I'm not sure the verdict is in on the absolute effect of the vaccine. But if it doesn't really prevent it then we as a society are screwed because it will never end. It will just continually spread but in a lesser severity in those who are vaccinated and a greater extent in those who aren't. That is a future that the best horror movie writers can't match.

Most of the articles I've read suggest that given the 95% efficacy of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, they're likely to also prevent transmission at least to a certain extent. It's going to take some time to prove one way or the other, though. Also keep in mind that these are the very first vaccines that have been developed, they should be able to continue to tinker and improve them as time goes on (and indeed, they'll probably have to be updated eventually to deal with additional mutations).

Most of the articles I've read suggest that given the 95% efficacy of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, they're likely to also prevent transmission at least to a certain extent. It's going to take some time to prove one way or the other, though. Also keep in mind that these are the very first vaccines that have been developed, they should be able to continue to tinker and improve them as time goes on (and indeed, they'll probably have to be updated eventually to deal with additional mutations).
I not only agree 100% I pray that all this is true.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there groups of people with certain medical conditions who likely cannot get a COVID-19 vaccine because of the effects it would have on them... and that's one of the reasons it's so critical to see vaccination not as an individual choice but a civic responsibility?

Folks with potential allergies to previous vaccinations and those with severely-immunocompromised health related issues (think folks on chemo) would greatly appreciate if we can protect them. I'm scheduled for my vaccine this coming Saturday and I cannot wait.

I'm not sure the verdict is in on the absolute effect of the vaccine. But if it doesn't really prevent it then we as a society are screwed because it will never end. It will just continually spread but in a lesser severity in those who are vaccinated and a greater extent in those who aren't. That is a future that the best horror movie writers can't match.

Evidence is pretty darn decent for the efficacy rate of the vaccine. This figure is adapted from the data that Moderna presented to the FDA from this pdf: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download

This will be figure 2 on page 28 of the document. What's exciting is this is a double blinded experiment (the person receiving the dose and the person preparing the vaccine do not know the contents as not to bias the results). Only a select few running the experiment know who got the real vaccine vs. the placebo. The graph is charted to represent cumulative number of COVID-19 cases from day 0 of the experiment. Protective immunity starts to work within 10-12 days of injection and that's where the placebo shots and the real shots start to diverge.
16641

Evidence is pretty darn decent for the efficacy rate of the vaccine. This figure is adapted from the data that Moderna presented to the FDA from this pdf: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download

This will be figure 2 on page 28 of the document. What's exciting is this is a double blinded experiment (the person receiving the dose and the person preparing the vaccine do not know the contents as not to bias the results). Only a select few running the experiment know who got the real vaccine vs. the placebo. The graph is charted to represent cumulative number of COVID-19 cases from day 0 of the experiment. Protective immunity starts to work within 10-12 days of injection and that's where the placebo shots and the real shots start to diverge.
16641
Sorry you typed so much. I know that. I wasn't really going for a technical statement so much as a dire prediction of where we are if for some reason the vaccine didn't work. I'm confident it does.

My sis in Atlanta has appointment to get vaccinated Tuesday. She’s the first of 65 and over general population I’m connected to getting one. Easy peasy if it happens. It was announced. She called and made an appointment. I hope our rollout to the larger populations is A: Soon. B: Fast and easy.

Imagine.

I’m not holding my breath.

Yep.

Especially because the legions of politically-driven deniers couldn't be troubled with the smallest inconvenience for their fellow man.

It’s actually pretty scary to see how many people care about precisely nothing except themselves. It’s a decent enough minority of people.

Cleveland County opened up a vaccine clinic at Sooner mall for first responders, healthcare workers and anyone over 65. Filled up in an hour.

It appears that the vaccines are being coordinated at the county level.

Do the county health departments give advance notification on their website or what?

Do the county health departments give advance notification on their website or what?

Not that I found. This was tweeted by the Mayor then filled up in no time. I am guessing they get a batch of the vaccine then set up a clinic. I am not too worried as I am in phase 3 (I expect about March to get it) but there are a lot of people who want it. I keep seeing pharmacies telling people to stop calling as they don't have any info on if or when they will get doses.

