COVID-19 vaccines already hard to find
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
When Monessen resident Emory Terensky tried to get a COVID-19 vaccine this week, he was left with more questions, unanswered phone calls and no shot.
Terensky, a 70-year-old Vietnam veteran, has several underlying health conditions. Along with his age, that puts him in the first round of those eligible to receive the vaccine under an expanded order from the state this week. Instead, he is left frustrated by the entire process.
On Tuesday, the state Department of Health released a revised plan that increased the number of eligible recipients in Phase 1A, which originally only included health care workers, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, therapists, emergency medical personnel pharmacy technicians and others in healthcare.
The new list includes people who are 65 and older and anyone between the ages of 16 to 64 who has certain underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus.
The expansion means that about 3.5 million people are now eligible to receive one of the two approved vaccines.
Terensky said he has faced continuous road blocks trying to find answers and instructions on how to protect himself against the virus.
The first hurdle he said, is a lack of communication.
“I am a senior citizen and I am computer illiterate by choice,” he said. “I refuse to buy another phone or gadget to be able to find the information I need.
“It’s ridiculous that senior citizens have to get their grandkids to show them what to do to get this vaccine because no one will give you a phone number to call, and if you get it, no one will answer.”
Terensky said he started by calling the Department of Health earlier this week.
“I called one minute after 8 a.m. and I was number 83 and put on hold,” he said. “Just nonsense.”
When he got through to speak with someone for instruction on how to get his vaccination, he received little help.
“There is no plan, no organization,” he said. “When you are told someone has the vaccine, they don’t return your phone call or have already run out.
“I will play this game, I know there isn’t enough vaccines to go around right now, but our government has screwed this up. I was a medic in Vietnam, it took me half an hour to learn how to give a shot, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to run these things.”
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