 |
| Bill gets his first COVID vaccination shot this morning |
Bill got his first COVID vaccination shot this morning.
I have both of my shots. I got them through the VA. I couldn't get Bill's vaccination shots through the VA because they said he wasn't eligible because he's on home hospice care. Does that make sense? Doesn't to me. But I can't complain too much about the VA because they are taking good care of Bill (covering all the costs) since his two strokes in January. I am SO THANKFUL for that. And they have been so cooperative when the occasional bill does find it was to Casa Tipton-Kelly. You know how it is once you have a medical event and trigger that avalanche of medical bills.
Here in Delaware we now have a surplus of COVID vaccinations so I thought I would give it a try and see if I could arrange for Bill to get his vaccinations outside the VA system. A few weeks ago I went on the Walgreen's website and signed Bill up for an appointment. This morning at 10:45 AM was his first appointment for the Pfizer COVID vaccination. Wouldn't you know it I forgot to bring identification for Bill. I have his wallet and all ID's locked up in my safe, they're not safe with Bill. He already lost his wallet at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia when he was airlifted there after his second stroke. He had no idea where his clothes were. Fortunately I was able to track them down (they were left in a bag in his ICU room) and my friend Don McK., who lives in Center City Philadelphia, went over and picked them up and mailed his clothes and wallet with all his identification to me. Thank you Don! That was a near miss. Now I don't let Bill have his wallet or cards. He's already lost his hearing aid (still hasn't shown up).
So there I am this morning at the Walgreen's Pharmacy window checking in Bill and the kind lady behind the plexiglass asks for Bill's identification. Of course Dumbo here FORGOT to bring it with me. No worries, the kind lady looked him up in their system (we got our flu shots a few years ago at that Walgreens when the VA sent us there because they ran out of flu serum or whatever you call the shot).
Bill was injected with the vaccination. We sat for about fifteen minutes just in case there was an adverse reaction (there wasn't)
Bill's sitting on the back deck now, enjoying this breezy, warm late spring day. The booster vaccination is scheduled from three weeks from now. Hopefully, I'll remember to bring his identification THIS TIME. My brain, I think I'm losing it.
Have a great day everyone!
8 comments:
Good Morning Ron:
I have been looking for an answer for you regarding Bill, VA, hospice, and his COVID shot.
On the surface, I understand the denial. It's a risk-benefit analysis. Hospice is a designation of individuals with less than 6 months to live. Now hospice folks are recertified all the time because they passed the 6-month mark, their health changes... So hospice can be a changing number in time of months. And I have seen patients move out of hospice as well.
I have been looking through VA documents and I can't find anything concrete yet. You know the military, they can write a 300-page document on the sun rising each day.
I suppose the VA reasoning is that doses are in short supply and one has to ration them out to others outside the hospice guidelines. But as you and I know, we have States not using up their allocations. Thus, we have folks easily going down to their local CVS/Walgreens getting jabbed.
Hope this helps.
I am happy that Bill got his shot. We know Bill, he will surprise us yet again.
Victor
XO
Yes! So happy he got to get vaccinated. Hopefully the second dose's reaction aren't bad.
So glad to hear that h got vaccinated. Keep safe as always!
Good for Bill !
Good for you too !
Hey Ron - I'll try to remind you!! BTW just want to congratulate you and let you know that I, and certainly others, know that you are doing a very difficult job as caregiver - as well as looking after the household with cooking, house work, yard work etc. And you maintain your sense of humour!
Victor,
The woman I was talking to at the VA was very firm about Bill not being eligible for his COVID vaccination shot. I don't agree but I guess that is their protocol. I can't complain too much about the VA's care of Bill, they have taken care of everything else for which I am very thankful. Especially their VACCN (VA Community Care Network) which has saved both of our lives.
Ron
Ur-spo,
One more shot for Bill and we're both fully vaccinated! What a relief!
Ron
Pat,
My caregiving ikeeping my weight down. What a way to lose weight though.
Ron
Post a Comment