How are 16+ year olds getting vaccinated so early in Montgomery County

[Anonymous]

Question --

If you pre-register, do they text you about a mass vac site, or do you have to call?

Some people say you just wait. Some are saying you call?

What is the scoop?

I get that you have to affirmatively search for appts at other locations, like CVS, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had an appointment scheduled for my 16 year old son (legit reason )at Walgreens today. I decided to call yesterday just to confirm that they have the Pfizer vaccine. Turns out they don’t. So make sure you double check the site you’re going to has Pfizer.

Why are you looking for Pfizer only?

Pfizer is the only vaccine approved for 16 & 17 year olds.

Is this true?

Pfizer 16+
Moderna 18+
J&J 18+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question --

If you pre-register, do they text you about a mass vac site, or do you have to call?

Some people say you just wait. Some are saying you call?

What is the scoop?

I get that you have to affirmatively search for appts at other locations, like CVS, etc.

DH preregistered himself and 17 year DC. Got a call the day after and they are both getting shot later this week. I registered myself but am still waiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question --

If you pre-register, do they text you about a mass vac site, or do you have to call?

Some people say you just wait. Some are saying you call?

What is the scoop?

I get that you have to affirmatively search for appts at other locations, like CVS, etc.

DH preregistered himself and 17 year DC. Got a call the day after and they are both getting shot later this week. I registered myself but am still waiting.

All the same location?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question --

If you pre-register, do they text you about a mass vac site, or do you have to call?

Some people say you just wait. Some are saying you call?

What is the scoop?

I get that you have to affirmatively search for appts at other locations, like CVS, etc.

I'm 1C and I preregistered. They texted me a set of appointments at six flags a few weeks ago. Said yes to one set of them and they emailed me the QR code.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question --

If you pre-register, do they text you about a mass vac site, or do you have to call?

Some people say you just wait. Some are saying you call?

What is the scoop?

I get that you have to affirmatively search for appts at other locations, like CVS, etc.

They will text. Some people call to pre-register; others pre-register through a website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As kindly as possible to the person upthread who preregistered with neurological issues: that is not the best way to end up with an appointment. Go to MD Vaccine Hunters on FB for tips.

And agree wi PPs upthread: my 17 yo DD has an underlying immune condition that is not public knowledge & none of your business. I am a former smoker, which qualifies me, whether that makes you angry or not. My DH has high blood pressure. Also qualifies him. Therefore, we were able to drive to Salisbury where there is an abundance of openings.

Stop judging people & ask for help on MD Vaccine Hunters if you need it, are eligible, and want a shot. They will find you one.

Its absurd to jump the line for former smoker. You don't have any real health issues. I cannot handle the drive to Salisbury. Be grateful you don't have real health issues. I have barely left the house in a year, so yes, I'm mad I am not cheating the system and stuck home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the site in Salisbury allows walk-in, why not take your DH there?

Because A. I cannot drive any kind of distance due to health issues, B. he cannot leave me alone that long because of my health issues and if he has a reaction and goes alone its an issue of getting back as I cannot drive that far and C. I spent many hours getting a closer in appointment once he got the letter from work last week approving him.

The risk of him having an adverse reaction if he has no known allergies or history of vaccine reactions is so low that driving a distance should not be a concern. I am hearing so many people give that reason as to why they are unwilling to drive a couple hours to get a shot and it’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As kindly as possible to the person upthread who preregistered with neurological issues: that is not the best way to end up with an appointment. Go to MD Vaccine Hunters on FB for tips.

And agree wi PPs upthread: my 17 yo DD has an underlying immune condition that is not public knowledge & none of your business. I am a former smoker, which qualifies me, whether that makes you angry or not. My DH has high blood pressure. Also qualifies him. Therefore, we were able to drive to Salisbury where there is an abundance of openings.

Stop judging people & ask for help on MD Vaccine Hunters if you need it, are eligible, and want a shot. They will find you one.

Its absurd to jump the line for former smoker. You don't have any real health issues. I cannot handle the drive to Salisbury. Be grateful you don't have real health issues. I have barely left the house in a year, so yes, I'm mad I am not cheating the system and stuck home.

