[Bucco]

Originally Posted by John41

Oh more excuses, blame the future distribution failure on the people who got the impossible to do vaccine developed and got the vaccine distribution started.

You left out that the new SG said lots things could go wrong on meeting that Summer 2021 target leaving plenty of wiggle room for failure to meet the Operation Warp Speed vaccine rollout schedule.

Not sure who the "people who got the vaccine impossible to do" developed that you refer to.

This vaccine has been in the works for years, and it took many hardworking folks throughout the world to get it done.

"Researchers were not starting from scratch when they learned about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the coronavirus family. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there are hundreds of coronaviruses — including four that can cause the common cold, as well as the coronaviruses that sparked the SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, epidemic in 2002 and the emergence of MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome, in 2012.

Dr. Eric J. Yager, an associate professor of microbiology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY, told MNT that scientists have been studying coronaviruses for over 50 years. This meant scientists had existing data on the structure, genome, and life cycle of this type of virus.

Dr. Yager explained, “Research on these viruses established the importance of the viral spike (S) protein in viral attachment, fusion, and entry, and identified the S proteins as a target for the development of antibody therapies and vaccines.” He continued:"

COVID-19 vaccine: How was it developed so fast?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by billethkid

What is wrong with using the existing flu shot distribution system utilizing pharmacies/big box stores/doctor's offices....

Politicians have no clue how to plan in advance. Their version of fire prevention is....when you see the flames then......

Because there aren't enough vaccines to distribute to pharmacies/big box stores/doctors' offices. In addition, not all of those places have the -appropriate- storage, which requires a "super-sub-zero" freezer. Furthermore, smaller stores and doctors' offices would have hundreds of people waiting outside, just to get in, because those stores can't handle crowds that exist pretty specifically to make it no longer necessary to social distance or wear masks.

With the current quantities available, you'd be basically saying "c'mon inside, catch a deadly virus from some random stranger who also happens to be in line, and then we'll make sure that if you don't die in 14 days or end up with permanent lung or heart scarring, you won't catch it again. Maybe."

It's not cost-efficient, it's not practical, it's not pragmatic.

If the vaccine was available in quantities that the flu shots are available, it would still be a problem at first because everyone and their brother is scrambling to get the vaccine. With the flu shot, no one is hurrying to be first in line, and they have a few MONTHS to decide which place they'll get it.

[billethkid]

With just basic planning there could be an accumulation date by which many more doses would be available for distribution.
It is not so difficult to determine which locations in the current system are vaccine storage capable.
Generate list of groups and time frame of when.

Supposedly the manufacturers were to be capable of producing "multi millions per month"......certainly enough to predict the needed filling of a pipeline.....

And so on....very, VERY decision making basic planning.
First order of business is to get the political procrastination the hell out of the decision making process.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by billethkid

With just basic planning there could be an accumulation date by which many more doses would be available for distribution.
It is not so difficult to determine which locations in the current system are vaccine storage capable.
Generate list of groups and time frame of when.

Supposedly the manufacturers were to be capable of producing "multi millions per month"......certainly enough to predict the needed filling of a pipeline.....

And so on....very, VERY decision making basic planning.
First order of business is to get the political procrastination the hell out of the decision making process.

Good post...makes sense.

Getting the "political" aspect out, should have happened about 11 months ago and we would be better off.

[dahrens1]

The "last mile" (getting shots into arms) seems to be the weak point right now, the major distribution of the vaccine to the states looks more than adequate so far. So if there is a shortage of people to give the shots and do all of the administrative tasks that go with that why not train an army of volunteers to do this? They would of course work under the supervision of a RN, APRN, or MD but it would require far fewer trained professions, who are badly needed elsewhere, then the current plan. During WWII we trained many thousands of "Rosie the riveter" women to work with complex machinery to produce planes, ships, tanks, and all sorts of weapons. They all had little or no experience doing the jobs they did before they were trained but did their jobs extremely well and helped win the war. It couldn't take that long to train someone to properly and safely do just one single thing which is to give the injections and deal with the paper work and other support tasks. Imagine a large convention center with 1000 volunteers taking care of "the last mile". Just thinking outside the box.

[Joe V.]

Originally Posted by dahrens1

The "last mile" (getting shots into arms) seems to be the weak point right now, the major distribution of the vaccine to the states looks more than adequate so far. So if there is a shortage of people to give the shots and do all of the administrative tasks that go with that why not train an army of volunteers to do this? They would of course work under the supervision of a RN, APRN, or MD but it would require far fewer trained professions, who are badly needed elsewhere, then the current plan. During WWII we trained many thousands of "Rosie the riveter" women to work with complex machinery to produce planes, ships, tanks, and all sorts of weapons. They all had little or no experience doing the jobs they did before they were trained but did their jobs extremely well and helped win the war. It couldn't take that long to train someone to properly and safely do just one single thing which is to give the injections and deal with the paper work and other support tasks. Imagine a large convention center with 1000 volunteers taking care of "the last mile". Just thinking outside the box.

