I can’t get a COVID shot, can I? Well, not yet. From MedPage Today: Getting a COVID Shot Just Became Much More Difficult. Here’s why. State statutes and clashing recommendations create challenges for pharmacists and patients.
LA Times: “In recent years, the federal government’s recommendation for COVID vaccines was simple: Everyone age 6 months and up should get an updated shot in the fall.
“This year, however, under the leadership of the vaccine skeptic HHS Secretary RFK Jr…” – who got grilled yesterday at a Senate hearing – “the FDA only ‘approved’ the updated vaccines for people age 65 and up, as well as younger people with at least one health condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID should they get infected.” He picked seven new members for the CDC’s vaccine panel this week, at least five of whom are vaccine skeptics.
After reading this article in the New York Times, “CVS and Walgreens Clamp Down on COVID-19 Vaccines in Many States,” I sighed. How has this regime managed to screw up something that was working?
The subhead: “State laws and regulatory chaos are driving the country’s largest pharmacy chains to require prescriptions or hold back altogether unless a C.D.C. panel acts.”
I want my COVID shot!
I went to the CVS portal. It notes, “In patients aged 65 years and older selecting Moderna pharmacy stores, mNEXSPIKE (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) will be administered.” Ooo, I’m over 65!
But the site indicates: “Vaccine(s) unavailable. Due to state restrictions or inventory, we’re unable to schedule your vaccine(s). Update your selection(s) or try a new location.” I was in Massachusetts last weekend, dropping off the daughter, but I can’t get one there at all.
Let me be clear. I think the new COVID policies for those under 65 are… what’s that medical term? Oh, yeah, stupid. For instance, a vaccine is “approved for kids 6 months to 4 years with a high-risk condition.” But as Celine Goundar, CBS News medical contributor and the editor at large for public health at KFF Health News, noted, being under two definitely makes babies more vulnerable to disease.
I want my COVID shot!
Entities are developing workarounds. Again from MedPage Today:
Slavery?
Ah, God will provide. “In Florida, students are currently required to be vaccinated against multiple illnesses, including chicken pox, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, and polio.”
As I mentioned on Facebook, there’s a certain irony that while discussions about actual slavery are either discouraged or portrayed as relatively benign – see Florida governor Ron DeSantis in 2023 – the opportunity for children to get polio (Bring Back the Iron Lung!) is seen as “freedom.”
I ALREADY have students out with covid. The local walgreens said they’re “waiting on further guidance.” Seems that the RFK jr. – run HHS is going to make it really hard to get in the hopes that people give up.
If I have to, I’ll go to my doctor, pay the copay, and get her to write me a prescription for it. I have asthma and it would go badly for me if I got it, even with several years’ worth of boosters already.
I got a flu shot and a new covid shot yesterday at my Walgreen’s. They said the shipment had just come in a few days ago. One of our retired pastors (86 years old) and his wife have covid right now and they have been very sick. I don’t normally talk politics, but I learned about the Florida governor and vaccinations yesterday. Why in the world would he do that???
“How has this regime managed to screw up something that was working?”
Because that’s what they were elected to do, Roger. Surely you know that.