Heads Up Regarding Booster Shots

[dave57]

Just a heads up everyone that the so called "BOOSTER SHOTS" are NOT being given down at the McDonald's in Phelan.
Today is supposed to be the day they would be available so I went through all the motions, scheduled my appointment online, printed the paperwork up, took off work, waited in line coming and going due to the Cal-Trans work on Highway 2 and arrived at the McDonald's for my appointment 15 minutes early.
Noticed that 6 "nurses" or attendants plus a security guard were standing under the EASY UPS doing nothing.  Thought, "hey this is going to be easy".  WRONG.

I was told that "San Bernardino County HAS NOT APPROVED THE BOOSTER SHOTS" and I was not able to get my booster as scheduled through the San Bernardino County website.

To say the least, it was a pain in the ass for nothing.

Just don't waste your time.  Our Gov't and system is a total fiasco.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Dave

[lynnc]

My husband and I received our booster shots at Rite Aid on Sept 4, 2021.  Did you check with them?  It was super easy.  The hardest part was filling out the paperwork online!

[ForestGal]

I have several friends who have gotten their boosters at Rite Aid in Phelan, with no hassles.  I need to schedule mine. 

[sagespirit]

Dave, according to what I'm reading, and what is in the news, booster shots were not officially approved until today, even though some people, specifically those considered immunocompromised, have already rec'd boosters at private providers, mostly.
I know you were frustrated by your experience, but don't blame the gov't or SB County. Glitches happen and even at the SB County website it says the boosters, and only the Pf boosters, were approved today. SB County has done an incredible job immunizing residents. AND all this is for free.
I don't think the scheduling websites for the boosters are up to date at the moment, but Rite-Aid in Phelan says it accepts walk-in's. And, I will check back re: scheduling since there appears to be some confusion re: the boosters
I'm w/Kaiser but is costs much more in gas to go to a Kaiser facility than it does to go to Phelan, and I rec'd my initial vaccinations in Hesperia. We are so lucky to have both the vaccine and access. Gratitude is the name of the game. Thanks to the others who posted who confirmed Rite Aid is a viable choice.

[lwt42]

I don't think the scheduling websites for the boosters are up to date at the moment, but Rite-Aid in Phelan says it accepts walk-in's. And, I will check back re: scheduling since there appears to be some confusion re: the boosters
I'm w/Kaiser but is costs much more in gas to go to a Kaiser facility than it does to go to Phelan, and I rec'd my initial vaccinations in Hesperia. We are so lucky to have both the vaccine and access. Gratitude is the name of the game. Thanks to the others who posted who confirmed Rite Aid is a viable choice.

One of the huge problems with how the vaccine program works is that there is an incredible number of moving parts.

It's going to take time for the decisions at the federal level to work their way down to the McDonald's level.

As I understand the latest I saw today, if you got a Pfizer vaccine, you'll get a Pfizer booster.  Moderna or Janssen/J&J recipients will have to wait a while.

Kaiser is giving vaccines to non-Kaiser patients, and doesn't care where you get jabbed, as long as it happens.  I try to have a plan to do several different errands when I leave the mountain whenever possible.

[sagespirit]

Just want to say thank you, thank you, for this thread. I continued to research and follow-up re: the Covid-19 booster, and went back to the SB County update/bulletin I receive weekly. I now have a confirmed appt for same at Rite-Aid in Phelan tomorrow morning. Amazing!! Thank you to LynnC who points me in the right direction via these matters, and to everyone else who shared info.

[lynnc]

The best thing about the forum is the community that shares with each.  Once again, thank you John and Cindy for this forum.  Lynn Crawford

[Wrightwood]

Walgreens in Hesperia offers the booster shots

[Wrightwood]

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between vaccinations. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.

[lynnc]

Do not get the flu shot and the booster at the same time.  Rite Aid suggested it so we did.  We were not sick with the first two shots, but the third one in combo with the flu shot gave us both fevers and chills.  Kaiser recommends two weeks between the booster and the flu shot.

[ForestGal]

I want to get the booster shot (I hate shots, but the Covid shots aren't bad).  I have never had a flu shot in my life, and probably never will. I seem to have a very strong immune system, I haven't even had a cold in a zillion years.  Knock on wood!  I'll schedule at Rite Aid for my booster.  (I worked in hospitals for 38 years, so I wonder if some of my immunity comes from that.)

[Nolena]

I decided to wait a bit, after my booster, before getting my flu shot. I didn't want to take a chance on getting too many vaccinations at once, as I was about to leave for a vacation. Now that I'm home, I'll probably get it today at Rite Aid. This is an important time to keep up on shots. Then, 3 days before departure, I got a Covid test (negative), printed out the results, and carried it with me, along with my vaccination card and copies of it.

[sagespirit]

I'm no lover of needles. But, for those of us who remember when needle gauge was much larger than the needles used for these shots, they are a breeze. The needles used are so thin it's hard to know the shot is even happening.
All went well at Rite-Aid on Sat. and I had almost no reaction to the Booster.
Lynn and others, I have also read info by many medical sources that it is "fine" to get the flu shot and booster at the same time. While the choice is individual I agree it is not advisable. I did not want to overwhelm my body with "mixed messages," and down time, so to speak. I want to respect my body. It's fighting hard to keep me safe. Each Covid-19 vac shot has had different effects on my body. I get annual flu vaccinations and am very grateful for their availability now that the vaccine is not preserved witih sulfites, which I'm allergic to. I'll get mine in a week or two, once my body has time to build it's defenses back up re: Covid. Yes, it is the community sharing here that is helping keep those of us who choose to be as safe as possible, safe. Thank you all.

[lwt42]

Vaccinated against Pneumonia today -- it HURTS.

The COVID vaccine was nothing in comparison.

[ForestGal]

Got my Covid booster at Rite Aid in Phelan this morning, so easy!  I confirmed an appointment yesterday, filled the forms out online, and everything was ready for me when I got there.  I was early, so they took me early.  A friend went with me, she got her flu shot, and then we had a yummy lunch at Red Mango.  What could have been drudgery turned into a fun afternoon!   

[Nolena]

No problem with the Covid booster. No reaction. But the flu shot has made my arm pretty achy and a little swollen. Glad I got it, though. I don't need to get the flu.