In a couple of months, those of us in the Western world will be able to get vaccinated for COVID any time we want. But for now, it’s been a matter of hope and waiting, scheming and plotting.
I live in a relatively high-tech county. Vaccination sign-ups started in January. Over time they started sending e-mails to those who had registered, letting them know they were on the list. If I could go back in time, I wish they would have done something even better, so I had a nuanced sense of where my loved one(s) stood in line and how rapidly the queue was being worked down.
Today was the appointment for one of my people, someone who had worn us out with random questions about whether or not they would inject a microchip into their head, and other such nonsense.
Fifteen minutes before the appointment, their phone pinged, giving them a chance to let the “system” know they were in the enormous parking lot of the county building. Then two minutes before the appointment, the phone pinged again, letting them know it was time to walk into the building.
There were about 10 stations where people could go and check in with helpful humans. Once checked in, they were directed to a queue where numerous rooms were manned with 20-30 nurses apiece and a helpful person who let folks know when nurses were available. If you’ve ever gone through passport control, it was a bit like that, except not nearly as crowded.
Once sitting with the nurse, information was verified. My person got the Pfizer vaccine, and was assured that the week of April 3rd they’d get a follow-up text letting them sign up for the second dose at any of the locations available at that time (e.g., no longer limited to the cavernous government building).
The shot was no big deal. My person was heartily relieved that it was just in the arm and didn’t even hurt much.
Then, as is typical for a flu vaccine, for example, my person was asked to wait. Their phone texted them 15 minutes after the nurse had administered the shot. Then there were arrows directing them out of the county building, like exiting an airport, able to see those coming in across the lobby. Happy people were staged throughout the process to ensure everyone had the help they needed. They congratulated my person as they exited.
May you and yours who qualify to receive vaccination be able to get inoculated soon! May your experience be as good (or better) than the experience my person reported.