No liability concerns here? I do not want a steelworker giving me injections.

[C. C. Rider]

Originally Posted by Joe V.

No liability concerns here? I do not want a steelworker giving me injections.

Giving an injection safely is not rocket science. A person of average intelligence could easily learn to do so in a one day class. In fact, most of them could learn to do it in about one hour.

[Joe V.]

Originally Posted by C. C. Rider

Giving an injection safely is not rocket science. A person of average intelligence could easily learn to do so in a one day class. In fact, most of them could learn to do it in about one hour.

You the one employing these people? You got the means and money to cover the liability? Leave the medicine application to the professionals. Just because a needle riding junkie can do it to themselves does not mean I want an amateur involved in the process.

[BayLady57]

Originally Posted by C. C. Rider

That's why I think the AGE ONLY method of determining priority is the best, easiest, and quickest to implement and use. Anything other than that is going to result in constant conflict and disagreement over whose condition warrants more consideration than someone else's condition.

Last I heard my facility is expected to receive 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine next week to start administering it to patients since most all the employees who were determined high risk for exposure have already been immunized. I case manage patients for two PCPs of a staff of 30 PCPs and my combined PCP's patient panel size is 2000 patients. Of those 2000 patients of just my PCPs 60 patients are in the age range of 85 and above. Of all the PCPs combined all having roughly the same patient panel size significantly > 200 of all these combined patients are > 85. So with your "AGE ONLY method of determining priority" you tell me without utilizing additional criteria how are you going to immunize a possible 1000 85 year old patients who all want it now and not the following week with only 200 doses of vaccine ????

[Two Bills]

Looking in from the outside, I think the net was cast to wide as far as the age grouping was concernd.
65 + is a huge number in one go.
Think it would have been easier to control demand by starting at 80-85+ and work down in 5-10 year increments.
JMO.

[Sabella]

Originally Posted by MOMOH

It seems we can be used by politicians to make announcements and get publicity for themselves, but when it counts, aka COVID vaccine for Sumter County, we're just "chopped liver". Where's our vaccine?

The Sumter County Board of Commissioners released the following statement on COVID-19 vaccination:

"The Sumter County Health Department has not yet established a list, line, or registry for an individual to sign up to receive the vaccine as the State of Florida has not defined the schedule and volume of distribution to Sumter County at this time.

Please watch the Sumter County Health Department website and press releases for future announcements."

Local news station this morning did a story about COVID vaccine for people over the age of 65 and how many of the autos in line to get the vaccine WERE FROM ANOTHER STATE and not residents of Florida. People in cars were interviewed from other states and stated their states rules now were giving vaccines to people over 75 years or some similar reason . Maybe Florida s vaccines should go to seniors who are residents of Florida. Just saying.

[j_vermilya]

This I do know, because it happened to me yesterday: Tried with multiple phones for 4 hours yesterday to get through to Sumter Health, finally got only the message that the event was full. The website only says stay tuned...then after watching local news in the evening I went to every website and link, including those listed as affiliated with Orlando Health and every county site that doesn't require residency...everyone single one was full, it's going to be a long time I think...

[C. C. Rider]

Originally Posted by Joe V.

You the one employing these people? You got the means and money to cover the liability? Leave the medicine application to the professionals. Just because a needle riding junkie can do it to themselves does not mean I want an amateur involved in the process.

Why do you think it is so complicated to wipe a person's arm with alcohol, draw some liquid from a vial into a syringe, and then inject the liquid into someone's arm? What part of doing that seems challenging to you?

[Daddymac]

Originally Posted by MOMOH

It seems we can be used by politicians to make announcements and get publicity for themselves, but when it counts, aka COVID vaccine for Sumter County, we're just "chopped liver". Where's our vaccine?

The Sumter County Board of Commissioners released the following statement on COVID-19 vaccination:

"The Sumter County Health Department has not yet established a list, line, or registry for an individual to sign up to receive the vaccine as the State of Florida has not defined the schedule and volume of distribution



to Sumter County at this time.




Please watch the Sumter County Health Department website and press releases for future announcements."

According to the Democrats we were not going to have the vaccination until the middle of this year. So be patient, Trumps warp speed got it to you early.

[C. C. Rider]

Originally Posted by BayLady57

Last I heard my facility is expected to receive 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine next week to start administering it to patients since most all the employees who were determined high risk for exposure have already been immunized. I case manage patients for two PCPs of a staff of 30 PCPs and my combined PCP's patient panel size is 2000 patients. Of those 2000 patients of just my PCPs 60 patients are in the age range of 85 and above. Of all the PCPs combined all having roughly the same patient panel size significantly > 200 of all these combined patients are > 85. So with your "AGE ONLY method of determining priority" you tell me without utilizing additional criteria how are you going to immunize a possible 1000 85 year old patients who all want it now and not the following week with only 200 doses of vaccine ????

My post addressed the issue of determining priority. Your post concerns supply issues. Two entirely different issues. Obviously, you can't give shots if you don't have the shots/medicine on hand to give.