vaccine Stage 4 w/comprbidities-where’s my place in line?

Bailey5
Bailey5 Member Posts: 63

I live in calif & have stage 4; any tips on how to go about getting vaccinated ASAP & which vaccine is the 1 shot as that's my choice one. Websites seem to contradict each other in when it's available to me. I understand front-line & long term health care workers should absolutely be first; but I would think then I'd be next in line; but it appears & I could be wrong I should be next; I'm 55, obese, cardiac issues as well. My UCLA Onc said he'd write lette(; but didn't think he'd be distributing it to his ca pits. I'm cinfused and scared esp of new strain! Thx vm for help with all this! BTW: I do appreciate all the frontline and my son is actually a food delivery driver; so I know that's important; but I feel bit more immunocompromised (as evidence by chemo blood values & feel Stage 4 maybe should bump up further in tier one.

I'd also heard something about Vandencamp Air Force base after they vaccinate theirs Theyll open it to public in surrounding communities; I'm wondering hoe to get in that line and what “communities are surrounding: I live in Arroyo Grande?

Thx again

Comments

  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited January 2021

    Hi Bailey5, I just saw on the news that receiving one dose of the vaccine is still being discussed because it takes the second dose to give you 95% immunity. It is up to the Governors how the vaccine is administered and to who. There should be a web site for your state or community. In most states the local pharmacies are now receiving the vaccine, but I'm not sure how that works. In Florida the Governor set up drive throughs 7-days a week with extended hours. Other states right now it is Mon-Fri 8-5pm which is causing a backflow. Best wishes.

  • candy-678
    candy-678 Member Posts: 3,950
    edited January 2021

    Bailey5- I too am Stage 4. I am 50 years old and no longer in the workforce-- Social Security Disability. I have high blood pressure, autoimmune issues, and the cancer with the low white counts from the treatments. Yes, each State is different. My State is frontline Healthcare workers (as it should be), then Nursing Home Residents, then it gets confusing. I think, then 75 and older, grocery store and postal workers ( as they are essential and out in the public). I think next is under 75 with health issues-----Me finally????

    But all this is confusing. And with the slow rollout and less vaccines being delivered, who knows the timeline of when it will get down to me. I saw my MO Dec 21st and she had no clue when it would be my turn. She said she had not had hers yet !!!!!!!!!

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited January 2021

    bailey,

    I am also stage IV and live in CA. I am almost 65 but have no co-morbidities. I agree that it's confusing to try to find out when someone might be at bat to get the vaccine. I live in Santa Clara County and am monitoring the county health department web site. I am also a public school teacher and my district is on top of the situation I can hear the fear in your writing, but I think that if you are following current safety recommendations, especially about staying home, you are doing all you can to protect yourself. The vaccine roll out has not been as swift as most of us had hoped so continued patience is important. My dd works in a residential mental health facility and she has not been vaccinated yet. Take a deep breath and check your counties health department website.

    PS: No single dose vaccine has approved in the US yet. Whether it is a good option to give only a single dose of the double dose vaccines is an unsettled debate

  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited January 2021

    Hi, I asked my MO and she said they wouldn't be giving out the vaccine. I have emailed my PCP and asked if there is a sign up list. My daughter is a teacher and she will be receiving the vaccine by the end of the month. Her school will be a vaccine center. I read on our state site that those with cancer would be able to receive the vaccine next month and anyone 75 or older. My friend in Conn has an appt for the vaccine early March. I read that New Jersey has a sign up list on the state site. I hope those with stage 4 will be first in line early Feb.

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited January 2021

    flashlight, I mostly agree but not everyone, not even at stage IV, is immune compromised and may not be at any more risk than the average person of their same age. I am not immune compromised and beside mbc, relatively healthy. I will probably getting the vaccine in the next wave as I am a public school teacher, not because of health. I am 64, not overweight and no co-morbidities. I will take the vaccine as a teacher but wouldn't want to be considered due to mbc because my immune system is fine.

    My dd, who I mentioned worked in a mental health facility,is very happy as she will be getting her vaccine on Tuesday. I've never known her to be so happy about getting a shot 😂.

