Wife and I just got our first dose of vaccine.

[FightingIrish]

3. Our experience was not so great.

Like most of us, my wife and I have struggled to get our first COVID-19 vaccination. We watched in horror as appointment times vanished while we raced to fill in the on line forms on the Island Hospital and Skagit County’s very non user friendly websites. Our one ray of hope was the Island Drug website that let us keep our place in line even though the vaccination date kept slipping due to the uncertain supply of the vaccine.

We resisted the temptation to travel to other parts of the state. We had a confirmed appointment in Oak Harbor and Island Drug had been very good about communicating with us. Our willingness to work with the system was rewarded with the very harrowing experience of actually trying to receive the vaccine.

Our day started with a very reassuring email reminding us of our allotted time slot and the procedure we were to follow to get the vaccine. Arriving at the pharmacy in Oak Harbor, we were astonished at the full and overflowing parking lot and a long line to the building where social distancing did not appear to be even slightly observed if it were even possible.

Per our instructions, we sent a text announcing our arrival and waited anxiously for the text message telling us to come into the store for our vaccinations. As directed, we waited in our car for more than ninety minutes for the notice to proceed. Just as we were debating giving up, we received the text telling to come into the store.

At the entrance to the store, we were told that having an appointment didn’t really mean anything. We were directed to the back of the long and growing queue to wait “our turn”. We subsequently learned that Island Drug had opened the vaccination to all comers. Their reader board advertised “COVID-19 Vaccinations for 65 and some 60+”. Word had gotten out that their carefully planned scheduling meant nothing.

We got our shots. We’ll now start looking for opportunities to get our second dose but Island Drug / La Conner Drug will be, from now on, our pharmacy of last resort.