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THREAD: 1. I've been heading my church's efforts to get COVID vaccine appointments for our older congregants at Montebello Plymouth UCC. Here's some info that might help with vaccinations.
Info mostly for Los Angeles/Orange Counties in California, but some may apply elsewhere.
Info mostly for Los Angeles/Orange Counties in California, but some may apply elsewhere.
2. If a person is 75+, they can sign up for an appointment with Kaiser, EVEN IF THEY AREN'T A MEMBER. If they are a non-member, they can sign up by calling 833-574-2273. Kaiser has a callback system so you won't spend forever on the phone.
3. They will issue you a temporary ID number and either schedule you immediately or have to check with a nurse at a hospital, who will call back in 3-5 business days with an appointment. They do call back.
Make sure you have your member number with you when you go to your appt.
Make sure you have your member number with you when you go to your appt.
4. If you are a member, you may be able to schedule more easily with the website. There are options not only for the hospitals but smaller clinics.
If you are 65+, there's a bit of a wait. You can get on the waitlist (or be placed there automatically) but the priority is 75+.
If you are 65+, there's a bit of a wait. You can get on the waitlist (or be placed there automatically) but the priority is 75+.
5. If you are 65+ and in Los Angeles County, your main options are https://myturn.ca.gov/ or https://carbonhealth.com/covid-19-vaccines. You can also try the smaller crowdsourced/independent https://www.vaccinateca.com/ but I know less about that.
6. https://myturn.ca.gov/ is the main state website, though currently only available for Los Angeles/San Diego counties.
The appointment system is akin to trying to book a ticket for a hot show. You have to know when appointments go online and rush to schedule an appt.
The appointment system is akin to trying to book a ticket for a hot show. You have to know when appointments go online and rush to schedule an appt.
7. I have tried, but failed to sign up for the correct notifications, and have been dependent on getting alerts from cousins/friends about when new appointments go live. If you know how I can sign up for alerts, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'll also update the thread with that info.
8. Know that if you are signing up someone else, you'll need their first and last name, birthdate, and answers to a health screener that should be pretty close to the CDC questionnaire here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/pre-vaccination-screening-form.pdf
9. You also - and this is IMPORTANT - need an email address and (cell) phone number that YOU have access to during the signup process. The site added a security code verification to the end of the process a few days ago.
10. You need to either be on the phone with the person or register with a phone/email you can access yourself, or YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.
11. Assuming you complete the process, make sure you either print off the confirmation (you will need it) or can access it by phone. I mean, it's pretty important, so print off a hard copy. Don't forget to help the people you are helping to register get that confirmation in hand.
12. Also, make sure you're paying attention to what you're registering for. There are 2nd dose only appointments that are for those people who got their first dose but didn't have an appointment for the 2nd dose because the system wasn't set up for that at the time.
13. If you register now, you should be able to schedule BOTH the first and second dose, which is obviously helpful.
14. Recent experience suggests that when LA opens up vaccine appointments at its mega sites, they fill up quickly, within 1-2 hours. So you have some time to pick, but ideally you should have that info pre-loaded. I made a spreadsheet for that info, and can share it if you want.
15. VERY IMPORTANT: At this time, the vaccine appointments at LA County sites are only available to LA County residents. The site will NOT kick you out if you give it information indicating that you are in a nearby county (Orange, SB, etc.). HOWEVER--
16. the guidance on the site says that this is only available to LA County residents. A LA County doctor and nurse have also confirmed this.
So if you aren't in LA County, DON'T REGISTER FOR THE VACCINE AT A LA COUNTY SITE EVEN IF THE WEBSITE LETS YOU.
So if you aren't in LA County, DON'T REGISTER FOR THE VACCINE AT A LA COUNTY SITE EVEN IF THE WEBSITE LETS YOU.
