Vaccine for COVID-19: County Executive favors teachers (union).

Supplies have been cut but there were massive problems already from New York State down to Westchester County with elected officials not able to plan, organize or administer. All while they're licking themselves and preening.

The Westchester County Center building in White Plains is the major location for vaccination. But for some reason, the four large tents that had been created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the spring to handle COVID patients have not been used to vaccinate. Were any patients ever treated in those tents?

The County Executive's own statement and anyone's common sense observation of those going to/from the County Center and its parking lot strongly suggest favoring teachers over citizens 65 and older.

An Update on Vaccine Availability from County Executive George Latimer

Published: 11 January 2021

We are currently in Phase 1a and Phase 1b, which is the below list. However, this is fluid. Please check the New York State eligibility application to determine eligibility and find a vaccination location.

Teachers and education workers
First responders
Public safety workers
Public transit workers
People 75 and older ...

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That list has 29 entries with teachers at the top. Who doesn't love teachers but the basic vulnerability is age. Maybe old people need a union.

Also, the County Executive was out of date on the age eligibility:

Coronavirus | Covid-19 Vaccine | White Plains Hospital

Effective, Monday, January 11, New York State has expanded the list of people eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination to Group 1B. This group includes first responders, public safety and transit workers, education workers, and individuals 65 years and older...

White Plains Hospital currently does not have the vaccine and we will update our patients via email and continue to update this website as more information becomes available.

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For a couple of days it appeared that old people were confined to a few pharmacies but even that didn't last. Email I sent to friends:

from: Ken
date: Jan 13, 2021, 6:21 PM
subject: Old people get vaccine at pharmacy.

I think I finally figured it out. Union members got the heads up and grabbed all the appointments for the next few months.

Over 65 are supposed to use a participating pharmacy, like Rite Aid. From the NY State website:

RITE AID 10547 ( 3.1 MILES )

Location :

196 EAST HARTSDALE AVENUE HARTSDALE NY 10530

How to Schedule Appointment :

Scheduling will start in next day or two please check back.

That's the closest to White Plains, which local officials let get left out.

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References to pharmacies have disappeared, at least for now.  There's always the Javits Center in Manhattan. If I must get vaccinated in a crowded place, I'll hold out for Yankee Stadium.

From: Ken
Date: Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 10:47 AM
Subject: COVID-19 vaccine distribution problem.
To: George Latimer <ce@westchestergov.com>
Cc: Thomas M. Roach <mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov>, <digital@lohud.com>, <letters@lohud.com>

The Westchester County Center building is the only place I've found in White Plains where people in the 1b group can get vaccinated. However, the fix appears to be in. I received notice from my doctor group 9:30 PM January 12. I'm guessing that favored unions with workers in 1b already had word January 11 and filled all the appointment slots for the next few months. I'm guessing that the over 65 people getting vaccinated there are also members of one of those unions. You know, like a teacher.

Also, if you're not also using those expensive fully equipped tents adjacent to the County Center building built by the Army Corps of Engineers in April, why not?

Over 65 citizens are stuck waiting for a pharmacy not in White Plains to start scheduling and hope that the early appointment slots there are not also filled.

Local municipal officials need to do their local jobs and stop running for Secretary General of the UN or Pope. Feel free to share with the Governess. The state website had technical problems.

Kenneth Matinale
White Plains, NY

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from: Ken
to: George Latimer <ce@westchestergov.com>
cc: "Thomas M. Roach" <mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov>,
news12wc@news12.com,
digital@lohud.com,
letters@lohud.com
date: Jan 14, 2021, 9:56 PM
subject: New York | Covid-19 Vaccine: more screwups.

https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/Public/providers

WESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER ( 1.1 MILES )
Location : 198 Central Avenue White Plains NY 10606

How to Schedule Appointment : Schedule your vaccine appointment

Status: Appointments Available
Last Updated: 1/14/2021 8:00PM

I checked:

Event Type: Point of Dispensing
Date: April 16, 2021
Time: 08:00 AM - 06:30 PM
Registration Deadline: April 16, 2021
Appointments Available: 0
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And that was for all intervening dates, which this moron software repeats over and over rather than have simple calendar scheduling. I used the browser search function to check. And what if someone cancels? Can we get on a backup list to fill in? Apparently that never occurred to any government system designer or programmer.

And pharmacies have disappeared. Could this be more screwed up? Please check with the Governess.

Kenneth Matinale
White Plains, NY

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