Impressive accomplishment from our new president

At noon yesterday, Joseph Biden was inaugurated as the 46^th president of the United States. One of his key promises was to improve the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Never could we have imagined that he would get to this so quickly!

We were “zooming” with friends until just before our daily reading time with Julia and Noah. While we waited between the two calls, I checked my email and saw the following:

Register your interest in getting the COVID-19 vaccination at MSK

From: MSK Engage, Mailbox

01/20/2021 at 12:45 PM

To: Rosenstein, Rebecca B

You’re receiving this message because you may be eligible to receive your COVID-19 vaccination at MSK. We would like you to complete this COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Questionnaire to provide us with some helpful information. It takes about 2 minutes to complete.

 

We knew that President Biden has made it a top priority to speed the process of vaccination, but we are deeply impressed that he got to me within his first 45 minutes of taking office!

I started to read the first book to the children while Barry quickly logged in to the MSKCC patient portal, and the result was:

 

Appointment Details

Thursday, January 21, 2021

COVID VACCINE FIRST DOSE

Confirmed

Covid Vaccine

9:30 AM

Instructions: Before your appointment, please complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form by visiting https://forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine. You will need to enter your appointment date into this form. After you complete the form you will receive a confirmation email. We'll ask you to show us that email at your appointment. You can show it to us on your phone or printed on paper. Your vaccination appointment is for you to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The specialized team of care providers in our vaccination clinic will not be able to talk with you about your cancer care. For more information about receiving your COVID-19 vaccination at MSK, visit https://www.mskcc.org/pe/pfizer_biontech or https://www.mskcc.org/pe/moderna. If you need to cancel or reschedule this appointment, please contact the office of your primary MSK doctor.

Location Details

Enid A. Haupt Pavilion

425 East 67th Street, 4th Floor, Suite 5
New York, Ny 10065 (between First And York Avenues)

 

It turns out that MSKCC was sending those notices to every patient who had been treated within the past year. My last dose of pembrolizumab was on February 12^th of last year, so I just made the cut-off.

And now, drum roll please, here I am with my official COVID-19 vaccination card:

I received the Pfizer vaccine (yeah!), so will return in 3 weeks for the second dose:

 

Appointment Details

Thursday, February 11, 2021

COVID VACCINE SECOND DOSE

8:30 AM

Instructions: If you need to cancel or reschedule this appointment, please contact your MSK Primary Physician.

Location Details

Enid A. Haupt Pavilion

425 East 67th Street, 4th Floor, Suite 5
New York, Ny 10065 (between First And York Avenues)

 

Barry, as a faculty member, recently received his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

The moral of the story is that there may sometimes be a silver lining to needing treatment at MSKCC.

Stay safe and well!

Love,                                                           

Rebecca