Covid-19

[Yankee Tripper]

Re: Covid-19

This is one of the places where we're massively inconsistent.

I have letters from the Undersecretary of Defense and the Director of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stating that I am an essential worker, and that I should be exempt from any Stay At Home orders. But it seems "essential" and "front line" are two different things. I need to wait my turn while 22-year-old teachers move to the front of the line.

The VA got a distribution of vaccines, and the guidance they published included "manufacturing" as being among the prioritized categories. But when I called for an appointment, the screening went "are you a first responder or medical professional?" When I replied that I was critical defense infrastructure/manufacturing, they told me I was ineligible.

So, I'm essential enough that I need to go to work, but not "front line" enough to get a shot. And I'm old, but not old enough (by a couple months) to get a shot.

I'm still wondering if they will lower the age limit first, or if I'll turn 65 and magically become eligible first. It might be close.

Yes big difference between essential and front line. People might have different views of who falls into which category but unless you’re being obtuse it’s not hard to see the difference. Though I’m sure a Venn diagram will have a fair amount of overlap.

As for age, yeah any cutoff is going to find people on one side or the other. I mean on your 21st B-day you can go out and buy a bottle of scotch to drink but on your 20th and 364th day you can’t.

[Texsahara]

Re: Covid-19

Yes big difference between essential and front line. People might have different views of who falls into which category but unless you’re being obtuse it’s not hard to see the difference. Though I’m sure a Venn diagram will have a fair amount of overlap.

As for age, yeah any cutoff is going to find people on one side or the other. I mean on your 21st B-day you can go out and buy a bottle of scotch to drink but on your 20th and 364th day you can’t.

Right. There is no perfect way. Age banding makes the most sense to me and it should be consistent nationwide. There was no reason for states to invent their own methodology. That ship has sailed though. Just move on with whatever and eventually everyone will get stuck.

[Yankee Tripper]

Re: Covid-19

Right. There is no perfect way. Age banding makes the most sense to me and it should be consistent nationwide. There was no reason for states to invent their own methodology. That ship has sailed though. Just move on with whatever and eventually everyone will get stuck.

Well I think part of the problem was there was no clear messaging from the CDC for quite some time and if states didn’t do “something” then we’d likely be even farther behind.

And yes the ship has sailed. The best that can be done now is to optimize distribution going forward so that the most folks get vaccinated the quickest. Though I’m sure even that is up for debate on how best to accomplish. But it does seem like successively lower age bands is probably best with exception “that make sense” the trouble is agreeing which exception make sense.

[Texsahara]

Re: Covid-19

Well I think part of the problem was there was no clear messaging from the CDC for quite some time and if states didn’t do “something” then we’d likely be even farther behind.

And yes the ship has sailed. The best that can be done now is to optimize distribution going forward so that the most folks get vaccinated the quickest. Though I’m sure even that is up for debate on how best to accomplish. But it does seem like successively lower age bands is probably best with exception “that make sense” the trouble is agreeing which exception make sense.

Oh sure. Not blaming the states (at least not for the most part). They were told they were getting vaccines, the administration washed their hands of any further responsibility, and the CDC could only make recommendations and even then couldn't seem to commit to them.

I don't know that I would make exceptions. It's just too subjective. But none of this is going to matter for long. Things are looking up!

[NyQuil]

Re: Covid-19

My parents (68 and 67) get their first doses tomorrow.

[jlw1980]

Re: Covid-19

Leaving younger disabled people to wait for up to 2.5 more months is evil.

My parents (68 and 67) get their first doses tomorrow.

Nice!

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Re: Covid-19

I think what Lamont said all the guidelines were becoming too complicated and just made the roll out more difficult - what is an eligible condition? If that's an eligible condition why isn't this one eligible? Do you need a medical certificate to prove it? Is that an invasion of privacy? If you don't provide medical certificates are some underserving people going to jump the line? What's a front line worker? Is it everyone who works at a grocery store or just the people who work in the front of the store and not in the back? etc.

He decided it was more efficient and less confusing to go by age groups. Of course not everyone is happy about that.

All in all, I think Ned has done a pretty good. He genuinely seems to care about the citizens, about businesses that either have had to shut down or are struggling to just get by. He's trying his best but admits when he has fallen short. I shudder to think what it would have been like if our previous imperious governor was at the helm during this pandemic.

Agreed they were finding it a challenge to identify them. I think this is the best of the options

"It's too hard to figure this out so let's just let some disabled people die lol" doesn't seem like a particularly good plan to me.

