The covid vaccine

[enginist]

The hospital that I've said some negative things about just invited me to come in for a vaccine, so all their past transgressions are forgiven.

[MooseMom]

The hospital that I've said some negative things about just invited me to come in for a vaccine, so I forgive them for all their past transgressions.

Forgiveness is divine!  We expect status reports once you are vaccinated! 

[MooseMom]

The state of Illinois has expanded eligibility for the vaccine to include people under 65 who are immunosuppressed due to solid organ transplantation beginning 25 February.  I know it won't be easy to get an appointment, but I'm hoping that by then, there will be more vaccine available (which is why eligibility has been expanded in the first place) which may make it easier to get an appointment somewhere.  I am awaiting confirmation from my tx clinic just to make sure this will be OK for me.  I am excited and nervous as the same time.

[enginist]

The process, a fairly large operation in a downtown hospital, was smooth and efficient, with a sense of excitement in the air.  Everyone, from givers to recipients, seemed to be in high spirits, and the feeling was contagious.  The shot itself was trivial.

[Jaybird]

Hello again! It's been a week since i got my second dose of pfizer. I had pain at the injection site, nothing worse than the first shot. I was also tired again for about a day after the shot. The arm pain lasted about 2 days. A week after the shot and I feel completely normal.

On a side note, I did blood work before and after the shots and no change in kidney function. It always varies from test to test, and it actually varied on the good side this last test. So I guess I don't have any complaints thus far. Lets just hope the vaccine works as intended. I'll continue to be careful, but its like I bought a little insurance and now I have a little bit more confidence. Only time will tell.

[Simon Dog]

The DPRM, in its wisdom, is allowing persons not eligible for the vaccine to get it if they show up as the attendant for someone who is eligible.

I saw the first online ad this morning from a local looking for a 75+ person who they can drive and accompany to the local vaccine clinic.

Sort of like hiring someone in a wheelchair as a Disney temporary family member (Disney used to give front of ride like privileges to the entire family until the practice of hiring a "wheelchair guide" became well known).

[Mothergoose26]

I am post transplant nearly 3 years. I got the Moderna 1st vaccine on January 21st. Had a little soreness at vaccination site for a few days and a little tiredness the day after. I will post again when I get the 2nd shot around the 18th.

Stay safe everyone.

[enginist]

When the next pandemic arrives, as it inevitably will, facial recognition will be so advanced that those who refuse to wear masks will be the last to receive the shot, and line jumpers like the rich and entitled will be convicted of a felony. 

[MooseMom]

I am post transplant nearly 3 years. I got the Moderna 1st vaccine on January 21st. Had a little soreness at vaccination site for a few days and a little tiredness the day after. I will post again when I get the 2nd shot around the 18th.

Stay safe everyone.

Thanks for this; it's much appreciated.  I look forward to hearing from you after your second shot.  Again, thanks.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Wow! I'm quite impressed that so many vaccinations here are happening! As well, vaccine availability being extended for some of you. This is all good stuff! 

With our current time frame, vaccines won't be available to me (though high risk) until August, more like September.

I made a joke that I'd be better served to put my main passport to use, go home, get a Sputnik V shot, but then realized it was a adenoviral vector-based vaccine, so no dice.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

The state of Illinois has expanded eligibility for the vaccine to include people under 65 who are immunosuppressed due to solid organ transplantation beginning 25 February.  I know it won't be easy to get an appointment, but I'm hoping that by then, there will be more vaccine available (which is why eligibility has been expanded in the first place) which may make it easier to get an appointment somewhere.  I am awaiting confirmation from my tx clinic just to make sure this will be OK for me.  I am excited and nervous as the same time.

May I ask a more logistical question? More like a series of dumb questions, but I just would like some better insight into Illinois' decision here. That is, if you can reply!

How will the state know who exactly has a solid organ transplant and will you be expected to show proof for the under-65 crowd? It seems like a basic dumb question, but it has a reason.

I listened to a televised conversation where an infectious diseases specialist in the province replied to view questions. Someone asked about pre-existing conditions. His reply was that it is too difficult and complicated to figure out who has a pre-existing condition and provide proof of it, so it's best to just go by age group.

So, it just got me wondering how other states have actually done something about this and we follow the age group (as well as Indigenous people priority : I have NO ISSUE with this population early do to their unique set of conditions) framework.

