We're all eligible for Covid vaccines again

[sonia]

I checked the CDC wastewater trends, like you do, and it says Covid transmission is high across the country, and especially high in California.

So I checked the Alameda County wastewater site, which says, "The CDC recommends that EVERYONE ages 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after their last dose."

It's been close to a year since my last one, so I tried to schedule in a couple of places, but wasn't finding a Moderna vaccine. I've been on Team Moderna the whole time, and it doesn't feel right to switch now. I found vaccines.gov where I could select which kind of vaccine I want, which claims that my nearby Safeway has both Moderna vaccines and appointments, so I'll be walking over there on Monday afternoon.

It would have been better to get vaccinated a couple of weeks ago, but the second-best time is now.

ETA: As rosefox warned, not only are they out of vaccine, but they don't acknowledge the change in CDC guidance. *sigh*

Comments

[amethyst73]

Do you know if it's the updated JN.1 version that's supposed to come out in the fall? I'm trying to figure out if it's been released yet, but not seeing anything.

[sonia]

I haven't seen anything about that yet either. I think it's still the previous updated version. I figure if they'll let us have another one 4 months later, the timing works out pretty well.

[amethyst73]

True dat!

[thistleingrey]

CDC says "fall" in the 27 June press release; SF Chronicle claims Aug/Sept. What's available now is definitely last fall's update.

[sonia]

Thanks for the link!

[runpunkrun]

Thanks for sharing this info. Time to see if I can get the family vaccinated again. I have a doctor's appointment next week...maybe they can slip me a shot while I'm there.

[sonia]

That sounds like a good plan!

I had a checkup 2 weeks ago, and not only did the doctor not offer me a booster, I had to remind her to pull her (surgical) mask back up. She said, "Oh, it's safe, I had covid three weeks ago." D: I muttered something about it not being so safe for the people she saw right before she tested positive (not to mention her assistant and office staff, who were completely unmasked), but she didn't understand and I let it go in the interests of continuing to get care.

[runpunkrun]

Oh no, what an inconsiderate nightmare. How does she think she got covid in the first place?

[sonia]

Right?! She said something about a patient who was coughing with no mask before she got sick, but also with having young kids, who knows...

When I asked her to pull her mask back up, she said it's hard to breathe (!) and I said kindly, "Yes, I understand how hard it is to wear a mask all the time in a public-facing job."

I'm enjoying your very expressive icon!

[runpunkrun]

Sometimes all you can do is (cartoon) swear.

[rosefox]

I hope you can get vaccinated. All the Walgreens pharmacies here are refusing to give boosters now to anyone under 65 because then we'd have to wait four months (not two) before getting another booster when the updated one comes out, CVS isn't doing it at all, and all the local pharmacies are out of stock and not getting more until the new formulation comes out.

[sonia]

Nice to see you drop in! Sorry to hear it's hard to get the vaccine there. Thanks for explaining the 2 month/4 month difference, since I was seeing both numbers.

Yeah, I had some extra time today so I tried to get vaccinated as a drop-in at Safeway, and the pharmacist said they're out of vaccine. She said it's a short-term thing and just depends on when they get more, so I should call on Monday before my appointment. We shall see!

[rosefox]

I'm still reading when I can, just lurking for the most part. Good luck for Monday!

[sonia]

Thank you!

[sonia]

You were right, they're not only out of vaccine, they don't acknowledge the change in CDC guidance. I love (NOT) how not only insurance companies are practicing medicine without a license, now pharmacies are too.

Oh My Goodness

[jesse_the_k]

....the CDC should definitely hire someone to fix the info page

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

I couldn't follow all the possible paths, and I'm not *that demented.

Turn it into 20 questions:

What's your birthday?
When was your last vaccine?
When was your last booster?
… … …

Hope your vaccination is swift & sure!

Re: Oh My Goodness

[sonia]

100% agree! I looked at it, and didn't link for fear someone would ask me to interpret it.

The Kaiser site would do the 20 questions thing - and then after the whole rigmarole, say there weren't any appointments available. And of course not remember the answers next time.

Thanks for the good wishes! And if it doesn't happen, I'm not any worse off, and maybe I can get one of the new ones sooner when it comes out.

Re: Oh My Goodness

[julian]

Their infographic is *ridonkulously* bad. Waugh.

[julian]

OK, CDC sez: "People aged 12 years and older who got Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines before September 12, 2023, or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine before October 3, 2023, should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine." But otherwise if you have already done that, they recommend waiting til the fall rollout.

Feh.