Posted in the general COVID thread several months back that I'd basically resigned myself to the fact that I'd have to drive down to the DFW Metroplex if I wanted to get the vaccine at the earliest time that it's being distributed to the general public, as I had zero confidence that Oklahoma was going to be prepared to distribute it efficiently. Will gladly eat my words on that as I now have an appointment at Mercy on Wednesday Afternoon to get my first dose. Congrats to everyone involved with the rollout here on an extremely efficient process.

The Chickasaw Nation made the vaccine available to educators, including higher education, which Texas has not yet done. My county in Texas was included. I drove up to Tishomingo and got my 1st shot of the Moderna Vaccine today. Very grateful to the Chickasaw Nation and working on how I might pay the favor back.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Starting Tuesday, the state will expand its COVID-19 vaccine access to another 2.5 million Oklahomans, including those who work in critical infrastructure jobs, as well as college students, faculty and staff.

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/this-is-big-oklahoma-expands-vaccinations-to-additional-2-5-million-residents/article_fa907840-8062-11eb-bbac-7b795f9cc985.html#utm_source=stwnewspress.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnews%2Fthis-is-big-oklahoma-expands-vaccinations-to-additional-2-5-million-residents%2Farticle-fa907840-8062-11eb-bbac-7b795f9cc985.html%3Fmode%3Demail%26-dc%3D1615245122&utm_medium=auto%20alert%20email&utm_content=read%20more

Just curious, like Friday they were saying by April for phase 3 then the sudden announcement today. Did we get more vaccine then expected or what prompted the shift. Do we know. I’m excited that it happened. Basically practically anyone can get it. And there seems to be many available appointments within 7 days. Might not be able to get it same or next day, but if you look you can probably schedule within 7 days without going out of your way.
I’m glad Oklahoma did something right and hope the negative people can actually give credit to Oklahoma for once.

Just curious, like Friday they were saying by April for phase 3 then the sudden announcement today. Did we get more vaccine then expected or what prompted the shift. Do we know. I’m excited that it happened. Basically practically anyone can get it. And there seems to be many available appointments within 7 days. Might not be able to get it same or next day, but if you look you can probably schedule within 7 days without going out of your way.
I’m glad Oklahoma did something right and hope the negative people can actually give credit to Oklahoma for once.

I'm just speculating, but I think it's probably a combination of two things:

1) The state is probably starting to run into issues with supply outstripping demand. There's over 5,000 open appointments on vaccine-alerts.com right now. Anecdotally, I have a friend in Phase Two who went to an OSDH-run site in Seminole to get vaccinated over the weekend, who said they made no effort to verify that she actually had the comorbidity that made her eligible.

2) The people who are in charge of the vaccination program here seem to be prioritizing getting as many shots into arms as quickly as possible, without as much concern for getting things done in a perfect order from highest risk to lowest risk.

I'm just speculating, but I think it's probably a combination of two things:

1) The state is probably starting to run into issues with supply outstripping demand. There's over 5,000 open appointments on vaccine-alerts.com right now. Anecdotally, I have a friend in Phase Two who went to an OSDH-run site in Seminole to get vaccinated over the weekend, who said they made no effort to verify that she actually had the comorbidity that made her eligible.

2) The people who are in charge of the vaccination program here seem to be prioritizing getting as many shots into arms as quickly as possible, without as much concern for getting things done in a perfect order from highest risk to lowest risk.
Both of those sound right.

I'm in Phase 3, but haven't received an email yet. Weren't they supposed to go out this morning?

If you don't get an email, just use https://vaccine-alerts.com/ and try to find a Walmart or pharmacy location. My wife went this morning and they didn't even ask any questions about qualifications.

If you don't get an email, just use https://vaccine-alerts.com/ and try to find a Walmart or pharmacy location. My wife went this morning and they didn't even ask any questions about qualifications.

I checked this morning. Walmarts in newcastle and anadarko had tons of spots open. link to walmart. just change locations https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302

^^^^ I must be as dumb as a box of rocks, but I can't figure out how to find out which has spots open.

^^^^ I must be as dumb as a box of rocks, but I can't figure out how to find out which has spots open.
Sign up on vaccine-alerts.com and they will notify you!

Sign up on vaccine-alerts.com and they will notify you!
I mean damn! How many times do you have to share this before people read it?

For those who signed up through the portal, did you receive an email when your window opened for the 2nd shot?

Bunch of open spots at OCCC on Thursday right now. J&J and Moderna (the sign-up site lets you choose which one you want). https://www.vaxokc.com/

I just switched to Mercy for tomorrow morning and canceled my Shawnee. Getting the Pfizer now

Bunch of open spots at OCCC on Thursday right now. J&J and Moderna (the sign-up site lets you choose which one you want). https://www.vaxokc.com/

Got a friend signed up because of your post. Thank you! I'm so excited and optimistic with everyone getting vaccinated.

