Accessing new COVID vax
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Anonymous
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I have a couple questions about accessing the new COVID Vaccine, wondering if anyone knows:
1) In this area, do only CVS, Walgreens, and Safeway have the new COVID vaccine? I called a local pharmacy and my doctors office (medstar) and neither have the vaccine yet nor do they know when they will. 2) I am unable to get an appointment at CVS until next week. Has anyone had luck going to CVS and waiting for a cancellation? I am leaving for a week-long work trip next Monday so I am trying to get it now. All of my friends and family seem to be dropping like flies from the new variant and have had pretty miserable experiences. Getting a little anxious that I'll be across the country and sick with COVID. I know i won't have the full benefits from the vaccine in one week, but it can't hurt. Thanks! |
Anonymous
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The biggest problem right now is that insurance companies’ systems were not up to date yet for approving payment. So the vaccine is available but only for private pay. Not sure where things are as of today - I’m scheduled for noon but won’t be surprised if it’s cancelled because I prefer to wait for insurance.
CVS definitely has the new vaccine. |
Anonymous
| Re CVS appointments, try entering different nearby zip codes or cities in the search field. A location that didn't come up under one search may come up. I just booked an appointment yesterday for Thursday because I also have upcoming work travel. |
Anonymous
| On another thread someone said walgreens arlington has the new vaccine AND appts open today. |
Anonymous
| My Walgreens appointment for Tuesday was just cancelled - insufficient supply. Agree that you need to search different areas/zips and better appointment availability further out. And for Walgreens they search doesn’t bring up locations across borders - so you have to search DC/MD/VA zips separately. They do seem to have solved the issue with Medicare/insurers rejecting/not processing the vax which is why they were canceling some appointments Friday and over the weekend. |
Anonymous
| My CVS appointment for Tuesday just got cancelled too. |
Anonymous
| I had an appointment on Sat at my CVS in NOVA for my flu and covid vaccines. The pharmacist came out with one vaccine only and said "I have bad news, I don't have anymore Covid vaccines." He told me they were supposed to get 60 doses (or whatever you call a vaccine) and they only got 20. He told me to call to check on availability in a week. |
Anonymous
| I have CVS appt for Saturday, and had to mess around with zip codes to get it (none were available in my zip code). I hope it doesn't get cancelled! |
Anonymous
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This vaccine rollout is a mess. When I think about the damage done to the system that distributed these vaccines so effectively and so widely two years ago--it is actually one of the worst public health reversals of my lifetime.
Absolute gobstoppingly stupid decisionmaking by people at all levels. |
Anonymous
| I went to Walgreens on Washington Blvd today and got it. Insurance paid for it. I walked in. |
Anonymous
| Given how quickly the vaccine wanes, I’m not sure why anyone is rushing so quickly to get? Just wait a week and it will be easy to get it. |
Anonymous
That’s how I feel. I’m not in a rush. |
Anonymous
Because I still consider it a high priority to avoid getting COVID, and putting off the vaccine when cases are up is not consistent with that priority. |
Anonymous
It starts to wane in as little as 6 weeks after the shot. So really, you have no way of knowing if it would be better to do today vs in 2 weeks. Who knows, cases could be higher in 6 weeks or you could be spending more time indoors/traveling for the holidays. Nobody knows. So really, trying to rush to get it now is about your own anxiety, not about maximizing protection. |
Anonymous
I’ll take my doctor’s advice and not this advice; thanks anyway. |