How N.J. screwed up its plan to make scheduling a COVID vaccine easier
Updated Jan 30, 2021;
Posted Jan 30, 2021
After receiving the vaccine at the Rowan Medicine COVID-19 Vaccination Center, patients are seated in the spaced-out chairs for 15 minutes to be monitored for any possible reaction Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. The clinic is at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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When state officials launched the statewide COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system Jan. 5, it sounded promising. Register with some basic information and when you become eligible you’ll be notified and sent a link to the state’s dashboard where you can make an appointment.
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What do you do when your COVID-19 vaccine clinic is 20 minutes from closing, only six people showed up for the day s last appointment, and you just opened a 10-dose Moderna vial?
Reports suggest that many clinics dump their leftover doses in the trash.
But some facilities have found solutions to minimize vaccine waste. Relying on constant communication, flexible planning, and a focused workforce including diligent volunteers, they said they have found takers for nearly all the thousands of doses they have prepared since vaccinations began last month. So far this has been not a hard problem to solve, said Dora Anne Mills, MD, who is coordinating the 11-hospital MaineHealth system s vaccination sites. It s really about planning and keeping an eye on things.
| Credit: Danielle Weitzer
I lived as Daniel until I became too miserable living that lie. But around my sophomore year of college. I couldn t hide behind that fake identity any longer. Becoming Dee
I started being me: dressing up, wearing high heels, painting my nails, growing my hair out. I wore jewelry, and I began exploring makeup. Sure enough, the bullying started again the same stares and the same questions challenging my identity. I felt it every time. And every time, it was painful and embarrassing. I decided to go back to the fake me until medical school.
I interviewed for medical school as Daniel because I didn t want to legally misrepresent myself during the application process, since my ID still had an M on it. But once I got in, I said to myself,
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When the pandemic suddenly rearranged educational programs at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine last March, many students were eager to get into clinics or elsewhere in the community to help fight COVID-19. Alas, like most students, they were pushed to stay home largely for their own safety.
But when Rowan students were offered an opportunity to assist their south New Jersey community in late November, many jumped at the chance. Now dozens are helping co-run a COVID-19 vaccination site, along with the state s department of health.
Rowan is among a handful of schools whose medical and other qualified students are assisting COVID vaccination sites nationwide. With the lack of manpower being one reason for the slow vaccine rollout thus far, administrators cite their help as invaluable. Some students, in turn, feel the same way about the experience they are gaining.
Send Dr. Brookshield Laurent, chair of clinical medicine at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University, has been named to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Board of Directors.
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