Not that I found. This was tweeted by the Mayor then filled up in no time. I am guessing they get a batch of the vaccine then set up a clinic. I am not too worried as I am in phase 3 (I expect about March to get it) but there are a lot of people who want it. I keep seeing pharmacies telling people to stop calling as they don't have any info on if or when they will get doses.

Thanks. Seems typical of the way the state is coordinating this. I'm in phase 2 so I'm chomping at the bit.
So I go to the mayor's twitter and she posted this 19 hours ago. This is a horrible way to pass vital info to the community. The County HD has nothing on their website. So if the County Government is in charge why are they not communicating on their level? Unless you are hooked up to the mayor on twitter you are in the dark. BS

Two day old story: Oklahoma State Department of Health officials said they’re finalizing plans for how they’ll distribute the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available for some members of the public in the next few weeks.

The department will have what they’re calling vaccine pods scattered across the state. Those pods could be places such as schools, community centers and, possibly, the state fairgrounds.

Authorities need a lot of space to make this happen.

In the next few weeks, those pods will open for people who are 65 and older, first responders and health care workers outside the hospital setting.

On Wednesday, Oklahoma County health officials said they’re now at the end of phase one of the vaccine plan. The first phase isn’t complete statewide yet, but top health leaders have said some parts of each phase can run at the same time.

“We have overlap, and we need to do that for efficiency’s sake,” said Keith Reed, deputy commissioner of the state Health Department. “If we were to wait until we completely finish one group before we started another, then that just delays getting vaccines into Oklahomans.”

KOCO 5 expects to ask questions of health department officials about the pod plan early next week. We’ll work to find out exactly when these will happen and how you will be able to sign up for an appointment.

https://www.koco.com/article/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-sites-planned-as-oklahoma-moves-to-phase-2/35101107#

Thanks. Seems typical of the way the state is coordinating this. I'm in phase 2 so I'm chomping at the bit.
So I go to the mayor's twitter and she posted this 19 hours ago. This is a horrible way to pass vital info to the community. The County HD has nothing on their website. So if the County Government is in charge why are they not communicating on their level? Unless you are hooked up to the mayor on twitter you are in the dark. BS


I’m wondering if the health department deleted it after it was full? Stop people from trying to sign up since it was done? No clue

The announcement was posted on Cleveland County social media pages. The mayor tweeted out that announcement within an hour after it was announced by the County.

My advice is to keep an eye on the county Facebook pages for these announcements.

This seems to be a continuation of the calamitous failures at the federal level.

They had said the goal was to administer 20 million vaccines by Jan. 1st and the number was only 2.79 million.

That's a huge miss and the entire process has been and continues to be chaotic.

The announcement was posted on Cleveland County social media pages. The mayor tweeted out that announcement within an hour after it was announced by the County.

My advice is to keep an eye on the county Facebook pages for these announcements.

I just went to facebook and searched “Oklahoma County Health Department.” That turned up a bunch of posts of other counties with announcements about where and when they were vaccinating first responders and some with people over 65. Oklahoma County and State pages say to stay tuned.

It is amazing how poorly this is being run, not just in Oklahoma, but everywhere.

No one knows where they are in "line", no one knows how to get in line. It has been known all year since the start of this pandemic that a rapidly distributed vaccine would be necessary, even before a vaccine was really in the works. That's the better part of a year to get a process and plan in place. They could have set up a voluntary database of people who want the vaccine, accompanied by your personal physician's certification of health needs, or a statement from your employer of your eligibility based on essential worker class. They could have had months of getting the line organized, and then once the vaccine is out start clearing that line in order by contacting people with a "self serve" appointment system. A first year IT student could have a basic framework for this system done in the matter of hours. With 6 months lead time on getting a line organized, there would even be ample time to enroll people in this system who do not have a primary care physician to get a doctor's certification. Being voluntary it would certainly miss a lot of people, but this current system is missing everyone. At least it would have the people who are willing to get the vaccine organized and ready to go, ranked on their needs. If you opt out of the voluntary registration you would be placed in the back of the line.

