I just got my first vaccine shot at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KU Med Center) today (1/28/21). It is on the border of Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
I was impressed with the entire procedure. As I entered the building, there were guides to direct one to the correct floor. The sign-in was fast. Waiting to be administered the shot took about 15 minutes. Everyone was wearing a mask and keeping six feet apart. After the injection (Pfizer), I had to wait in a room for fifteen minutes to see if there would be a negative reaction. I had none. I got a card. Before I left I scheduled my next shot, which will be in about three weeks. It was superbly organized.
Some observations
There was a line for people who were getting a second shot. Almost all of those getting the second shot wore lanyards indicating they worked at the hospital. I felt good about that.
I did not do anything to be notified by KU that I could schedule a time. On Monday (1/25/21) I received an email from KU that I could schedule one through MyChart. I hadn’t been on MyChart for over a half a year and had no memory of my sign-in name or password. I got that straightened out and got in. It took awhile to find the right location to schedule an appointment time. When I found the right location, I had all kinds of choices for today (Thursday) or tomorrow.
I have learned in the last couple of days from some local websites why I got the email that informed me I could schedule an appointment. Apparently, the KU Med Center is notifying people like me, over 65 (I’m 70), who have been a patient with them in the last three years. In the fall of 2019, I had a procedure that put me in the hospital overnight.
Almost all the people (70 or more) I saw waiting to get their first shots or exiting were like me: grey or no hair and overwhelming white. I saw one couple who appeared to be south Asian and two blacks. I heard no Spanish from anyone waiting.
I asked, and found out, that this site and the way it was operating has only been up for less than a week The decision the KU Med Center made to contact the people they did makes sense.. They know the people’s ages and medical histories and can be confident that the email on file is still valid.
I’m aware of the troubling aspects of why I was able to get vaccinated when I did and others of my age and background are not. I’m over 65 (by the way, my German in-laws tell me that one has to be 80 to get vaccinated). This makes sense.
However, in a country with an administration concerned about equity, I’m well aware of my privilege. It is not just that I’m white and live in a big city, but I can afford to have access to very reliable internet access and a very reliable computer. Just as importantly, I am computer literate enough (I have owned a PC since 1985) to jump through all the hoops to get my forgotten sign-in name, password, and navigate to the right location to make an appointment. I’m well aware such skills are not common among a number (a lot?) of Americans regardless of ethnicity, but not of class or educational attainment.
I have had my first shot. I will get my second in three weeks. As the amount of vaccine grows and the number of sites expand, at least those as privileged as I am will not demand to go next because we already have gotten vaccinated.
(As I finish this, it has been about 4 hours since the injection. I feel some soreness at the injection site — 0.2 on a pain scale. Nothing serious so far.)
What has been your experience getting vaccinated or trying to get vaccinated?
Some additional comments
First, thank you for putting on the Community Spotlight list. I appreciate it.
Second, we are really in the early phase of max vaccinations. It is not surprising the various posts about frustrations. When I have told friends who are older than 65, they are envious of my good luck. Let’s hope in two-three weeks there will be fewer frustrations. I hope there are posts from those who are not in the early tiers.
Third, I really wanted to highlight my particular privileged position to be vaccinated as early as I was.
Fourth, my spouse, who is not yet 65 but a cancer survivor, has received no information about when she can schedule an appointment.
Please share your experience, good or bad, it provides some sense of what is happening across our country. Please specify your location.
Finally, we had conversations with our two German sisters-in-law this past week. In Germany, they are only giving vaccinations to the general public to those who are 80 or older. Neither has any appointment for a vaccination.
