Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Gothmog

(144,007 posts)
11. Tipsters, tech-savvy kids, pharmacy hopping: How Americans are landing coronavirus vaccines
Sat Jan 16, 2021, 08:22 PM
Jan 2021

My son and a friend each have the local TV app on their Iphones and saw at 9:55AM that the City of Houston was opening slots at 10 and called/texted me. I got lucky When the City of Houston did its first round of vaccine registrtions, it was limited to city of Houston residents. DSHS made Houston remove that requirement. I am also the waiting lists wtih two of my doctors, my pharamacy, my local county health department (they got 1000 doses for a county with a population of neary one million people) and a hospital where I had surgery a couple of years ago.

Houston vaccinated 5,000 people today and I am happy to be one of them
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/16/covid-vaccine-hunt/

The expanded availability of the two authorized coronavirus vaccines has unleashed a free-for-all among pandemic-weary Americans clamoring for lifesaving protection and a return to some type of normalcy.

Those searching for a shot face a decentralized system of vaccine distribution operated by cash-strapped public health departments and a disparate network of clinics and medical providers, all crushed by unprecedented demand for a shield against the virus decimating American life.

While many Americans have had no problem getting shots, others like Cohen have spent hours trying to get vaccinated, to no avail. The challenges in vaccinating people mirror the botched rollout of coronavirus testing as a mix of government and private providers navigate unfamiliar terrain while communicating with the public in different ways......

But the task is not as simple as booking a flight. The state website directed her to several small medical facilities offering the vaccines, but their online appointment system had error messages and their listed phone numbers led to recordings saying they were out of supply. Covert has spent hours waiting on hold on a state hotline but has yet to speak to a person. By Friday, the small sites were no longer listed and the website for a newly added university hospital hasn’t functioned all morning.

“It feels like I’m trying to get a Beyoncé ticket,” Covert said. “It feels like I’m fighting bots on TicketMaster.”
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Question about vaccinatio...»Reply #11