Here's what I'm wondering... if everyone ought to get the more effective double-shot vaccine, who ought to get the less effective single-shot vaccine?
Dylan, what I heard on the news about the J&J vaccine was that the single dose was ideal for those less likely to get a second dose such the homeless and prisoners. I am sure it is useful to others too but that is what I heard.
My son, a teacher, is getting his shot today. They told him it would be the single dose J&J version.
My wife was supposed to get her second Moderna shot Monday but couldn't make it; it was her first day back at work after a medical leave for knee replacement. I called TCPH hotline and they said just to come in and show she had a Monday appt. and they would take her; we'll see. She's also signed up through UT Southwestern for a shot tomorrow if TCPH doesn't work out, although we're not sure which version of the shot will be available. If she gets her shot today, we'll cancel the appt. tomorrow. She's concerned about side effects so she really wanted to get her second shot on the weekend.
I signed up through Tarrant County Public Health and they handed me off to Baylor Scott & White. I got my first shot (also Moderna) last Saturday at the BSW drive thru vaccination site at TCU. It's in the stadium parking lot, never got out of the car. They basically have things coned off and they send you to various stations- check your appointment, paperwork, the shot, then a 15 minute hold before you leave. I already have my appointment for the second shot exactly 4 weeks later at the same time and place.
The TCU site was set up for far more traffic than was actually there; it could probably handle ten times as many cars. I think as the vaccination rates ramp up they'll just send more people through the drive-in sites.
If anyone doesn't want to wait for TCPH and doesn't mind driving to Dallas, UT Southwestern is pretty good about getting you in within a week. They open registration usually early Monday morning, and then pause registration once they exceed the number they can handle in a week. I signed up and was going to go through them until BSW notified me I could get it in Fort Worth. I also signed up my wife this week in case her second shot at TCPH doesn't work out.
The site to check is https://utswmed.org/...e-registration/ and if you can see the assessment, you can sign up. The assessment basically asks if your over 65, or have one of several listed health conditions, and perhaps they are also now allowing teachers/daycare workers to get the vaccine based on the White House announcement this week saying they are now eligible. Once you register, if you qualify for the shot, they will send you a link in a day or two inviting you to sign up for their patient portal and then you can sign up for the shot. I signed my wife up Monday, got the response Wednesday and they could have gotten her in for her shot as early as that afternoon.
The nice thing about the UT SW and the BSW administration of the shots is you have control over when your appointment is. Within the available window of several days you can sign up for whatever time works for you.
The TCPH process is not as transparent. You have to do everything through email and they send you information via phone, text and email, but it's all one-way, there's no interactive communication on their website, and they generally only give you notice of one day or less. My wife requested a reschedule of her shot but hasn't heard anything and it still shows her shot scheduled for last Monday. Their hotline said she can come in any time this week. I wish we had known that earlier in the week, and I'm not sure I believe her. The TCPH process is just not as clear.