[Texsahara]

Re: Covid-19

And it looks like I'm not getting a covid vaccine tomorrow after all. Apparently CT sent out a bunch of letters telling people they were now eligible but whoops! mistake! offer rescinded! Oh well. Disappointing but at least I'm old and become eligible Monday anyway. lol. My staff is spitting mad though. I feel like they should honor appointments already made due to their mistake but not my call.

[jlw1980]

Re: Covid-19

"It's too hard to figure this out so let's just let some disabled people die lol" doesn't seem like a particularly good plan to me.

The disabled are treated like garbage in this capitalist hellhole. It's evil.

[YankeePride1967]

Re: Covid-19

Again, the issue is vaccine supply. Are we suggesting vaccinating the 20 year olds and disabled before the 50, 60 and 70 year olds with same issues? I do agree the disabled of all ages are treated shabbily in this country but with science showing that age is much more of a factor than underlying issues in both contracting AND severity, doing it by age makes the most sense. I am saying this as someone who was affected negatively by this change

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Re: Covid-19

Again, the issue is vaccine supply. Are we suggesting vaccinating the 20 year olds and disabled before the 50, 60 and 70 year olds with same issues? I do agree the disabled of all ages are treated shabbily in this country but with science showing that age is much more of a factor than underlying issues in both contracting AND severity, doing it by age makes the most sense. I am saying this as someone who was affected negatively by this change

I would put a 20 year old with a severe health issue ahead of, or perhaps in the same grouping as, a healthy 50 year old. "It's too hard to figure out" is a cop out by politicians.

[YankeePride1967]

Re: Covid-19

I would put a 20 year old with a severe health issue ahead of, or perhaps in the same grouping as, a healthy 50 year old. "It's too hard to figure out" is a cop out by politicians.

A 50 year old has 20 times the odds of contracting it and with more severe outcome. A 20 something with underlying has 2-3 times for each condition more chance. So unless the 20 year old has 7 conditions the 50 year old should get it first

Me I am a 53 year old with 5 conditions and realize this is the best of the approaches. Bottom line is no matter how they do it someone isn’t going to be happy. Another problem with going underlying conditions first. Very easy to abuse

And lastly with the limited vaccines no matter what system they used someone who needs it “more” will be waiting.

I say all this as someone who literally has not left home in a month now (snow the main reason) and since March 7 last year rarely left. This change has delayed my first shot by at least 2 weeks but I think this will actually speed things up

[Maynerd]

Re: Covid-19

I would put a 20 year old with a severe health issue ahead of, or perhaps in the same grouping as, a healthy 50 year old.

You would need to define what "a severe health issue" means. Does it need to be a respiratory issue? Does it need to be an identified comorbidity? And then you need to come up with a way of identifying who qualifies. No one is allowed to see medical records any more. Do we take someone at their word that they have health issues? You mentioned healthy 50 year olds. What about 60 year olds? Do they go before or after the 20-something-with-a-health-issue?

It's too hard to figure out" is a cop out by politicians.

I'm the last one to give the benefit of the doubt to politicians, but "it's too hard to figure out" is likely accurate.

[YankeePride1967]

Re: Covid-19

You would need to define what "a severe health issue" means. Does it need to be a respiratory issue? Does it need to be an identified comorbidity? And then you need to come up with a way of identifying who qualifies. No one is allowed to see medical records any more. Do we take someone at their word that they have health issues? You mentioned healthy 50 year olds. What about 60 year olds? Do they go before or after the 20-something-with-a-health-issue?I'm the last one to give the benefit of the doubt to politicians, but "it's too hard to figure out" is likely accurate.

Yup and essential workers is another. Does someone just show an ID card saying they work for Publix? Ok so they do. What if they work from home in the office and not in the stores working with people? Age is the one method you can’t cheat. Also and I will look for the article but age is by far a bigger factor for both contracting snd severity than underlying issues.

The way to get more vaccinated is to keep increasing the vaccine supply. Then they can move up the start dates for each group

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Re: Covid-19

You would need to define what "a severe health issue" means. Does it need to be a respiratory issue? Does it need to be an identified comorbidity? And then you need to come up with a way of identifying who qualifies. No one is allowed to see medical records any more. Do we take someone at their word that they have health issues? You mentioned healthy 50 year olds. What about 60 year olds? Do they go before or after the 20-something-with-a-health-issue?I'm the last one to give the benefit of the doubt to politicians, but "it's too hard to figure out" is likely accurate.

It's their job to figure out the logistics. Laziness and incompetence are not an excuse for eugenics.