I would go in tomorrow morning to get the vaccine, but I have no idea where I officially am in line, how to get in line, or how to even find out. Some preliminary guesses show me getting it this month or next as Colorado has transportation services ranked pretty high in the essential categories, as well as an immune disorder. But I have no idea...

^

It's all because of the lack of leadership and cohesive plan at the national level.

Mitt Romney went off about this, and he's absolutely right: it's a cluster.

I got my vaccine, so I’m happy.

But I also realize that the only reason I got it was because my wife saw a post in our local neighborhood Facebook group where someone shared the Facebook post about the vaccination POD in Canadian county with a signup link.

Not everyone has a fb account either. Catch is exactly right on all the points he made.
The County Government and State Government gets an F. They should have had this set up months ago.

Not everyone has a fb account either. Catch is exactly right on all the points he made.
The County Government and State Government gets an F. They should have had this set up months ago.

I'm not sure they are given much notice.

Nobody should be surprised how this has gone given how everything covid-related has been handled to date.

I don't care what your politics are, the coming change is a very good thing when it comes to having a clear, organized, science-based approach to this entire catastrophe.

I'm not sure they are given much notice.

Nobody should be surprised how this has gone given how everything covid-related has been handled to date.

I don't care what your politics are, the coming change is a very good thing when it comes to having a clear, organized, science-based approach to this entire catastrophe.

Yes it is.

Hard to make plans when you are doing everything you can to deny a problem exists like the state and national leadership have done.

Yes it is.

Hard to make plans when you are doing everything you can to deny a problem exists like the state and national leadership have done.

Federal and State both have the philosophy of Alfred E Neuman. "What, me worry?"

It looks like Logan County has sign-up spots still available for the 65+ age group for Jan 7th in Guthrie...

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4daca72aa5fdc43-guthrie

Edit: Now full.

Hard to make plans when you are doing everything you can to deny a problem exists like the state and national leadership have done.

And the president is preoccupied with overturning an election and nothing else.

Even if it is short notice on when they will receive doses, you can still have a list in place. They are waiting until the UPS man shows up until they decide who to give it to. It needs to be the other way around - have the people ranked in order ready to receive it. If they can't make the offered times, put them back in the line and schedule the next person.

There is seemingly no organization to this. Relying on people to make their own appointments sets this up to be dragged out way longer as they will not want to deal with long waits on the phone or confusion on who to call and where to go. An actual list should have been developed and there should be people working that list making sure as many doses are distributed as quickly as possible. Maybe the government should offer American's a free ball cap or toaster oven with their vaccine - people would be lined up and camping out overnight to get it.

It doesn't just seem that there is no organization, this is the actual case and many people have called attention to this.

Fortunately, change is coming and soon.

BTW, I know a lot of people were a bit more careful over the holidays, but I know tons who had big family gatherings.

I fully expect January and February to be the worst months yet before things finally start to get better.

I expect we don’t see deaths/hospitalizations go down until after Feb. Biden said 100 million vaccinated in the first 100 days. This will be his first big test (of many).

Yeah this is the good news/bad news portion of the epidemic. The good news is this is most likely going to be the last major peak we see. The bad news is it will most definitely be the worst and, depending on how widespread the B117 variant is, may swamp our healthcare system for weeks.

Two day old story: Oklahoma State Department of Health officials said they’re finalizing plans for how they’ll distribute the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available for some members of the public in the next few weeks.

The department will have what they’re calling vaccine pods scattered across the state. Those pods could be places such as schools, community centers and, possibly, the state fairgrounds.

Authorities need a lot of space to make this happen.

In the next few weeks, those pods will open for people who are 65 and older, first responders and health care workers outside the hospital setting.

On Wednesday, Oklahoma County health officials said they’re now at the end of phase one of the vaccine plan. The first phase isn’t complete statewide yet, but top health leaders have said some parts of each phase can run at the same time.

“We have overlap, and we need to do that for efficiency’s sake,” said Keith Reed, deputy commissioner of the state Health Department. “If we were to wait until we completely finish one group before we started another, then that just delays getting vaccines into Oklahomans.”