[MooseMom]

Those aren't dumb questions at all because I have had those same queries ever since the vaccines became available, and you know I only ask smart, well informed questions.   

I can only speak for Illinois; each state can do its own thing, but I get the impression that most states have expanded eligibility to include those under 65 with certain pre-existing conditions.  I get that impression because on just about ever news outlet here in the US, the same issue is being discussed.

People are being encouraged to sign up for information about when vaccines are available in their area.  I have signed up with Walgreens, with my county's health department, and with NBC News' "Plan Your Vaccine" website (why not?).  My local hospital is part of a major medical system, Northwestern Medicine, and I already use their patient portal, so that will also be a source of information.  (My transplant clinic is actually in another state).  My local hospital already has in their records that I am a transplant patient.

I can easily provide proof of my age, but I've also wondered how I would prove I was a transplant patient (or diabetic or a cancer patient or whatever the case may be).  Despite the fact that Walgreens, my local pharmacy, is not the provider of my transplant meds (I get those from my tx clinic's mail order specialty pharmacy), Walgreens does have those medications on record.  They have contact with my GP who could also verify that I've had a solid organ transplant.  I imagine that whichever healthcare provider ends up giving me the shot will either specify beforehand what "proof" they require, or else they will already know.  So, I don't think it will be the "state" that will know, rather, it will be whoever supplies the shot whenever I get it.

The short answer is really, "I don't know...yet."  When I find out, I'll let you know!  I am assuming that it was presented that a healthy 65 year old woman should perhaps be at less risk of becoming very ill with covid than a 55 year old who is undergoing chemotherapy.

Does this help?  Let me know if you have other questions; I'll answer as best I can.

[Simon Dog]

Some interesting things here in the DPRM:

Guidelines require two comorbidities (xplant is on the list) to get jabbed at the end of Phase II.  We are not yet there yet.

Hospitals are already inviting transplant patients in for vaccination.  Yeah!

The governor has decided to stop private sector vaccinations since this should in his wisdom this should be in purview of our betters in government.  Hospitals are getting enough allocation to honor existing appointments but not make new ones.

Once we are at phase II the proof will be "self attestation".  Yup, rationalize you have two comorbities and check the "dual comorbid" box in the online form, you get a shot.  No verification requiried.  Ripe for abuse.

Our governor has advised those attending to an over 75 person who is getting a vaccine can also get one.  The going rate is reportedly about $200-$300, payable to the senior, to be their designated caretaker to take them in for their puncturing.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Does this help?  Let me know if you have other questions; I'll answer as best I can.

Thank you, your answer has helped a lot actually. 

It seems like almost "general knowledge" in your case in regards to care providers and pharmacies about your transplant status as it is part of your prescriptions/medical files. Not really much to "prove" because the information is easily accessible. We are just being advised to wait for our "Phase" 1 - 2 or 3 based on vaccine availability. There have been many problems. A lot of LTC residents have not been vaccinated yet. To be honest, it is embarrassing.

I read this last week and it is more apparent. Your real life experience adds to the basic points here.: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/jesse-kline-why-some-american-states-are-so-much-better-at-vaccinations-than-canadian-provinces

As a side note, my hospital has absolutely no idea that I am a transplant patient, even if orders get sent to different departments from nephrology. (Then again, we don't have the best trained staff. When I was completing my cardiac tests, the tech asked why I was having it done, to which I said transplant evaluation, to which she replied: "Oh really? I thought when you needed a kidney, you just went on the list and got one."

[MooseMom]

I'm glad I was able to help a bit, You Tea.  And, thanks for the link; that was really interesting.

I can believe that your cardiac testing tech made that sweeping assumption.  It's astonishing how little general medical knowledge some techs have.  Sometimes, it's just sort of scary, really.

[SooMK]

Just thought I'd chime in here on the vaccine discussion. I've been spending a lot of time on the various vaccine sites getting nowhere, filling out the same information over and over again with "no appointments available" or "server too busy". Some days ago I happened to be in Walgreen's and there was no one in the pharmacy line so I asked the tech about the vaccine. She was very matter of fact: Yes, we do them, Monday through Friday, you just have to have an account and you can sign up for notifications (I've seen nothing of these). So that seemed helpful and then I had one other thought and asked her if the vaccine comes in every day or once a week or what. She said it comes in every day and that she recommended that you login a few minutes after midnight to make your appointment. So Sunday night at a few minutes after midnight, I logged in, made my two appointments (first one is this Thursday, second one 3/18), woke my husband up, he made both of his appointments. Done, done and done. Whole thing took maybe 10 minutes. It was like the abracadabra moment. There has been plenty in the local press about the small pharmacies and CVS but I hadn't heard anything about Walgreen's. Sure beats the 2 hour drive that some people have been taking to get their vaccines at the larger venues.

