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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2021 14:19:42 GMT -6
We’ve made tentative plans with two sets of friends next month, one with an almost 1yo and one with no kids. We’ll do both visits outside and for my friends with the little one we’ll wear masks. I’m so excited to hang out with friends again. 😭 Also next weekend going up to see my parents so I can give them a hug. 😭😭 ETA all adults in these visits will be fully vaxxed.
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 15, 2021 14:32:26 GMT -6
Well, a booster was always thought to be necessary and year is a whole lot better than 6 months! I also recently read that with the mRNA technology, they might even be able to make a yearly combination flu/covid shot. I'll get that jab weekly if I have to. And if they recommend boosters, maybe there's a way they can tweak the boosters based on prevalent variant strains.
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abs
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Post by abs on Apr 15, 2021 14:54:57 GMT -6
Reading the Pfizer news was kind of a gut punch to me personally. I've been expecting it so I'm not surprised but kids aren't even eligible for their first dose yet and we are looking at adults needing a 3rd dose as early as maybe December? I don't know. Compliance will not be great if this is a yearly thing just like it isn't with the flu shot.
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Post by justkeepmoving on Apr 15, 2021 15:03:47 GMT -6
Well, a booster was always thought to be necessary and year is a whole lot better than 6 months! I also recently read that with the mRNA technology, they might even be able to make a yearly combination flu/covid shot. I hope there is also an option to get them not combined. I can’t get the flu shot due to an allergy but this would be great for the majority of the population.
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Post by justkeepmoving on Apr 15, 2021 15:06:22 GMT -6
The side effects from the second Pfizer shot are no joke. I feel like death. I’m glad my body is doing what it needs to but it can get over this now. My BIL said every side effect I have is exactly what he had with covid, except he also had a cough. Completely awful.
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 15, 2021 15:11:16 GMT -6
The side effects from the second Pfizer shot are no joke. I feel like death. I’m glad my body is doing what it needs to but it can get over this now. My BIL said every side effect I have is exactly what he had with covid, except he also had a cough. Completely awful. I'm so sorry you're feeling poorly
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elle
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Post by elle on Apr 15, 2021 15:12:38 GMT -6
You guys, I got an appointment for the vaccine! Two weeks from now, Moderna. With not being able to book until the state opened up to everyone, I was worried it would be impossible to find an appointment. I'm so relieved.
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 15, 2021 15:14:47 GMT -6
Reading the Pfizer news was kind of a gut punch to me personally. I've been expecting it so I'm not surprised but kids aren't even eligible for their first dose yet and we are looking at adults needing a 3rd dose as early as maybe December? I don't know. Compliance will not be great if this is a yearly thing just like it isn't with the flu shot. This is probably one of the reasons they're stockpiling so many doses. And getting kids vaccinated will probably be easier bc they could roll it into well child visits, set up sites at schools, etc and you're talking about one adult scheduling/managing vaccination of between 1 and 3 people on average. WRT boosters specifically, I really think it will look more like flu shots where you know there's a window in which you should get it and you go get it at your pharmacy at your convenience. Hopefully the administration is working to help more local pharmacies obtain the super freezer thingies so they can store them.
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 15, 2021 15:15:33 GMT -6
Or maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about and am just being optimistic
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Apr 15, 2021 17:12:57 GMT -6
Well, a booster was always thought to be necessary and year is a whole lot better than 6 months! I also recently read that with the mRNA technology, they might even be able to make a yearly combination flu/covid shot. I hope there is also an option to get them not combined. I can’t get the flu shot due to an allergy but this would be great for the majority of the population. I’m sure they will have this option. Lots of people can’t get or don’t get the flu shot so it’s going to be a Venn diagram situation.
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byjove
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Post by byjove on Apr 15, 2021 17:18:05 GMT -6
I hope there is also an option to get them not combined. I can’t get the flu shot due to an allergy but this would be great for the majority of the population. I’m sure they will have this option. Lots of people can’t get or don’t get the flu shot so it’s going to be a Venn diagram situation. I’m curious how that will work since flu shots are usually charged to insurance. Do they think that eventually this will be an insurance covered benefit instead of a federally provided thing?