KOCO 5 expects to ask questions of health department officials about the pod plan early next week. We’ll work to find out exactly when these will happen and how you will be able to sign up for an appointment.

https://www.koco.com/article/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-sites-planned-as-oklahoma-moves-to-phase-2/35101107#

I'm sure it's easier said than done and I'm armchair QBing, but it really blows my mind that we've had 9 months to prepare for this scenario (and it seems many of our state and federal leaders were essentially relying on a vaccine as our only way out of this rather than actually taking steps to combat it), and we're still scrambling to come up with ways to distribute it. I know much of this was always going to depend on the details of the vaccine, its efficacy, etc., but I feel like many of these broad strokes could've been hammered out a long time ago. Not to mention the profound failure of vaccination rates across the country stemming from a lack of federal leadership, as Pete mentioned.

(Edit: I've continued to catch up on this thread and see I'm not alone in these sentiments. Ha.)

It doesn't just seem that there is no organization, this is the actual case and many people have called attention to this.

Fortunately, change is coming and soon.

I've not seen any reports of localities running out of the vaccine as of yet. I know about the early reports that states didn't get as much of the product as expected but the folks who give the shots seem to have what they need. What l am seeing is a lack of understanding by the public of the signup process and a shortage of people to administer the vaccinations.

I don't believe, as of yet, these two issues would fall under the responsibility of the federal government but the state and local administrators.

I was told by a relative in medicine that a significant problem in the planning and scheduling the different groups is that 40% of front-line medical workers refuse to get vaccinated as are a significant number of seniors. This is nationwide.

I was told by a relative in medicine that a significant problem in the planning and scheduling the different groups is that 40% of front-line medical workers refuse to get vaccinated as are a significant number of seniors. This is nationwide.

Fine. Tell your relative that I'll take one of their places. As might several others I know of.

Don't think that's under her control. Just makes the shot administration planning and scheduling far harder.

I've not seen any reports of localities running out of the vaccine as of yet. I know about the early reports that states didn't get as much of the product as expected but the folks who give the shots seem to have what they need. What l am seeing is a lack of understanding by the public of the signup process and a shortage of people to administer the vaccinations.

I don't believe, as of yet, these two issues would fall under the responsibility of the federal government but the state and local administrators.

I was told by a relative in medicine that a significant problem in the planning and scheduling the different groups is that 40% of front-line medical workers refuse to get vaccinated as are a significant number of seniors. This is nationwide.

The FEDERAL government promised 20 million vaccinations by 12-31. They fell about 18 million short.
It is the fault of the Feds on piss poor distribution plan.

I was told by a relative in medicine that a significant problem in the planning and scheduling the different groups is that 40% of front-line medical workers refuse to get vaccinated as are a significant number of seniors. This is nationwide.

I find it really hard to believe that 40% of frontline healthcare workers would refuse the vaccine.

I find it really hard to believe that 40% of frontline healthcare workers would refuse the vaccine.

I saw a similar article that put the number as high as 50% are refusing it. This referenced those working in retirement homes. Frankly, if you’re working with/around the elderly and you refuse the vaccine, you should lose your job...period.

It’s going to be hard to meet minimum thresholds for herd immunity via vaccine this year...

I don't believe, as of yet, these two issues would fall under the responsibility of the federal government but the state and local administrators.

There hasn't been proper planning and guidelines handed down from above. That's the problem.

Mitt Romney:


"That comprehensive vaccination plans have not been developed at the federal level and sent to the states as models is as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable," Romney, who represents Utah, said in a statement Friday.

Romney said the plan to rely on hospitals and pharmacies that are already overburdened was "unrealistic."

Will be interesting to see what employers do if front line workers are refusing the vaccine. This is from an article I read that gives a basic summary. (Hopefully I credited it right by giving person's name making statement and link to article)

As pandemic restrictions are gradually lifted and we go back to work, can your current (or prospective) employer force you to be vaccinated?

“Yes, for the most part, employers can mandate that employees be vaccinated,” University of Michigan law professor Kate Andrias told Healthline. “However, there are some exceptions.”

One exception falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, “an employer must provide reasonable accommodations to workers who have medical conditions that make them unable to take the vaccine, if a reasonable accommodation is possible,” she said.