There's no need to be rude and ugly to me. That's uncalled for.

For those who signed up through the portal, did you receive an email when your window opened for the 2nd shot?

Second shot was scheduled as I left the first shot.

There's no need to be rude and ugly to me. That's uncalled for.
I'm never for anyone being rude. But a few of us have posted numerous times that if you register on vaccine-alerts.com your days of searching are over. Appointment openings get sent to you for you to chose from. Easy peasy! No more searching!

Bunch of open spots at OCCC on Thursday right now. J&J and Moderna (the sign-up site lets you choose which one you want). https://www.vaxokc.com/

thanks for that... got my email earlier today and so i signed up using your link after not finding anything on vaccinate.oklahoma.gov. i opted for the j&j since it's a single dose.

I'm never for anyone being rude. But a few of us have posted numerous times that if you register on vaccine-alerts.com your days of searching are over. Appointment openings get sent to you for you to chose from. Easy peasy! No more searching!
It wasn’t rudeness, it was exasperation. Bill has posted that link numerous times in this very thread.

With this J&J vaccine, lots of people in later groups will be fully immunized before people in earlier groups since they have to wait almost a month for a 2nd shot and the J&J people get it all at once.

Things are starting to look really good for this summer starting to regain some real normalcy.

For those who signed up through the portal, did you receive an email when your window opened for the 2nd shot?

My husband did not get an alert for the second shot and his second shot was not scheduled at the time of the first shot. We had to go through the state portal to get an appointment for the second dose. We did the first in Red Rock and the second in Clinton about 30 days apart. A friend of ours did have the second appointment made at the time of the first shot and he received an email reminder.

I got the sign up link tonight, found an appointment in Blackwell tomorrow.

Vaccine-Alerts is good, but isn't necessarily correct. It's pretty close though. I noticed the walmart/sam's wasn't always accurate as walmart/sam's showed you could schedule an appointment, but once you click, it says no vaccines are left.

The signup link worked well. Getting the Pfizer.

I got the sign up link tonight, found an appointment in Blackwell tomorrow.

Vaccine-Alerts is good, but isn't necessarily correct. It's pretty close though. I noticed the walmart/sam's wasn't always accurate as walmart/sam's showed you could schedule an appointment, but once you click, it says no vaccines are left.

The signup link worked well. Getting the Pfizer.On vaccine-alerts.com you definitely have to watch for openings and jump on them. The inaccuracy you see is just not getting on an opening faster than other people. When I got our appointments I did go through a few "appointments available" texts that by the time I got on them they were gone. I can't believe how many want to ignore or put down an easy way to get appointments.

For my first dose they said to ignore the email about booking the second appointment and just show up at the exact time 4 weeks later for the second dose. This was through the OSDH portal. Got a neato card though

With this J&J vaccine, lots of people in later groups will be fully immunized before people in earlier groups since they have to wait almost a month for a 2nd shot and the J&J people get it all at once.

Things are starting to look really good for this summer starting to regain some real normalcy.

Yes, things are looking really great! It's so exciting. I wished I could have got J&J for this very reason. Having said that, 2-3 weeks after your first Moderna or Pfizer vaccine you are pretty much vaccinated, right? I plan to do more research soon, but this is why many advocated for delaying second shot to get more people that first level of vaccination.

Anybody else think that they should go ahead and open up phase 4 at this point? Relatively speaking, there are quite a bit fewer people in the group at this point. Why not go ahead and open it to everyone since the older folks have all had the opportunity?

I got my first vaccine shot Monday using the Walgreen's app and it was incredibly easy. I booked on Friday for Monday and they had plenty of appointment slots. I live and work downtown and I got my vaccine at the 44th and S Shields store. I also made the appointment for my second shot at the same time. When I arrived they had all of my paperwork waiting for me. I filled out the forms and I got my shot all within 10 minutes. I waited the 15 minutes to make sure I had no reaction and then I was free to go. I highly recommend .

Yes, things are looking really great! It's so exciting. I wished I could have got J&J for this very reason. Having said that, 2-3 weeks after your first Moderna or Pfizer vaccine you are pretty much vaccinated, right? I plan to do more research soon, but this is why many advocated for delaying second shot to get more people that first level of vaccination.

You are not considered to have a high level of immunity until 2 weeks after your second dose.

I've had my first and am still being very careful as I don't want to slip up after all this time, being so close to the 2nd shot.

Yes, things are looking really great! It's so exciting. I wished I could have got J&J for this very reason. Having said that, 2-3 weeks after your first Moderna or Pfizer vaccine you are pretty much vaccinated, right? I plan to do more research soon, but this is why many advocated for delaying second shot to get more people that first level of vaccination.