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Apr 15, 2021 17:22:56 GMT -6
I’m sure they will have this option. Lots of people can’t get or don’t get the flu shot so it’s going to be a Venn diagram situation. I’m curious how that will work since flu shots are usually charged to insurance. Do they think that eventually this will be an insurance covered benefit instead of a federally provided thing? Probably. I think the federal government will likely pay for the uninsured and Medicaid and Medicare population but probably providers will have to buy the vaccines in the future and bill for it. Nothing like that has been discussed yet that I know of.
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 15, 2021 17:42:22 GMT -6
Well, a booster was always thought to be necessary and year is a whole lot better than 6 months! I also recently read that with the mRNA technology, they might even be able to make a yearly combination flu/covid shot. I hope there is also an option to get them not combined. I can’t get the flu shot due to an allergy but this would be great for the majority of the population. I asked Dr Uncle who also can't get flu shots d/t an allergy and he said the general medical community opinion is that there will be combo jabs, flu only jabs, and Covid only jabs and people will have access to the version appropriate for them
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willow
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Post by willow on Apr 15, 2021 17:48:14 GMT -6
And the thought is it that it’s just one shot and not a two series, as the booster, correct?
I am just fine getting it annually but I also give zero fucks about shots at this point, ha. I get allergy shots once a month and was getting them twice a week for like 6 months so meh.
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Post by greykitty on Apr 15, 2021 17:50:26 GMT -6
I hope any future COVID vaccines will be covered like flu shots. Right now, as a contrast, I believe, the Shingrix vaccine (two series shingles shot) is not covered by Medicare Parts A or B; I was looking at one Plan D (meds coverage) and for someone in the deductible stage, Shingrix is approximately $173/dose, as it's a Tier 3 drug. Fun for people on a limited budget, of course. And of course it's the shingles shot most preferred by providers, IIRC.
I suspect if there's any future direct out of pocket cost to an insured for a COVID 19 vaccine, it will be kept very low - someone in budgeting is probably thinking about that?
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 15, 2021 18:32:51 GMT -6
I hope any future COVID vaccines will be covered like flu shots. Right now, as a contrast, I believe, the Shingrix vaccine (two series shingles shot) is not covered by Medicare Parts A or B; I was looking at one Plan D (meds coverage) and for someone in the deductible stage, Shingrix is approximately $173/dose, as it's a Tier 3 drug. Fun for people on a limited budget, of course. And of course it's the shingles shot most preferred by providers, IIRC. I suspect if there's any future direct out of pocket cost to an insured for a COVID 19 vaccine, it will be kept very low - someone in budgeting is probably thinking about that? Thank you for making this excellent point. I'm just talking here, but from a purely policy/public health standpoint, I think of the number of retail pharmacies that advertise flu shots as completely free with insurance or a "zero dollar copay with insurance." If we can do that with flu, a communicable and potentially deadly virus, surely we can do that with Covid-19. And I've noticed appreciation for the streamlined, completely free regardless of insurance coverage administration of the Covid vaccine that gives me a glimmer of hope that there's room to empower government to offer more completely free (at the point of care) general healthcare. Imagine an America where every single person gets an annual flu shot, Covid shot, any other necessary vaccinations / boosters (Tdap boosters, for example, shingles and pneumonia and meningitis also come to mind), routine cancer screenings, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, diabetes care, and mental health screenings, as appropriate for their age and medical history, free of charge. Not just those on Medicare, everyone.
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Post by enchanted on Apr 15, 2021 19:30:22 GMT -6
The side effects from the second Pfizer shot are no joke. I feel like death. I’m glad my body is doing what it needs to but it can get over this now. My BIL said every side effect I have is exactly what he had with covid, except he also had a cough. Completely awful. I'm sorry. I hope you're feeling better soon.