Another exception is covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to Andrias, Title VII says employees may be able to refuse vaccinations if they have a sincerely held religious belief that precludes vaccination, and not being vaccinated doesn’t impose an undue hardship on the employer.

However, “a personal or political opposition to vaccination is not sufficient,” she clarified. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-your-employer-force-you-to-get-vaccinated#Legal-precedent-was-established-in-2009

^

That is very similar to school districts which generally require kids to have certain vaccinations... And it makes total sense because you have a responsibility to everyone in school or that you employ.

One primary objective of the federal “plan” is to date not interfere with private business’ ability to make money from administering it.

They didn't report yesterday, so today's number is for 2 days, 5,119 new cases.

Same with deaths which were 38.

The News9 article said that today’s numbers were for 1/1 and that tomorrow’s numbers will include both 1/2 and 1/3 numbers.

The News9 article said that today’s numbers were for 1/1 and that tomorrow’s numbers will include both 1/2 and 1/3 numbers.

They said that for Christmas too and the subsequent numbers didn't seem to match.

We’ll have to look at the 7 day averages to figure out the real trends. At least both weeks have the same reporting issue, so it should be fairly accurate that way.

Kelly Ogle has contracted it. Channel 9 has been noted for the coziness of their anchors on the set. No accomadation for social distancing.

Here's data and an interactive map tracking vaccine distribution. I don't think it's been posted yet:

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States​ (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations)

Currently for Oklahoma, it says we've been given 180,750 doses, and administered 58,823.

There hasn't been proper planning and guidelines handed down from above. That's the problem.

Mitt Romney:

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/01/952716705/some-health-care-workers-are-hesitant-about-getting-covid-19-vaccines

Looks like they have a plan. When your vaccine is hard to handle, hard to store, must be monitored constantly, must be documented at each step, must be administered by trained technicians who, due to a surge in virus cases are busy treating people, sometimes the game plan is applied the best way possible.

It's easy to criticise but it's probably a whole lot harder to oversee the ditribution of 600 million doses of vaccine. Lincoln Riley always has a great opening drive game plan. After that, they try to stick with it but adjustments must always be made.

When anywhere from 30 -60% of health care workers are hesitant to get vaccinated along with large numbers of elderly, it throws a huge wrench in your game plan.

Mitch Romney is a good guy but he's not God and if you look past the political pages on the vaccinations, you'll see what you were expecting never was very likely.

The CDC game plan:

https://www.cdc.gov › vaccinesPDF

COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook - CDC

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/01/952716705/some-health-care-workers-are-hesitant-about-getting-covid-19-vaccines

Looks like they have a plan. When your vaccine is hard to handle, hard to store, must be monitored constantly, must be documented at each step, must be administered by trained technicians who, due to a surge in virus cases are busy treating people, sometimes the game plan is applied the best way possible.

It's easy to criticise but it's probably a whole lot harder to oversee the ditribution of 600 million doses of vaccine. Lincoln Riley always has a great opening drive game plan. After that, they try to stick with it but adjustments must always be made.

When anywhere from 30 -60% of health care workers are hesitant to get vaccinated along with large numbers of elderly, it throws a huge wrench in your game plan.

Mitch Romney is a good guy but he's not God and if you look past the political pages on the vaccinations, you'll see what you were expecting never was very likely.

The CDC game plan:

https://www.cdc.gov › vaccinesPDF

COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook - CDC
What about Mitt Romney?

Looks like they have a plan.

They have missed their own stated goal by almost 90%.

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/01/952716705/some-health-care-workers-are-hesitant-about-getting-covid-19-vaccines

Looks like they have a plan. When your vaccine is hard to handle, hard to store, must be monitored constantly, must be documented at each step, must be administered by trained technicians who, due to a surge in virus cases are busy treating people, sometimes the game plan is applied the best way possible.

It's easy to criticise but it's probably a whole lot harder to oversee the ditribution of 600 million doses of vaccine. Lincoln Riley always has a great opening drive game plan. After that, they try to stick with it but adjustments must always be made.