Supposedly from Israel you are 50 to 80% effective after 15 to 20 says of one dose. I am living my life exactly the same for the full 21 days plus 2 weeks then I'll start opening up a bit more.

Can't wait to eat at a restaurant.

I really want to give credit to OCCHD. I went to their Midwest City Vaccination site today to get my first.
I was in an out in about 30 minutes (with the 15 minute wait). Had people guide me and even schedule my second shot at the same location at the same time at the end of the month.

It was honestly the smoothest medical thing I have ever done.

^
Almost everyone I've heard say anything about any vaccination site in Oklahoma says they've really been organized. Something to be very happy about.

My wife got her second Pfizer booster at Oakwood Mall in Enid last week. It was a total of three minutes to walk into the room, scan the QR code, walk to the table and get the shot. Fifteen minutes later were out the door.

Impressive. A total of 18 minutes in and out the door.

I feel like we are doing well but I wonder how we get above using 75% of our doses administered? Some states are nearing 90%

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/28/960901166/how-is-the-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-going-in-your-state

I really want to give credit to OCCHD. I went to their Midwest City Vaccination site today to get my first.
I was in an out in about 30 minutes (with the 15 minute wait). Had people guide me and even schedule my second shot at the same location at the same time at the end of the month.

It was honestly the smoothest medical thing I have ever done.

Three coworkers got theirs this morning at the Reed Center this morning. They all said the same thing. Oklahoma is doing a fantastic job. Several friends and family elsewhere are amazed we are in the phase we're at.

We just hit 20% of the population having at least one dose and at 12% fully vaccinated. I expect that number to increase exponentially in April with the J&J vaccine being single dose. The pod at OCCC scheduled for this Thursday saw the J&J vax signup go quicker than the Moderna one. Both are completely full now.

I really want to give credit to OCCHD. I went to their Midwest City Vaccination site today to get my first.
I was in an out in about 30 minutes (with the 15 minute wait). Had people guide me and even schedule my second shot at the same location at the same time at the end of the month.

It was honestly the smoothest medical thing I have ever done.

Fantastic. My wife and I have appointments there later this afternoon.

You are not considered to have a high level of immunity until 2 weeks after your second dose.

I've had my first and am still being very careful as I don't want to slip up after all this time, being so close to the 2nd shot.

I’ll do some more research, but I’m pretty sure this is not correct. Some epidemiologists and countries argued for delaying second shots specifically because first shots resulted in strong protection. However, there’s certainly no harm in maintaining caution longer.


Supposedly from Israel you are 50 to 80% effective after 15 to 20 says of one dose. I am living my life exactly the same for the full 21 days plus 2 weeks then I'll start opening up a bit more.

And remember that 50-80% effective means that in the worst case you’d get a mild case. I believe hospitalization and death would still effectively be zero.

The first dose efficacies are higher than I thought, particularly for Moderna.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/moderna1.jpg

The first dose efficacies are higher than I thought, particularly for Moderna.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/moderna1.jpg

Interesting. So my Pfizer is good to go a week after the second dose but the Moderna is two weeks to get to that number. Interesting to see the difference.

^

And with Pfizer, you can get the 2nd dose a full week sooner than Moderna, so from first shot to full immunization is two weeks sooner with Pfizer.

Just got my first jab. Super easy. Very well organized.

The feeling is indescribable compared to where we were a year ago. I just need my wife to get one.

The first dose efficacies are higher than I thought, particularly for Moderna.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/moderna1.jpg

While both were similar in the general population after 2 shots, the initial trail data showed Pfizer was more effective in older people than Moderna. It held up in the mid 90% for Pfizer but was the 86.4% for Moderna on 65+ age group. I assume that could all change with a larger sampling group. I got Moderna. Second shot is Friday. If I had a choice at the time, I would have picked Pfizer for that reason. But I am absolutely thrilled to have what I have and that we have three extremely effective vaccines going in people's arms.

That is behind a paywall on this article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/comparison-of-covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccines/

I’ll do some more research, but I’m pretty sure this is not correct. Some epidemiologists and countries argued for delaying second shots specifically because first shots resulted in strong protection. However, there’s certainly no harm in maintaining caution longer.

And remember that 50-80% effective means that in the worst case you’d get a mild case. I believe hospitalization and death would still effectively be zero.

The time between shots when you have partial immunity is also when the virus can build resistance to the vaccine with escape mutants so just like you should always finish a full course of antibiotics, you should make sure to get fully vaccinated on schedule.

