It's over 5000 miles from here, but we got a vaccination appointment

[DFW]

It’s still pretty hopeless for my wife and me here in Germany. We are flying tomorrow from Frankfurt to Dallas, where we have our first vaccination appointment on Monday. We were going to go to America anyway, since our elder daughter is supposed to give birth to her first child in 2 weeks. I asked my head office in Dallas if they could get us vaccination appointments, and they said, “can do!” Oh, we get by with a little help from our friends....

[BigmanPigman]

1. Where do you get the second shot?

[DFW]

9. In Dallas

After the first shot (and a few days in Dallas just in case), we head up to New York City, where our daughter lives, for three weeks, then back to Dallas for the second shot before heading back over here.

[BigmanPigman]

22. I just checked Germany out on Worldometers

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/germany/

It looks like they have a pretty strong 3rd wave but in the last week it has started to head down, that's good news. I thought Germany was on top of Covid for the most part and compared to other European countries.
I'm surprised they aren't more organized.

[DFW]

27. There are many myths about Germany that seem to linger

They are better organized, more efficient, etc etc.

They may have more rules than anyone else, but that doesn't mean they work. Just like the myths that some liked float during the primaries--we need to be like Germany, where everything is free. No, it isn't. Nothing is free here. They just pay for things differently. Doctors, teachers and road builders don't work for nothing here any more than they do in the USA. Their services are just paid for under a different system. There are hundreds of thousands here without health insurance. My wife was a social worker here, and she had to work with these people all the time. Their number is in the hundreds of thousands, as opposed to the many millions in the USA, but they are here, and they are just as helpless. There are illiterates, social misfits, the same as any industrialized society. German trains do NOT run on time, and not everyone gets a free college education. Actually, the system they have here to get into college is so Darwinian that both my daughters left in disgust before going to college. They went to college in the USA and never looked back.

[MerryHolidays]

28. Thank you for a lucid discussion about grass not being greener

I sometimes feel the same way about things in the US, and that things are better elsewhere. However, with Joe in command, things have taken a turn, decidedly for the better.

In another post in this thread, I mentioned I recently got the J&J vaccine. When I got it last week, it was a like a party atmosphere, with all the workers (EMTs, government folks, National Guard, police...it was a mass vaccine site) in a great mood that was, pun unintended, infectious. It felt REALLY good to be in America, and I am so happy that Joe, Kamala, and their teams worked hard to ensure an effortless roll-out. That's why we are, far and away, the world leaders in vaccine delivery.

I became eligible to register on April 1. I stayed up past midnight, trying for 1 hour to get an appointment during the early morning of April 1. I didn't get it and went to bed unhappy that night, cursing "the process". However, at 930am on April 1, I was sitting in the car in between appointments/errands, and had the laptop with me. For kicks, I tried to register again, and boom, it immediately gave me a time for the next day! I was ecstatic.

The US, under the monster who cannot be called by name, was an awful place. It's much better since January 20. It will be a joyous homecoming for the both of you, especially with the little one on the way!

Stay safe and all the best!

[DFW]

33. Thanks for understanding! One minor correction--

It won't be a homecoming for my wife. It will be a trip to a foreign land with which she is now somewhat familiar. But she was born and bred here, and has no intention of moving permanently to the USA. It's a nice place to visit, she says, but it just isn't home to her. She knows English by now, of course, but she was never really comfortable speaking it. We have always spoken German together since the day we met (and that was nearly 47 years ago!). Luckily, we had the good sense to always speak our own languages to our daughters, who are now so thoroughly bilingual that they effortlessly switch from German to English in mid-sentence if talking to the two of us, depending on whom they are facing.

[secondwind]

3. So SO happy for you! I bet you are relieved beyond words!

My daughter and I are in the same situation, we are in the Caribbean. Yesterday, we made the decision to take matters into our own hands. She flies to NY on the 14th and returns on the 17th. She has an appointment for a Moderna shot, but will try to get a J&J if she can. She will fly back to NY for the second shot when needed.

FEMA is now giving only J&J shots in FL starting next week. I plan to fly to FL and stay with vaccinated family. One and done! I can feel the tension leave my shoulders......

[DFW]

21. We debated about the J&J shots, too

We could have gotten them, but they only build up their effectiveness slowly, and I have to travel in areas with super-high infection rates, such as France. So we opted for the Pfizer. In the Caribbean, at least you don't have to contend with more than one time zone! From here to Dallas, it's seven!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Congratulations

[DFW]

11. "Been away so long, I hardly knew the place"

Thanks!

We haven't been back to the States since August. It will be strange hearing everybody speaking English.

Well, in Dallas, there's lots of Spanish, too, but it's a different version from what I'm used to, as I'm in Spain regularly, and used to live there. Still, I understand Mexican Spanish, and they understand me. In New York, it'll be more varied, of course, but it will be mostly Spanish, French, German, Italian or Russian, and I'm OK with all of those. I'm lost when it's Pashto, Urdu or Farsi, though. In any case, NYC is where my grandparents lived, so it's not unfamiliar ground.