17. The other main website I've been able to register people at is at
https://carbonhealth.com/covid-19-vaccines
This site appears to have a slightly different appointment availability than the http://myturn.ca.gov site. I was able to register someone tonight even though myturn was full.
https://carbonhealth.com/covid-19-vaccines
This site appears to have a slightly different appointment availability than the http://myturn.ca.gov site. I was able to register someone tonight even though myturn was full.
18. I have no idea whether this was a fluke or if they are actually on separate appointment systems (the person I helped register will be going to the Dodger Stadium super POD).
Registration works similarly here, with some differences.
Registration works similarly here, with some differences.
19. (1) The confirmation code is sent out and required toward the beginning of the registration process
(2) The site asks for a digital signature.
I have only helped one person through this site, so I have no information about how alerts work. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO.
(2) The site asks for a digital signature.
I have only helped one person through this site, so I have no information about how alerts work. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO.
20. There is an option on http://myturn.ca.gov to get vaccinated at pharmacies. However, this is a bit in flux as (1) Ralphs locations have recently had their vaccine distribution privileges pulled https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-28/ralphs-cancels-covid-19-vaccine-appointments
21. (2) recent decision to have Blue Shield coordinate vaccine distribution, which may affect who/where vaccination happens https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-27/california-blue-shield-to-oversee-covid-19-vaccination-effort
22. (3) Biden administration plans for direct shipment of vaccine to pharmacies https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/vaccine-shipments-white-house/index.html
23. Other hospital systems in Los Angeles may also be vaccinating people, but I don't have any information on them.
24. ORANGE COUNTY:
Most of the people I've helped vaccinate are LA County, so I have less experience here. However, the main site for OC is https://othena.com/ . There is also the Othena app.
Most of the people I've helped vaccinate are LA County, so I have less experience here. However, the main site for OC is https://othena.com/ . There is also the Othena app.
25. I have heard that the Othena app permits scheduling of both 1st/2nd dose at the same time, while the website only has first dose and second dose separately.
But it's also true that the Othena app had some bugs (which are hopefully fixed). https://www.ocregister.com/2021/01/27/orange-county-working-out-bugs-with-vaccine-app-officials-say/
But it's also true that the Othena app had some bugs (which are hopefully fixed). https://www.ocregister.com/2021/01/27/orange-county-working-out-bugs-with-vaccine-app-officials-say/
26. Unlike Myturn, Othena has you enter in2to a digital line, and notifies you when you can register for an appointment. You'll be contacted by EMAIL when you can register for an appointment. (I do not know if they will contact you by phone if you fail to respond to the email.)
27. The trade-off is that the LA system is more chaotic but that the time between appointment and vaccination is fairly short. Othena folks appear to have to wait a few weeks, but don't have to depend upon knowing exactly when to log on and fight for an appt.
I don't know why.
I don't know why.
28. So what if you are in OC and are nervous about waiting for Othena to notify you? Well, if everyone waits it goes more smoothly, but if you really need to try to get an appointment, there are some options, mostly centering on the local hospital systems.
29. St. Jude Medical in Fullerton, as of last week, was taking a limited number of walk-ins at the Val Mesa entrance, starting at 8am, M-F. It was recommended that you show up as early as 7:30am or 7am as there are a limited number of doses. HOWEVER--
30. St. Jude has moved to an appointment system. If you are a St. Jude member you should have received an email with a link for appointments. Currently appointments are booked through Feb 12, and they are prioritizing second doses. So there may be a bit of a wait.
31. I have also heard UC Irvine has also been vaccinating. There are several hospital systems in OC, and some may be handling things through their own systems.
32. Not much, but hope it helps. In particular everyone seems surprised by the Kaiser 75+ policy. Good luck.
33. If you need some help with your own church/nonprofit, let me know and I can at least send you a spreadsheet that helps with intake info.
If you're working on vaccine outreach, especially to underserved communities with limited internet access/resources, let me know. END
If you're working on vaccine outreach, especially to underserved communities with limited internet access/resources, let me know. END
