Class News
1964 classmates are getting vaccinated
January 26, 2021
The Mory’s Zoom call on January 6 got classmates sharing tips on how and where to get vaccine appointments. Read this email thread for their stories. Hope the suggestions will help all classmates get vaccinated, so we can begin to gather in person again.
Don Edwards: On Thursday, January 14, my wife and I registered with the CT Department of Public Health for COVID vaccination. Within hours, we received an email from the CDC Vaccination Administration Management System (VAMS) with a registration form. After some initial confusion on my part, we registered with VAMS and were given a choice of locations and appointments, which were already taken. After expanding our search area from 10 miles to 20, we secured appointments at Griffin Hospital in Shelton on January 19 and 28. I got the 19th and received my Pfizer vaccination with no waiting; it took 20 minutes. I experienced no side effects. Shortly after I returned home from Shelton, I received from VAMS a choice of appointments for the 2nd injection. It’s scheduled for February 9 in New Haven. As with testing, I think CT has been ahead of the game from the git-go. It is fourth in the nation in percentage of vaccinations.
Jim Whitney: Thanks, Don. We've had almost the same experience (including the initial confusion) so far. Betty and I are now scheduled to have our shots this Saturday morning, at the same place you went to, in Shelton. I agree that Connecticut seems to be handling the administration of the vaccine very well.
Sam Callaway: Similar experience here, with first shot in Danbury on Wednesday, 1/20 and the second to be on 2/17, same location. A bit late, but not to worry I am told. I think CT has done a wonderful job (so far) organizing its COVID response.
Edward Massey: I have heard these positive reports about CT’s handling of vaccine appointments and even observed it first-hand with my personal trainer who is also adjunct to a rehab facility and very efficiently processed. Alas, Anne and I have not had that experience. We went through the whole register to register experience and have yet to hear anything. On the other hand, an e-mail from Yale New Haven Health System arrived unbidden in my inbox, subject, “Get Vaccinated.” While securing my slot, I noticed they had a guest registration, so we signed Anne up, too. Now, both of us have appointments, 2/5 and 2/6, and still no notice from VAMS or any other representation made by CT state or County, with no negative outcome for their (or my) ineptitude.
Terry Holcombe: Our experience was with Yale. We received last week registration information via “My Chart,” with one suggested date and time with other options. We took the date and went to Lanman which was fully equipped even to the level of parking attendants on the Ashmun Street lot. Done with dispatch (10 mins, plus 15 min wait for potential reactions), second shot scheduled in early February. Great job, Yale. One suggestion. We live in a building with quite a few old (older than us) folks who were daunted by the State system or computers or both … the confusion at the beginning. It is quite helpful to have the positive comments shared above to help allay fears. They have all heard horror stories. So do spread the word, and if appropriate offer assistance.
Steve Floman: Susan and I were “shot” on Tuesday in Shelton. We had a few challenges with the VAC website, but nothing terrible and nothing a 7-year old could not have figured out. The experience in Shelton was as smooth as could be. I agree that CT is doing a terrific job in getting people vaccinated in an organized way.
Ralph Jones: You folks seem to have the magic touch. First hacked my way through the VAMS. Earliest I could find was 2/11 at Griffin. Then I found a YNHH link and got 2/2 in North Haven. That was back on January 14.
Frank Basler: Glad you're all having good experiences. Susie and I are scheduled for the 4th and the 13th. To celebrate that (and my birthday) I'm taking her to NYC to go to a museum and a nice restaurant.
Ed Shaw: I am about to get mine at the VA hospital
Jim Barton: Thanks Ed and all. Nancy and I are scheduled for tomorrow in the CHC in Stamford: same date and time as Whitney, just a different place. This is good news after hearing about the many horror stories from Florida and New York. Good for Connecticut.
Pete Putzel: Happy Palindrome Day to all: 1/22/21. After a very helpful John Evans VAMS tutorial, Anne and I are scheduled for our first shots on 2/2/21 at the Sharon Hospital.
Terry Holcombe: The question at Yale Med School is that having given it all away in this first round in response to a public outcry (by both Trump and Biden) will there be enough for a timely second round? The possibilities of that involve some enormously aggressive assumptions about increased vaccine production and distribution rates for at least the two major producers. We should all be vigilant and track return appointments carefully.
John Evans: Terry is right, the second shot may or may not be there. It is quite important, particularly for Pfizer vaccine (about 50% protection on first shot, 80% for Moderna, second shot pushes both to or near 95%). Note that you won't reach maximum protection for several weeks after the second shot. We have been told 2 weeks, but I have heard other periods. I am seeing articles about vaccine shortages and manufacturing and distribution problems and an equal number of articles about vaccines being distributed but not used. Hard to tell whether there is a supply problem. Certainly, some logistics problems, particularly at the state and local level. Lamont has asked for more vaccine, not because of shortages but because he says we can give more shots to more people more quickly. Keep your fingers crossed and we can all have dinner at Mory's soon.
Bo Huhn: Info on what to do if you have trouble getting an appointment for the second shot. During my first appointment, 1/14, I was told that VAMS would contact me with the time for my second appointment. I have not been contacted, and I couldn't find any way to contact VAMS regarding a second shot. So this morning I drove to my provider in Clinton. They advised me not to wait any longer to hear from VAMS, and to sign up myself for a second appointment on the VAMS site. If the date is several months delayed, to come back to Clinton after 2/10, and they will give me the second shot if they have a cancellation for that day. Much to my delight, when I tried to make my appointment online, I got one for 2/12.
Larry Lawrence: I’m getting my first shot tomorrow in Fairfield through the Yale New Haven system, and I am definitely going with the Pfizer vaccine. They make Viagra, and if they can raise the dead they should be able to help keep us alive.
Tony Lavely: Ironically, I’m sitting in Atlanta reading this thread, only two miles from the CDC. My wife and I can’t get an appointment anyplace in Georgia! We’ve tried over 100 locations. Maybe I should move to Connecticut?
From the West Coast, David Wyles posted the above photo of himself getting vaccinated on January 15th. David wrote: “Halleluiah! Got my first Moderna COVID vaccine shot! And the doctor loved my hat.”
PS. Lavely’s southern neighbor to the west, Frank Franklin, posted this from Birmingham:
Frank Franklin: Our rollout is struggling. Some states struggle with demand; others struggle with supply. From the Kaiser Family Foundation: The US must now average 2.4M doses/day to vaccinate 70% of the population (herd immunity) by July 4; 1.9M doses/day to reach herd immunity by Labor Day; 1.2M doses per day for herd immunity by January 1, 2022. The feds promise 1.5M doses/day. We are in a race before COVID mutations escape current vaccines and require a new vaccine. WE MUST CONTAIN COVID CASE NUMBERS WITH MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND REMOVE EVERY BARRIER TO VACCINE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND ADMINISTRATION.