Keep in mind also that we’ll likely be getting a variant-related booster shot sometime in the fall/winter, so the most important thing right now is to get a vaccine, any vaccine. But at the same time, if you do have a preference between the three, at this point it seems fairly easy to pick which one you want.

Side Note: Got my first dose this afternoon at an OCCHD-run clinic (Mercy Hospital at Memorial/Meridian) and I’m in full agreement that things are being run incredibly efficiently. I was in and out in 20-25 minutes, of which 15 of those was the waiting period after the shot to make sure there are no major side effects.

I'll admit I got a little emotional getting the vaccine. It has been a long year.

A ton of Pfizer vaccines available at Mercy all day Saturday through OCCHD: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050e4babaf2ba4ff2-1stdose16

The first dose efficacies are higher than I thought, particularly for Moderna.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/moderna1.jpg

Thanks for pulling this, Pete. Yeah, so you're pretty well protected 3-4 weeks after the first dose. It's still an important time to be cautious, of course.


^

And with Pfizer, you can get the 2nd dose a full week sooner than Moderna, so from first shot to full immunization is two weeks sooner with Pfizer.

Ugh. My wife got Pfizer a few days before I got Moderna, but I'm going to end up weeks behind her in the end. ;) While "get the first vaccine offered to you" is absolutely correct, you might be vaccinated more quickly by holding out for Johnson & Johnson. haha.

I'm just very thankful we have all these vaccines.

It really seems like everyone I know has been getting vaccinated in the last week or so, with anyone who wants an appointment able to find one with a little effort. Such great news. I really wonder if we're dealing with (relatively) depressed demand compared to other places?

Pfizer Covid vaccine blocks 94% of asymptomatic infections and 97% of symptomatic cases in Israeli study (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/11/pfizer-covid-vaccine-blocks-94percent-of-asymptomatic-infections-and-97percent-of-symptomatic-cases-in-israeli-study.html)

Amazing.

These mRNA vaccines could have a revolutionary effect that goes well beyond Covid-19.

It really seems like everyone I know has been getting vaccinated in the last week or so, with anyone who wants an appointment able to find one with a little effort. Such great news. I really wonder if we're dealing with (relatively) depressed demand compared to other places?

I have a bad feeling we’re going to be one of the first states to get 50% of our population vaccinated but one of the last states to get 75% of our population vaccinated.

And yes, appointments are essentially wide open at this point. I brought three different documents to mine yesterday to prove my residency and Phase Three eligibility, and no one checked any of them.

Has anyone had their eligibility checked when getting their shot, other than the scheduling through the state which was basically the honor system already? I know I didn't.

They checked my ID when I got mine, but outside of that and clicking the "I'm Phase 3" button when signing up there was nothing. But if appointments are mostly easily available then I'm not sure its really a concern.

ID is all I've heard of any site checking. At this point if appointments are getting easy to get I don't think it matters much anyway.

i was vaccinated at occc today. the process took around an hour but they were processing hundreds just while i was there. i'd say that there were around 30 stations in the student union dining room dedicated to administering shots. as others have reported, the process was very well-organized.

^^^^^ I just got home from OCCC.

I'm glad to receive the first vaccine. But there were so many people there. From the time I walked in the door until I walked out the door was 1 hour and 35 minutes. Lots of time spent waiting in line.

^^^^^ I just got home from OCCC.

I'm glad to receive the first vaccine. But there were so many people there. From the time I walked in the door until I walked out the door was 1 hour and 35 minutes. Lots of time spent waiting in line.

yeah... the wait definitely seemed longer than what other people experienced... but i wonder if those locations were processing the same volume of people. if i had any criticism of the occc operation it is that they didn't enforce any kind of distancing in that long line.

I didn’t think much about this until somebody else mentioned the same at work today.

Did any of you guys notice a funny taste in your mouth shortly after the shot? I noticed an almost metallic taste when walking back to the car.

I didn’t think much about this until somebody else mentioned the same at work today.

Did any of you guys notice a funny taste in your mouth shortly after the shot? I noticed an almost metallic taste when walking back to the car.

i had the j&j and didn't experience anything like that. around 10-15 minutes after i left the site (around 30 minutes after the shot) i felt a bit of a tingling sensation on the injected arm and that side of my face. that subsided within 5-10 minutes. i currently have the slightest bit of tightness in the injected arm... but it is so mild that i probably wouldn't notice it if i wasn't looking for something. who knows... tomorrow might be a different story.

I didn’t think much about this until somebody else mentioned the same at work today.

Did any of you guys notice a funny taste in your mouth shortly after the shot? I noticed an almost metallic taste when walking back to the car.

I received the first dose of Pfizer and didn't notice anything like that. I had a bit of soreness and swelling at the injection site (still do a bit, a day and a half later), but nothing else.