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Apr 15, 2021 20:27:40 GMT -6
I hope any future COVID vaccines will be covered like flu shots. Right now, as a contrast, I believe, the Shingrix vaccine (two series shingles shot) is not covered by Medicare Parts A or B; I was looking at one Plan D (meds coverage) and for someone in the deductible stage, Shingrix is approximately $173/dose, as it's a Tier 3 drug. Fun for people on a limited budget, of course. And of course it's the shingles shot most preferred by providers, IIRC. I suspect if there's any future direct out of pocket cost to an insured for a COVID 19 vaccine, it will be kept very low - someone in budgeting is probably thinking about that? There are a few vaccines currently covered under Part B so hopefully they would put it on that list and add no cost sharing. We have a modifier we put on covid Part A and Part B charges now to indicate no cost sharing so the processing of claims like that is possible and could continue in the future. And, yeah, I know what you mean. I have to give a recommendation that our providers start sending their senior patients who need a TDAP outside of injury situations to CVS or what not to get it. Medicare won’t pay us if we give it for maintenance so we are giving it for free (not on purpose) but if the patient got it at CVS they would cover it. That will be a fun conversation. 😬
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Apr 15, 2021 20:33:05 GMT -6
I know this is my professional bias but I would like to see the private insurance companies pay for the vaccine sooner than later. They have saved so much money this past year with medical services being down and they are nickel and diming providers for actual covid services. Like tests. For awhile we had a major insurance company tell us they would only pay one covid test per member (!!) and we have another National company not paying the extra fee Medicare allows us to charge for special handling (extra PPE and time it takes to handle specimen) for covid tests. I just think at some point they should pay and let the government off the hook. It benefits them in the long run for their patients to get the vaccine. Of course it’s imperative that there is still no cost sharing passed to the patient.
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trueblue
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Post by trueblue on Apr 16, 2021 2:15:35 GMT -6
Fwiw, my insurance did pay for my vax dose (went through a pharmacy that already had my info on file) and so did a coworker. It was $16.94 US which I was like 😳. I would have paid multiples of that out of pocket.
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Post by crimsonandclover on Apr 16, 2021 3:03:51 GMT -6
Reading the Pfizer news was kind of a gut punch to me personally. I've been expecting it so I'm not surprised but kids aren't even eligible for their first dose yet and we are looking at adults needing a 3rd dose as early as maybe December? I don't know. Compliance will not be great if this is a yearly thing just like it isn't with the flu shot. This is probably one of the reasons they're stockpiling so many doses. And getting kids vaccinated will probably be easier bc they could roll it into well child visits, set up sites at schools, etc and you're talking about one adult scheduling/managing vaccination of between 1 and 3 people on average. WRT boosters specifically, I really think it will look more like flu shots where you know there's a window in which you should get it and you go get it at your pharmacy at your convenience. Hopefully the administration is working to help more local pharmacies obtain the super freezer thingies so they can store them.
Assuming CureVac gets approved, it's an mRNA vaccine that holds for 3 months at regular fridge temps and 24 hours at room temperature, so that would be a much easier option than getting all pharmacies super freezers just for the Covid vax.
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Post by blablabirdie on Apr 16, 2021 3:32:12 GMT -6
We just got our recommendations for those who are vaccinated and have been told two weeks after the first shot they can stop following our already weak recommendations.
This despite the fact that when I had to go pick up a package last week I was the only one wearing a mask in a group of about 60 people waiting in line indoors (I turned around and noped out of there) but now they are saying these vaccinated people don’t have to keep distance which is going to make it really hard to know who is vaccinated and who is being an asshole.
Does anyone else have such early vaccination recommendations or is it just Sweden being Sweden again? We also have had the highest rates of new cases in Europe this last week — so working hard on our herd immunity is not a goal, but a happy side effect approach.
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byjove
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Post by byjove on Apr 16, 2021 4:45:30 GMT -6
Fwiw, my insurance did pay for my vax dose (went through a pharmacy that already had my info on file) and so did a coworker. It was $16.94 US which I was like 😳. I would have paid multiples of that out of pocket. That’s just for an allowable administration fee for giving the shot, not the shot itself.
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trueblue
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Post by trueblue on Apr 16, 2021 5:01:35 GMT -6
Fwiw, my insurance did pay for my vax dose (went through a pharmacy that already had my info on file) and so did a coworker. It was $16.94 US which I was like 😳. I would have paid multiples of that out of pocket. That’s just for an allowable administration fee for giving the shot, not the shot itself. Ahhh. I was wondering why it was so cheap.
