I am 66 years old and I just got my first Moderna vaccine. I called my health provider and asked if I could get a vaccination. They said no. But four days later they sent an email saying I could get an appointment. So, ten days after my call I got vaccinated.
This might not be a coincidence. A problem they are having is all the people who make an appointment, but don’t show up. Every time they arrange 200 appointments, but only 170 show up, they have to scramble to find 30 extra people It takes extra work and gets the wrong people vaccinated, or risk having the shot wasted. It would make sense for a hospital, or the county, or whatever, to collect whatever data they can to find out who is gung-ho on getting the vaccination and who is hesitant. It is more efficient to get the gung-ho group vaccinated first and the hesitant group later.
I think that what some people are thinking, that if everyone else, or enough people get vaccinated, I can skate by without it. The problem is, there are always going to be too many others who think the same way. If one does this, they are setting themselves up for illness or death, just to avoid a little inconvenient and a little pain. And making others vulnerable to your selfishness.
If you are holding up on your vaccination, let them know you aren’t going. Do the minimum amount of harm. Make up your mind early and if you make an appointment, stick to it. Last minute changes of heart don’t just hurt you.
In any case, if your eligible for the vaccine, don’t just wait for the call. Give them a call. If this gets you vaccinated earlier, it will help you and help the hospital or clinic, to cut down on no shows which slows everything up as far as getting certain age groups vaccinated as soon as possible.
