieved to no longer have to ride an elevator or walk through a lobby full of people any time I went out. I felt safer in my new house.

That said, I put my name-- via online registration--on several waiting lists, including ones for small counties up to an hour away. Within 10 days I was called by a small county and offered an appointment in March for a drive through clinic , which I took, and then the next day offered an inside appointment at my local health department for Friday of the same week as the call. I had my first Moderna shot Feb 12 and will get the second March 15. (I called to cancel the small county appointment.)

This is North Carolina.

[3catwoman3]

21. I'm a health care provider. Our practice got all of us...

...mass scheduled at one of the local hospitals - relatively local, anyway. I had to go an hour away to the designated facility.

The pediatricians were the first ones to get their immunizations. I, as the nurse practitioner, had to wait to go with the staff nurses and receptionists because I do not see patients in the hospital, only in the office.

[Corgigal]

22. I'm in the V.A.

They sent out an email, requested to sign up if you want a shot. I did, my doctor approved it and they called me.

My husband, signed up at 5 different sites, finally got in for this Tuesday.

Do you want help? If you want to share some info, we would try for you. It’s really click, and get lucky. Like Ticketmaster, back in the day.

[Wounded Bear]

30. Me too. They called me and I signed up...

they scheduled the 2nd shot at the same time, so I think I'll be good. It was a bit of a fustercluck when I went in, but it only took 30-45 minutes to get through. There were quite a few folks going through that day, so I'm complaining more than I should, I guess.

I was wondering if the VA had their own supply chain. Apparently they do, as WA state last week was publishing re-scheduling info after Snowmageddon last week. Doesn't appear to have affected the Federal supply.

[Corgigal]

36. I was impressed

on how organized it was, how quickly I got out of there, both times.

I wondered about that too. I thought, maybe since active duty can decline, they ship it to us. I really don’t know how the V.A.received such a huge supply. It must be Biden’s people, cause Trump never cared about us.

[Wounded Bear]

44. Well if your VA is anything like mine, there is a preponderance of old farts...

given the average age of a Vietnam Vet is in the high 60's and 70's, a lot of us are in the first wave, so to speak.

[Arazi]

23. Where are you located? There are Facebook groups helping people find vaccinations

The Chicago Tribune did an article on a FB group called Chicago Vaccine Hunters in IL.

They're using a Google Doc that's updated constantly with available vaccinations including end-of-day supplies. It has the vaccine release times of the different pharmacies so that might be a place to start?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VtEHolKnhm90MS_o8hXIky_PR0CcX3mCZXe-_8HfVaQ/htmlview?fbclid=IwAR3WWXaksDr5SIcKPz6F7w0Y-UtIEVRLPJI4M3ZC7LDb-bY2RBcOjNT3Ooc#gid=634347005

[Ms. Toad]

24. Once my group comes up -

I will register with places that keep a waiting list, but I'm NOT waiting around waiting for someone to call me.

Most of the sites make specific time slots available. If I don't get in the first week, I'll make note of when new slots are posted and keep going back at those times - and at other times just to see if someone made an appointment then cancelled (likely because people are signing up for multiple slots to make sur ethey get in somewhere).

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

25. I got lucky because the college where I

teach managed to get a couple hundred doses. The best perk i have ever received in all my years teaching.

[Dave says]

27. I'm sorry for the late reply (busy day), I live in ..

Missouri

[Dave says]

28. I'm scheduled for 1st Moderna on Monday!

Thanks everyone that responded.

[MustLoveBeagles]

35. Congratulations on getting an appointment

In Illinois it's a bit more of a challenge.

[triron]

29. Have you beat. I have been registered since Jan 2 and still nothing. (in Albuquerque)

Except being told my registration is complete.

[Dave says]

31. At the bottom of the Missouri online form...

..., in small print (easy to miss), was a “COVID-19 Hotline” phone number. I had missed it before as it was at the very bottom of the page where you’d see things like “for technical help call, “about”, etc. What the heck, I called it. A very understanding woman answered and told me there were 2 openings next week, both about 2 hours from my home. I grabbed the first one! Maybe your state has the same?

[triron]

48. I don't think so but I'll double check. There is a helpline (for NMDOH) one can call but no

such service exists with it. I did get an email address to file a complaint but haven't done
that yet.

[Retrograde]

32. I also decided not to chase appointments

When vaccines first came available to the general over-65 public in California, one person I know said it was easy to get appointments in Sacramento. Great, but I wasn't going to do 2 4-hour round trips to get one: I've been holed up for almost a year and a few more weeks until distribution straightened out would not make much difference.

The local nextdoor group broke the news about the Santa Clara County vaccination centers opening up nearby: it took about 15 minutes to make an appointment for the following week for the first Moderna shot. Kaiser has been upfront about what's available, but for some reason they didn't get enough vaccine to cover all their 65+ customers in the early distributions. Once they got some, they actually called, but we had already gotten our first shots and had an appointment for the second (I'll give credit to government bureaucracy here: while we were waiting after the first shot to see if there were any adverse effects there were people going around the waiting room making follow-up appointments).

