There are 8 of us here. Three in category 1a, over 65, comorbidities (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, one with mechanical mitral valve), primary caregivers. Two age 30-35, both with comorbidities (asthma, type 2 diabetes). Plus 3 kids under the age of 10. We know we are not really safe until all are vaccinated.
So, first the vaccine was supposedly available though the Georgia Department of Health, just not in our county. So we got on the waitlist for adjacent Muscogee County. Then “they said” Piedmont hospital group had vaccine. Waited until on hold about 20 minutes, to be told they had none, had no idea if they would get any. Then “they said” our county health department had vaccine. So we got on that waitlist. Then someone at my mother’s church said she got hers at Sam’s. Very little wait, they said, nope, don’t have, don’t know if we will. Second son sent email, Sam’s added to dept of health list of providers. Yeah, been there, done that.
BiL said he got his from an independent pharmacy in his nearest large city. Kdoc found reference to an independent pharmacy in our county seat. Called and got on their waitlist. Called our county dept of health. Said no way to confirm we were actually registered, so she took our info (third registration with Georgia department of health.)
First son sent link: Publix will have appointments starting at 6:00am on Tuesday. We copied the link to 3 devices, got all insurance cards out, set timers for 5:59, and then… The website, listing each county which would have vaccine. went from “coming soon” to a list of counties and how many doses they had. Muscogee county had 203, 0.1% of the population of the county (completely not including adjacent counties, like mine, with no vaccine). The website said, essentially, there are no appointments available, this site will refresh in 60 seconds, if an appointment becomes available, the directions for obtaining an appointment will display below.
After about 10 minutes, we had puzzled out that every person in the state that wanted to get a vaccine from Publix was on the same website. All the people from Cobb county, with their 2000+ doses, down to all the people in Muscogee (and adjacent) county(ies). We watched Muscogee click down, slowly at first, 203 to 198 to 192… Then faster and faster, 156 to 142 to 129.
Eventually, 2 of the 3 devices said “Book an Appointment.” We hurried to fill out name, address, gender, birthdate, allergies, insurance information, until finally, select a county, select a pharmacy.
You already know the end of this story. All appointments booked.
We live in a third world country. Even if the three in the 1a group are vaccinated, we will not be safe until all 8 are vaccinated. And there is currently no vaccine for people under the age of 16.