[MerryHolidays]

25. Hope you're not taking BOAC and that your flight is better than the Fab Four's via MIA

Seriously, congratulations on many, many fronts. Have a safe flight and welcome home!

One consideration: given your US/domestic travels (DFW-NYC-DFW), is it possible to get the one-and-done J&J instead of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine? My understanding is that a Pfizer single shot gives you some, but not the maximum level, protection. By contrast, with J&J, you reach peak protection after the 29th day or so. With J&J, you'd theoretically be covered when you return to the EU.

The reason I mention this is that I had some friends who were also travelling, but they traveled 2 weeks after getting BOTH shots. To some degree, J&J gives you more flexibility, but I am sure you've considered all the factors.

Definitely leave a little time for side effects: I did J&J and was terrifically fatigued for a few days. Hopefully, all will be ok with the both of you, but take it as easy as you can.

Again, congrats!

[DFW]

36. Thanks! We'll try

I think the closest I've gotten to "take it easy" in the last 40 years is listening to a song by Jackson Browne.

[samplegirl]

7. Thank goodness

Best of luck!

[elleng]

8. Great!

We'll all celebrate, vaccinations and baby!

[DFW]

12. Thanks! We will be celebrating as well!

I hope the first jabs don't give us nasty reactions. Just in case, we're not flying up to NYC until Friday.

[elleng]

16. Good luck.

First jabs less likely to give reactions (from what I've read.)

[Hekate]

10. Excellent! Happy grandparenting, too!

[DFW]

13. Thanks!

We've had some practice, since our other daughter here in Germany already has two little girls.

[FakeNoose]

14. That's awesome news

... and congratulations on becoming grandparents.

What a wonderful visit for you!

[DFW]

15. Thanks! We've had some training

Our younger daughter, here in Germany, has already had two daughters. As I did with our girls, who were born here, my daughter got her girls U.S. citizenship, so that there will be two more Democrats to vote within the next 18 years.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. Is it that hard to get the vaccination in Germany?

Oh, my.

But I'm glad you are getting it.

[DFW]

19. It's ridiculous here

There were big headlines in the paper this week--now people UNDER 80 are getting vaccinated!!! 79 year olds can now get it too! Progress!

There has been an immense outcry here about the slowness and the inefficiency in getting vaccine to the public. Since this is an election year in Germany, and Merkel has announced her retirement, there could well be a shake-up in the electoral map here. Instead of letting the best people (mostly other women) have a chance at the top spot, Merkel's party has gone back to letting colorless male technocrats take over, and the three guys who are likely to battle it out to be their candidate for Chancellor are all so blah, that they are practically sealing their doom in advance. The Social Democrats have already done that, and the Greens have yet to present someone credible for the position, even though their chances at having the first Green chancellor would be optimal if they had anyone with both common sense and a little personality. The supposedly "pro-business" Free Democrats have no program, and celebrate wildly if the get 10% of the vote. They like to be kingmakers in the parliament. The far left "die Linken" are fading fast, as well they should. They are what is left from the old West German far left and the old East German socialist rulers, who still don't apologize for having shot people at the Berlin wall ("it was the law at the time!" ). That leaves the dangerous AfD, a loose coalition of far-rightists and outright neo-Nazis. The less well things go, the more votes they get. ALL other parties have categorically stated they will not enter into any coalition with them, but if excluding them means the country becomes without a functioning government, someone is going to have to give some ground somewhere. I just hope it's NOT to the AfD.

But back to the vaccine situation. The massive outcry has actually put some fear into some of the politicians, most of whom (except state governments) are up for re-election this fall in the general national election. Some are actually starting to say more needs to be done. Unfortunately, that has not translated into action so far. The latest word is now that they want the whole country--population 80 million, and no one is really in an outlying area in a densely populated country like Germany--vaccinated by the end of the year. We don't want to wait if we don't have to, and we are in a position not to have to. We were going to go the USA for our daughter's expected delivery date, but didn't know whether to start in Dallas (where I still have a residence) or go directly to New York. When my office in Dallas said they would find us SOMETHING, we booked Dallas, and booked a round trip to NYC from there. You get a break when you book flights in advance, which we couldn't do, so this trip is costing me a small fortune. But to hell with it. You gotta get your priorities straight some time, right?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. Oh, my.

Thank you for telling me all that.

I'm 72 years old, and three weeks ago I was complaining a lot that I hadn't yet gotten word of when I could get my vaccination. I live in New Mexico, which is actually the very best of all the states at vaccinating. Then I got the email telling me I could schedule the vaccine and I did. Hooray! In my case it was the J&J, one and done, which is nice. I would certainly have taken whatever was offered.

I have a 38 year old son who lives in Virginia, who is grumbling about getting the vaccine. He's probably been able to be even more isolated than I have been. My sister's three children, ages 37, 34, and 32, have gotten or will be getting the vaccine. They live in Kansas.

I'm honestly horrified that a country like Germany isn't doing better. Although, in an attempt to be fair and understanding, the real issue may well be getting the vaccine in the first place.