[peggysue2]

33. My husband and I are scheduled to have our first shots next Monday

Only because I was tired of waiting for our County Board of Health to contact me from their 'waiting list'. I'd been poking around all the available sites in the area/county to no avail--no appointments open and/or no vaccine available.

Last Thursday, I stumbled on an article suggesting going through the state data base (I'm in TN) where I was quickly directed to a neighboring county, a Board of Health clinic 12 miles away. In a matter of minutes, we were registered with an appointment. Next day we received email confirmations.

Access appears to depend on your state, county and local area. I know in my county there was a brouhaha over a thousand missing Pfizer doses for which the Board of Health had a variety of excuses, finally saying that they weren't interested in Pfizer vaccine, had specifically requested Moderna. Have a feeling that spat between state and Fed authorities slowed things down.

Personally, I don't care which vaccine I get. Just put it in my arm and I'll be happy. I'm particularly happy that my husband will be getting his because he has several commorbidities that can make Covid quite lethal.

[TheBlackAdder]

34. NJ has a list of all State Mega-Vaccine Centers and regional centers and labs.

.

The other week, I was trying to get in my county college's regional center, it was available with 3 days notice. Then, I went to it today, and the earliest appointment is September. Freaking September.

I went to a state Mega Center 25 mins away, and they have one opening tomorrow morning and 10 more on Monday. The rest of the week was unavailable. I did not check further out, as I snagged the AM one tomorrow. Once you get your first show, you are automatically guaranteed a second shot and get a card indicating it.

Do what some people do, especially if it's the Pfizer vaccine, show up super early and ask to be on a no-show wait list. In my area, the no-show line grows to 800 or more by 10AM, so you have to be there really early.

.

[mnhtnbb]

38. People are having luck with this website to locate vaccine

https://vaccinefinder.org/search/

[I_Make_Mistakes2]

39. Swear read on du cvs updates on thursday

I registered with nj state and multiple sites, nothing. Read on du cvs updates on Thursdays and sure enough thursday they had appointments from that Friday on. Going Monday. Try their site thursday mornings.

[efhmc]

53. Just one more reason to love DU. Welcome and congrats on getting an appt.

[pfitz59]

40. I work at a vaccination site

Comes with the job

[Kahuna]

42. For the past several days, checked the CVS and other online registrations...

several times a day. This morning, voila! I nabbed appointments on the CVS registration site for 3/4 and 4/1. FTR, I'm classified as 1B because I'm over 65.

The other online sites are for RiteAid, Walgreens and Walmart. NJ has an online registration site, but I haven't heard from them yet.

[spinbaby]

43. I'm in Pennsylvania

The system here sucks, but I was fortunate enough to have a friend whose hobby is stalking vaccination sites. He’s gotten me and several other seniors appointments.

[Rhiannon12866]

45. Depends on where you live

There was absolutely nothing on offer in Northeastern New York, but suddenly CVS started offering the Moderna vaccine and I understand it's now available in Massachusetts as well.

[MustLoveBeagles]

46. Just keep checking

It depends on where you live and what and how much of the vaccines being offered. Some people are waiting in lines in the hope there's a cancelation or leftover doses available. Sometimes luck plays a role too. Sorry I can't be of more help. I know this has to be frustrating for you. I wish you luck.

[Kaleva]

50. Being a disabled veteran did the trick for me.

[GusBob]

51. Sacrifice

Moved 2800 miles from my family and took a health care job with the IHS 3 years ago as a health care specialist

[tavernier]

52. Our only chance in Florida Keys is playing grocery store lotto

three mornings a week starting at 7 a.m. and running out of vaccine within the hour. Sadly this is the same time of the morning when I’m showering and dressing for work so I can’t sit down at the computer and try to beat out thousands of other people, since there are only a couple of stores in our county that DeSatan has granted access. It’s insanity.

[Mr.Bill]

55. The Family Doctor my wife and I have used for years

works out of and is the Director of our hospital's Family Medicine Clinic one mile from my house. The parking lot of that clinic is where the Hospital is dispensing the vaccine. I didn't even call them, they called me. They set up our appointments for the first and second shots. I will be getting my second Moderna shot this coming Saturday. The whole process took less than 30 minutes and I never left my car.

Hospital employees were done first., then anyone 65 and above. I'm assuming the hospital and clinic went through their patient records and contacted everyone who qualified. My wife and I are both volunteers at the hospital, but the volunteer program was shut down one year ago today. I don't know if or when it will be started up again, and I don't know if I will participate.

Our local Health department is also doing vaccinations. I think they took care of firemen, police and other first responders and govt. employees. Driving past there it looks like a long line of cars and probably a long wait. I could have called there and set up an appointment, I suppose, but the clinic called me first.

I should mention I live in a small town in Northern California, so none of these places are facing a massive logistical operation. Our hospital has a health fair at the fairgrounds every year where they give out about 500 free flu shots in about eight hours, so this isn't their first rodeo.

[cally]

56. I just walked into local clinic near me

And they would vaccinate anyone eligible right then. Lots of missed appointments. Sadly I am not eligible yet

[efhmc]

58. Had to reschedule lots of people during the storm.