COVID-19 weekly update

desertguy, Are you kidding me? The state that has been in the news the most! That is deplorable!
Sundance(RB)

Thank You Merry! It's all very confusing in so many ways! Plus having to deal with the economic ramafications makes it even worse and more confusing! My company that I have operated for over 30 years has been devistated!
But as an old friend used to tell me, "This too Shall Pass!" And it walways seems to!
Bless You!
From The LAnd of Enchantment!
Sundance(RB)

@desertguy- RI people don't know either. I'm 74 with 23+ years of lung cancer. You'd think that there would be a notice for me? Not in RI.

Merrry, I have no idea.....I do suppose it may be something in my chart that has just been found through recent testing. I've had a lot of new things added and being tested for so perhaps that has something to do with it? Hope not, but possible. Also, it may have to do with the amount of vcacccine availbe in Florida? At Fl Mayo? I'll see if I can find out anything today when I go. God bless you, Merry and Sundance and desertguy and all. BTW: CA gov is allocating vaccine to prisoners and other outlying groups BEFORE the 65 or 70 +. BEFORE the nursing homes, etc. As is NY. This may surely affect your timeframe. AND, I bet you the availability of vaccine in your state is a factor. Makes sense? Blessings all. Elizabeth

I think that there is no longer a rhyme or reason for much of anything. The world has gone batty. Thanks, Elizabeth.

Got a note from Mayo Jax I should get the shot. They told me they are not giving it. Our Govenor has opened it to 65 and older in FL. Most places you must have an appt. Phone lines and computer sites are crashing. Not enough doses yet to make it work. Seniors are camping out all night for 300 doses! Just crazy!

jeanne5009, Merry and all. Got my shot, Maderno, today at 11:30 at Mayo, Jax Fl. appointment only In the Kinne Auditorium, Cannady Building. It was in and out unless I am allergy prone. I am, so I waited in a chair to the side of the room for about 30 min. They also made an appointment for the 2nd shot at the same time, so you have it all set up and ready to go. Maybe 15 minutes for most people.

This is what I KNOW from the folks with whom I spoke at Mayo today.

Today was the first day, roll-out and to get the system set up. It was flawless. By appointment only.

The patients given shots today were recommended by their providers as needing the shot in the first round. I suppose, folks, that means I have problems that put me in that special group. Not sure everyone would like that special status, but as we say, 'It is what it is!'

You will receive a message from the Covid-19 folks saying you need a vaccine and offering times, dates. It' s up to you to schedule at that very time, using the message and just following directions. It was so simple. And fast. They only gave shots until 12 noon today. Tomorrow and following days shots will be given all day. I suspect there will be some good information coming out on the patient portal to help everyone understand the system.

Shot didn't hurt....didn't feel it! No side effects to this point, other than a slight headache, very tired.....but, I really pushed it after the shot by walking to the gift shop and not going home to rest. Glad I did....good deals, felt good to be with human beings.

FYI: I had energy after the shot due to excitement, so I strolled to the gift shop, in the same building. I always, if able, walk the corridors connecting the 3 main buildings when I'm at Mayo as my exercise. It's a great way for me, since the corridors are very wide, carpeted, lined with lovely paintings, and folks I see are pleasant. AND, I see human beings. Real live people. This is so healthy for me, as I, and probably many of you, live alone, don't see another person, in person, for days. It was 12/31 when I was last at Mayo for testing that I saw and spoke to a human being. In person.

So, I strolled to the gift shop, spent a small fortune on the 50% off Christmas, got some yogurt at the little cafe and then went to another building, Davis Bldg, the cafeteria to get flatbread for today, yogurt/3 berry/granola parfaits for today and tomorrow's breakfast. Some greem tea and grapes for the trip home.

That's it, folks. You now have as much info as I have about this process.

A couple of reasons I believe the shots are available now at Mayo Fl: the avaiability of vaccine. The nurse shared the Mayo covid front-line doctors/staff have received shots per CDC guidelines. Also, the age for elderly is per CDC guidelines, as I understand it. Not state age guidlines.

Anyone 65+ in Florida can now get the vaccine. It's handled by Gov. DeSantis, Fl Dept of Health, County Dept of Health. My county, Duval, is offering the vaccine at the large Convention Center, by appointment only. If you are late, you lose your appt. They switched 2 testing sites to vaccination sites immediately. Good plan! I understand from our Mayor the phone lines are now staying open 24/7 and Fl Health Dept lines are 24/7.

Go online to your county department of health for current information. I tried PCP, his hospital, and called for a 2 days+ getting a busy signal and pure frustration on the Duval County Dept. of Health line. Per our mayor, more vaccines are on the way and the shots should be given with no interruption, in Duval/Jacksonville. Every county has it's own distribution plan. Hopefully!

I think Florida Dept of Health, under DeSantis' leadership and his focus on the nursing/retirment facilities and the elderly, will be working with the county health depts to get things orderly and moving. It's set-up here by appointment only. I bet every county will do the same.

Ok. That's really all folks!

Blessings to each of you in this crazy journey we're on. I fear some states will continue to have problems if they change the guidelines, as CA and NY and perhaps others, putting the elderly back in line after prisoners, teachers, gov't workers, (that's a lot of beaurocrats!), etc. I just heard on the news that Gov. Cuomo, NY, has put lawyers in the essential worker status!!! Lawyers are getting the vaccine with health care workers. The elderly & elderly facilities are further down the list.

I remain silent on this one, as my thoughts about Cuomo can't be printed on this forum!!!!!

I'll let you know if I have any side effects. I won't be surprised if tonight and tomorrow are 'down days' for me, achy and maybe a bit flu-like. Fine with me. I'll stay quiet, push fluids, take tylenol and rest. Small price to pay. Oh, the shots are free. No insurance needed.
Elizabeth

Hi, jeanne5009. I don't understand why anyone would camp out overnight to wait in line for a shot! Help me here. Aren't they given by appointment? I wouldn't ever consider waiting in a long line, much less overnight? That's amazing to me.....do you know where this is happening? If it's a single issue or?????? Perhaps this is a county issue? Computer, phones, work eventually or if we know which button to push......The elderly you're referring to must not live in an elderly community or nursing home. If we live on our own, it IS our responsibility to get information and be proactive in our health care. We can't depend on the government to be in charge of us. That's our responsibility. And, these folks live in Florida, the local gov't should be giving information out. I'm very thankful for Mayo.....again.

ess77, Our govenor in NM has imposed such strict rules before Thanksgiving that they only allowed 75 people in a Wally World at a time. Wait was 2 -4 hours. That to me is insanity to wait to get in there!
Sundance(RB)

While the pandemic has stirred up many thoughts/feelings politically, it is important to keep the focus of this community on healthcare and sharing and supporting one another in that manner. Sharing a friendly reminder to please refrain from going down the political path in order to keep this community inclusive and to honor the Community Guidelines (see #6 specifically): https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

Thank you.