  • DebAL
    DebAL Member Posts: 877
    edited January 2021

    hhs.gov has a list of partnering pharmacies that will be receiving the vaccine. I think pharmacies will be the way to go. Primary care offices apply to get vaccine but guessing it will be after pharmacies. I got my first dose last week as I am in healthcare. I do feel very fortunate

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2021

    Our “wonderful “ governor has decided that medical personnel should get vax first, then seniors over 65. I don't agree. School staff, from teachers to bus drivers, anybody with any type of public contact should be next.

    My PCP said I should get it, as I have a long list of other issues.

    So FloriDuh got a shipment of vaccine and instead of an organized system for distribution, gov left it up to individual counties. People camped out overnight to get in line. At least it's not cold here. The phone system crashed. The email system crashed. Not everyone has access to the internet.

    I'll wait a few more weeks. In 3 counties here, Publix, a grocery store, announced they will be doing shots. They were booked solid in 2 hours.

  • Bailey5
    Bailey5 Member Posts: 63
    edited January 2021

    thank you everyone for sharing & forgive my ine reply to all vs individual replies-short Attn-span, I guess prevents me from doing that. I didn’t even think I was in fear; but I just re-read my original post above-I guess it’s the continual unknown and wanted to be done with the pandemic that is underlying everyone’s thoughts and actions consciously or unconsciously! Wow that was a run-on sentence huh? I’ll try to remember to keep you all posted on what happens. Wishing everyone the strength to get past this & healthy happy vibes! My best-

  • MicheleH57
    MicheleH57 Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2021

    This part of the COVID Debacle also is confusing and disorganized, isn't it?

    In WA State, people more than age 70 or in a nursing home or working with the public or as a first responder or health provider come first. And that distribution is underway.

    They will open the program to people who must have 2 co-morbidities *and* 2 underlying conditions to get the vaccine.

    And that'll be in March!

    Otherwise, as a "healthy" adult, you likely will be waiting until May or June or later to get the vaccine.

    At the same time, the state will roll out a tool on Jan 18 that you can use to figure out when your place in line will come up.

    But state officials have admitted that if you take the 'test' and you don't like the results and you jump the line, they won't bark about that.

    WA State actually has plenty of vaccine. It's the distribution that's the problem.

    Hope we have a rapid change in all of this come January 20. Because the states all do depend on the federal government to be able to roll it out. You can't just dump the boxes and freezers in each state and say "good luck."

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited January 2021

    I'm in BC & I honestly don't expect to get vaccinated till sometime this summer. We're not even sure the mRNA is safe for people in active treatment - esp those on immunotherapy. I think I might be waiting for one of the vaccines on the regular backbone rather than the mRNA.

    In my province, we're doing long term care staff & residents first, then health care workers in ER/ICU & other critical care settings. Then seniors in community ... But I think the priority lists have been changing so it's hard to know what order things will get done.

    I think by next fall is when hopefully things really start to settle down. I was in a Zoom cancer support meeting today & we're all expecting to continue virtually at least another 6 months.

  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited January 2021

    Moth,

    I am about to start immunotherapy on Jan. 19th -- keytruda as a single agent.

    I was interested in your comment that "We're not even sure the mRNA is safe for people in active treatment - esp those on immunotherapy." I've been trying to do some research on that, and I haven't found anything yet that contraindicates getting any of the vaccines while on immunotherapy. I will revisit with my MO within the next week, but was wondering if you have any sources that support your statement.

    Thanks.

  • MargaritaMS
    MargaritaMS Member Posts: 199
    edited January 2021

    BevJen, I am also on Keytruda (for more than 18 months). I don’t have scientific data but do have anecdotal info - for what it’s worth. My MO and I discussed the vaccines at length. Her recommendation is to get it. She says the mRNA type actually makes it safer for immunotherapy patients than traditional vaccines because it is programmed to avoid inflammation. (We are now beyond the realm of my scientific understanding -lol). Anyway, she’s been my MO for 6 years and I trust her knowledge and care. We agreed that the risk of harm is greater from contracting covid than from potential vaccine side effects. So I’ll take my place in line as soon as I can. That said, I’d probably wait and see how you manage with Keytruda for a few infusions before trying the vaccine. Also, I’m in a FB group of Keytruda patients of all different kinds of cancers. There are some in the group who have already been vaccinated without significant side effects. MO opinions seem to be split in the group but of course, people are on a variety of other drugs too so that would no doubt have an impact on whether it’s recommended for each individual. Obviously, everyone has to make their own decision based on their situation

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