When anywhere from 30 -60% of health care workers are hesitant to get vaccinated along with large numbers of elderly, it throws a huge wrench in your game plan.

Mitch Romney is a good guy but he's not God and if you look past the political pages on the vaccinations, you'll see what you were expecting never was very likely.

The CDC game plan:

https://www.cdc.gov › vaccinesPDF

COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook - CDC

It's polled for months that huge numbers of people are resistant to getting vaccinated. Another huge segment can't wait. When you don't include reality in your plan you don't have a plan.

Here's data and an interactive map tracking vaccine distribution. I don't think it's been posted yet:

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States​ (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations)

Currently for Oklahoma, it says we've been given 180,750 doses, and administered 58,823.

Anecdote of a friend in Texas. He drove his wife in to get hers (healthcare worker) and they gave him one as well as they said they had some expiring. I find that scary they have some expiring.... If they opened this up for sign ups of anyone over 65 I am betting they could get those 130k done in a week.

After taking the vaccine out of super cold storage, there is a short time frame to inject. Then it's no good. When my daughter got her injection, the other workers were real busy and almost missed the time limit

After taking the vaccine out of super cold storage, there is a short time frame to inject. Then it's no good. When my daughter got her injection, the other workers were real busy and almost missed the time limit

The Pfizer vaccine lasts 5 days in a normal refrigerator after it comes out of super cold storage. It gets diluted for shots and last up to 2 hours after dilution.

8,017 new cases today; it had previously been reported that today would include both 1/2 and 1/3.

That means the 5,119 reported yesterday actually was for 1/1, a single-day record by a large margin.

In any event, the 7-day rolling average is now 3,562, an all-time high.

20 additional deaths; the 7-day rolling average is 25.3 just below the previous all-time high.


As predicted all the way along, things seem to be ramping up due to the holidays and I fear the worst is still to come.

It's going to get worse in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully after the surge we can turn the corner and start to see a decrease.


https://oklahoman.com/article/5679407/substantial-surge-of-covid-19-expected-to-challenge-oklahomas-response

“Most of us believe that in 10 days to 14 days we’re going to see a substantial surge in the number of cases in Oklahoma that get reported,” he said. “Ten percent to 12 percent of those people are going to end up in a hospital, so we’re going to be really challenged in the next few weeks.”

Are those with comorbidities, immune system disorders, etc able to receive the vaccine yet?

I work in a retail HQ with around 300 employees, our HR emailed late last week that some in the company had already received the vaccine, and I was scratching my head wondering how that was happening, only thing that came to mind was maybe it's those in the high risk that are able to get vaccinated...?

It's going to get worse in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully after the surge we can turn the corner and start to see a decrease.


https://oklahoman.com/article/5679407/substantial-surge-of-covid-19-expected-to-challenge-oklahomas-response

“Most of us believe that in 10 days to 14 days we’re going to see a substantial surge in the number of cases in Oklahoma that get reported,” he said. “Ten percent to 12 percent of those people are going to end up in a hospital, so we’re going to be really challenged in the next few weeks.”

The only thing that will make this better is effective vaccine distribution and administration. We cannot trust our fellow citizens to take the necessary precautions—it’s a massive societal failure. Restaurants are full, bars packed, and people decided to gather for the holidays, despite CDC guidance. As a society, we’ve decided severe illness and death is acceptable as long as we get to eat brunch with our friends.

^

This total lack of regard for others is particularly bad here for political reasons.

Just today our president, whose lead is strongly followed by our governor and the majority of Oklahomans, tweeted something ridiculous about the Covid deaths being largely exaggerated. Very quickly people who actually deal with this as their job totally rebuked him. It's unbelievable this is still happening at the highest level of government while thousands of Americans are dying and lying in hospital beds.

But of course, the fools who listen to him will continue to follow his example and repeat his lies as facts and demonstrate this craziness through their actions.


Remember after 9/11 when travel was severely curtailed and many travel-related businesses were ruined? There was not a peep of dissent due to leadership getting people to rally around the policies for the greater good.

I absolutely reject this lack of recent compliance is due to the individualistic nature of our culture; it's 100% down to politicians lying to deflect blame and protect their own base of power. 100%.