It sounds like your issue is that you can't handle the drive to Salisbury. I am sorry about that. Seek help on MD Vaccine Hunters. That's part of why I feel 100% fine about getting my vax there -- it's 100% legal, I am not lying, and it's not taking a close in spot from someone who desperately wants it. I happily spent 6 hrs getting my shot.

Also, it's not up to me to 2nd guess the CDC. And, not your prerogative to tell anyone else they "don't have any real health issues" when the CDC set the guidelines for who is at greater risk for Covid.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Literally in the list of conditions they list:
Smoking, current or former
Being a current or former cigarette smoker can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Hope you get a vaccine soon! I know that this is a stressful time, and I wish you all the best with your health & your vaccination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are eligible, you need to start actively looking for available spots from every provider you can think of - by the time you get an invitation, it may be too late - available spots disappear very quickly in Montgomery County. Some providers don’t even allow preregistration - you just have to keep checking the websites - Holy Cross hospital is an example of this.

Bookmark a dozen sites and keep checking - maybe 20 times per day. Do not wait for invitations!

Examples for people in MoCo:

MedStar
Suburban Hospital
Holy Cross Hospital
Adventist Hospital
CVS
Walgreens
Safeway
Giant
MoCo official sites
MD Max Vax sites

If you see an opening - you have to grab it. You can’t wait around even 5 minutes.

There isn't a "too late" - there will be more vaccine than demand in a very short time. Yes, this is frustrating, but let's not fear-monger.

[Anonymous]

I know DC residents with no underlying conditions, under age 55, etc who got appointments in Greenbelt this week and it’s pissing me off because I am still waiting to get an appointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As kindly as possible to the person upthread who preregistered with neurological issues: that is not the best way to end up with an appointment. Go to MD Vaccine Hunters on FB for tips.

And agree wi PPs upthread: my 17 yo DD has an underlying immune condition that is not public knowledge & none of your business. I am a former smoker, which qualifies me, whether that makes you angry or not. My DH has high blood pressure. Also qualifies him. Therefore, we were able to drive to Salisbury where there is an abundance of openings.

Stop judging people & ask for help on MD Vaccine Hunters if you need it, are eligible, and want a shot. They will find you one.

Its absurd to jump the line for former smoker. You don't have any real health issues. I cannot handle the drive to Salisbury. Be grateful you don't have real health issues. I have barely left the house in a year, so yes, I'm mad I am not cheating the system and stuck home.

If you have “real” health issues, you can easily get an appointment at CVS when they are released at midnight.

It isn’t for non-medical, non-policy- makers to judge who “really” needs vaccine. The state already made that judgment when they created categories. If you fall into an eligible category then the government wants you to get vaccinated and what the neighbors or DCUM readers think about whether it’s really necessary is irrelevant.

Fwiw, kids with developmental disorders were eligible in 1B - that includes, ADHD and all kinds of learning disabilities. Furthermore, many kids are working as essential workers or in childcare or they have other medical conditions.

Ask for help getting an appointment, please, instead of getting angry at people who are following directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health issues or parents are lying or creative about which box they choose. Same as adults.

I pre-registered and haven't heard anything and I have health issues. Really frustrating people are line jumpers.

Did you do massvax? Umd? Lumina? Which sites did you indicate were your preference? I would call, that seems odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ He preregistered through MoCo and was immediately allowed to make an appt. He has no special risks, etc and was totally honest about that.

Calling bs on this. My spouse is pre-registratered everywhere (moco, state etc.) And we've just received informational emails. Not the registration email. He must have checked off a risk group.

I preregistered with neurological issues and still have yet to hear anything.. People are lying.

Something is not right with your preregistration. I preregistered, have no eligibility factors that put me ahead of anyone, and got called this weekend and have an appointment at Greenbelt Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the site in Salisbury allows walk-in, why not take your DH there?

Because A. I cannot drive any kind of distance due to health issues, B. he cannot leave me alone that long because of my health issues and if he has a reaction and goes alone its an issue of getting back as I cannot drive that far and C. I spent many hours getting a closer in appointment once he got the letter from work last week approving him.

The risk of him having an adverse reaction if he has no known allergies or history of vaccine reactions is so low that driving a distance should not be a concern. I am hearing so many people give that reason as to why they are unwilling to drive a couple hours to get a shot and it’s ridiculous.

You have never had a reaction. I have.