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Post by crimsonandclover on Apr 16, 2021 5:37:42 GMT -6
We just got our recommendations for those who are vaccinated and have been told two weeks after the first shot they can stop following our already weak recommendations. This despite the fact that when I had to go pick up a package last week I was the only one wearing a mask in a group of about 60 people waiting in line indoors (I turned around and noped out of there) but now they are saying these vaccinated people don’t have to keep distance which is going to make it really hard to know who is vaccinated and who is being an asshole. Does anyone else have such early vaccination recommendations or is it just Sweden being Sweden again? We also have had the highest rates of new cases in Europe this last week — so working hard on our herd immunity is not a goal, but a happy side effect approach.
Sounds like Sweden being Sweden (although there are plenty of states in the US who have done away with all restrictions). Actually I just read an article today that out of 520000 vaccinated persons in one area of Germany, 400-some have gotten Covid after their 2nd shot. Of course that's still a super low number, but the article was saying that doctors still need to be warning people that even after they're fully vaccinated, it is possible to contract and transmit Covid and they still need to be taking the regular precautions with masks and distancing.
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Post by crimsonandclover on Apr 16, 2021 5:40:22 GMT -6
Fwiw, my insurance did pay for my vax dose (went through a pharmacy that already had my info on file) and so did a coworker. It was $16.94 US which I was like 😳. I would have paid multiples of that out of pocket. That’s just for an allowable administration fee for giving the shot, not the shot itself.
Those are the EU prices, but do you think what the US paid was tons higher? Given the messed up healthcare system I suppose it's possible.
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Post by lemondrop on Apr 16, 2021 6:43:26 GMT -6
Well, I had a whole post written out and then it got eaten. But I say this gently, we collectively as a society need to take a breath with Covid vaccine info. With every one of these vaccines, it was always a "when" we need a booster, not "if". We also don't know the efficacy of Moderna or J&J, or the other vaccines that may come up in the market. But boosters are going to be needed as long as we don't have herd immunity and there are vulnerable populations. Keeping your antibodies up is the best way to avoid variants. The Pfizer CEO also said a year - but it could end up being 15 months, 18 months. We simply don't know.
When it comes to kids, part of the trials is determining how much of the vaccine is needed. There's a good chance that kids don't need as much of the vaccine - so in a 6 dose Pfizer vial for adults, could be 10 doses for kids.
We have to remember that the Pfizer vax was approved on December 11. Just over 5 months ago. Y'all, in another 5 months, we're going to have SO MUCH MORE data and understanding. SO many more people vaccinated. We need to give the Administration time to digest this news, make decisions, and move forward. The benefit is with this info, we have adults in charge who can provide guidance. We then need to put pressure on states who want to do their own thing because clearly there are states who need to be hand held - with both kids shots and boosters.
This is really when too much news isn't a good thing. Everyone absolutely has the right to know what's going on - but this simply feeds into everyone's anxiety when news is put out there and then not adequately explained.
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Apr 16, 2021 7:18:38 GMT -6
That’s just for an allowable administration fee for giving the shot, not the shot itself.
Those are the EU prices, but do you think what the US paid was tons higher? Given the messed up healthcare system I suppose it's possible.
Right now providers are not paying anything for the vaccine itself. We get it for free. But if that changes you’ll have 3 levels of Mark up before it gets on a bill, so it will be typical American health care prices. I think what the US government paid is probably similar to the EU prices if not lower.
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byjove
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Post by byjove on Apr 16, 2021 7:21:20 GMT -6
That’s just for an allowable administration fee for giving the shot, not the shot itself.
Those are the EU prices, but do you think what the US paid was tons higher? Given the messed up healthcare system I suppose it's possible.
I don't know. That may be a negotiated/contract rate, but given that it's the US, it's hard to believe it would be that cheap. That would mean a covid test costs more than a vaccine. Does that make sense?
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adelbert
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Post by adelbert on Apr 16, 2021 7:24:23 GMT -6
That’s just for an allowable administration fee for giving the shot, not the shot itself.
Those are the EU prices, but do you think what the US paid was tons higher? Given the messed up healthcare system I suppose it's possible.
I can't believe Astrazeneca is so cheap.
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