[phylny]

31. I live in Virginia.

All our daughters and sons-in-law live here, too, (six all together), all are between 29 and 35, and all but one has had at least one vaccine. The one is our middle daughter, who is pregnant and is waiting. They live in Ashburn, Harrisonburg, and Fishersville. We’re are south on Smith Mountain Lake.

My husband and I were vaccinated 2/8 and 3/8, but of course we are older. I’m sure your son will get his soon.

[Bavorskoami]

37. Contrast between US and Europe

Three of my children and two daughters-in-law, age range 23 to 43, living in three different states, all got first shots yesterday. None of my former in-laws in Bavaria in their 70's have got even their first vaccination. I am 74 and had my second Pfizer shot two weeks ago. My wife had her first two weeks ago. Funny thing is that the initial work on the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine was done outside Munich and both lots of my vaccine and my wife's one lot were all produced by Pfizer in Belgium. It does seem that the Europeans have really stumbled with the start-up of vaccination programs.

[Demovictory9]

41. there was an article about this topic... ex pats flying back to America to get vaxxed

glad you are doing so.

[Fla Dem]

18. Congratulations on both your good news.

You’ll have to stay in the Dallas area for 2-3 weeks to get your 2nd shot. Is that where your daughter is as well?

Good luck and all the best.

[DFW]

20. No, she is in New York City

We'll get the first shot in Dallas on Monday, and stick around until Friday, in case we don't feel well afterward. I can do other stuff while I'm there (like go to the office for the first time since August!). My wife can visit with one of her best friends, who lives there. Then we'll fly up to NYC, stay there for 3 weeks, and then fly back to Dallas in the second week of May, when we were told the appointment for the second shot will be. Then we fly back over here on the 15th. Then 6 weeks of pure panic for me, before we head back to the States in July for our vacation.

There's never a dull moment, and there is no rest for the weary.

[Fla Dem]

24. Lots of traveling in the next few months. Stay safe.

[catrose]

26. Very happy for you, both for vax & grandchild

[7wo7rees]

29. So very happy for you DFW! But just wow, all the way to Dallas to

get vaxxed!
The 3 of us have been vaxxed now since end of February. We all had Pfizer, with minimal discomfort (sore arm). I did have low fever after 2nd shot and went to bed for day, fatigue and chills. Next day was ok.
Very happy for you both and congrats on being grandparents for 3rd time!!
Would love to have opportunity to meet up,, Dallas Arboretum maybe.....?
Safe trip.
Ms7wo7rees

[DFW]

35. Our TX schedule is a work in progress

I'll try and get in touch after we get there.

[7wo7rees]

43. Safe journey and much fun in Dallas this week.

https://www.dallasarboretum.org/

I believe you all just might really enjoy an afternoon here. And oh yes, the weather looks to be good, even on extreme warm side. Safe trip DFW.

[tavernier]

30. Nice!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

32. As long as you're there, can you find out for me who shot JR?

Seems like a long way to go. I read the circumstances. I got my first Moderna shot a week ago.

[DFW]

34. These days, nothing is farther than the nearest airport

As for who shot JR, I think Victoria Principal knew, but at this point, it remains Victoria's Secret.

[WSSlover]

38. I've had both my Covid-19 vaccinations. :)

I'm happy to say that I've had both of my Moderna Covid-19 vaccinations and will be considered fully vaccinated this coming Sunday. Wheeee! What a relief. I got both the vaccines through my healthcare provider center, and I'm glad I did. It took me a few hours to book an appointment, but I did it, and I'm more than glad of it.

[argyl]

39. I'm even more baffled than you are. I've been living in Thailand for three years.

I'd love to go back to the States in early July but don't know if I can be vaccinated even by then here. And if I do get vaccinated in the DFW area( which I certainly will, I may still have to do a 14 day quarantine when I get back to Bangkok.
Goddamn this virus, it killed my mother back in mid February. She was in an assisted living facility in Plano that was very diligent in protecting their people. For my sister to see her she had to get on all the PPE and then could only stay for 45 minutes maximum. I know if I was there I still couldn't see her. She'd been taken to the hospital emergency ward three times before she gave out. And when you're there you're REALLY locked down. But I wish I was there.
She was old; she turned 96 on Christmas 2020, her birthday.
She wanted to live to be 100 and I think she'd have made it if not for Covid.
There will be a belated funeral in Hix, Texas, for her, the farming community she grew up in. I'll be there for that.

[smirkymonkey]

40. I'm happy for you and your wife, DFW!

That's great! I am getting the J&J shot tomorrow (well, today, now). I am so puzzled as to why Europe is not doing better with the rollout of the vaccine. It seems like you should be so ahead of us in so many ways.

I have a friend in Ireland who is telling me the same - that it will be months before he will be able to get vaccinated. Is this just because these are US vaccines and we get them first? If so, I feel a bit guilty. I wish they could go to everyone all over the world just as quickly.

Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your next grandchild! What a happy occassion on all accounts!

[spinbaby]

42. My nephew lives in Dallas

He’s autistic and lives in a group home. He hasn’t been able to get a vaccination appointment.