[PrimeTimer]

I just want to add that in addition to CVS and Walgreens, some grocery store pharmacies are starting to give the vaccinations.

[Michael Murphy]

Second Moderna shot this afternoon so far no side effects.

[MooseMom]

Just thought I'd chime in here on the vaccine discussion. I've been spending a lot of time on the various vaccine sites getting nowhere, filling out the same information over and over again with "no appointments available" or "server too busy". Some days ago I happened to be in Walgreen's and there was no one in the pharmacy line so I asked the tech about the vaccine. She was very matter of fact: Yes, we do them, Monday through Friday, you just have to have an account and you can sign up for notifications (I've seen nothing of these). So that seemed helpful and then I had one other thought and asked her if the vaccine comes in every day or once a week or what. She said it comes in every day and that she recommended that you login a few minutes after midnight to make your appointment. So Sunday night at a few minutes after midnight, I logged in, made my two appointments (first one is this Thursday, second one 3/18), woke my husband up, he made both of his appointments. Done, done and done. Whole thing took maybe 10 minutes. It was like the abracadabra moment. There has been plenty in the local press about the small pharmacies and CVS but I hadn't heard anything about Walgreen's. Sure beats the 2 hour drive that some people have been taking to get their vaccines at the larger venues.

Oh, thank you!  This is really helpful!  I already have a Walgreens account and I have already signed up for notifications.  I am not eligible for the vaccine until next week, which is when eligibility here in Illinois is being expanded to include people younger than 65 but with certain conditions like organ transplant.

I am thinking that whoever ends up giving me the shot might well want proof that I have a tx, so I've just now asked my tx coordinator to send me a letter in this regard for whenever it comes my turn for the jab.  Has anyone else here had to provide "proof"?

[SooMK]

Because of my age (71) I don't need tx proof. However, my transplant clinic proactively sent out an email via the MyChart/Epic portal with customized proof of transplant. Some locations must be asking for proof. The Walgreen's instructions I received just warned to be sure you meet the state's requirements but, aside from a state ID, it didn't specify any other proof. Best of luck!

[MooseMom]

Because of my age (71) I don't need tx proof. However, my transplant clinic proactively sent out an email via the MyChart/Epic portal with customized proof of transplant. Some locations must be asking for proof. The Walgreen's instructions I received just warned to be sure you meet the state's requirements but, aside from a state ID, it didn't specify any other proof. Best of luck!

I asked my tx coordinator for a letter of proof, so to speak, and I've just received it via MyChart, so I'm good to go, I hope!

[MooseMom]

Second Moderna shot this afternoon so far no side effects.

Fantastic!  Thanks for letting us know!

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I think it is really cool how your tx centers proactively send out documents or take care of such matters so quickly! That just seems so... soothing... in a way?

My tx clinic has been MIA during this whole corona health care fiasco. The best they have done is share basic pointers on the website for tx patients.

Ah well, it is what it is. But, still, I think it's cool.

[MooseMom]

I think it is really cool how your tx centers proactively send out documents or take care of such matters so quickly! That just seems so... soothing... in a way?

My tx clinic has been MIA during this whole corona health care fiasco. The best they have done is share basic pointers on the website for tx patients.

Ah well, it is what it is. But, still, I think it's cool.

To be clear, You Tea, my tx clinic didn't "proactively" do anything except send out "basic pointers" on their MyChart patient portal.

I follow the Illinois Public Health Department on Facebook and just posed the question of if/whether/how we are to provide "proof" of an underlying illness if we don't necessarily look like we are underlyingly ill.  Someone who has various maladies (including renal insufficiency) posted that Walgreens will want a letter from your doctor, which makes sense.  My tx clinic has always been really on the ball if I need something, so I messaged them with a request for such a letter, and I had it within an hour.   So, that was cool, but I'm the one who had to be proactive, which is the way I prefer it, anyway.

So, I'll be good to go when it is my turn.

[Michael Murphy]

Second day after second shot, just some local tenderness at location of second shot/. I feel great.