Overcoming

Today is the day we honor the memory of Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr. He was actually born on the 15^th of January in 1929, but like a number of other United States holidays that have been shifted to Mondays, the annual celebration is observed on the 3^rd Monday of January each year. This shift followed the enactment of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (28 June 1968), which permanently moved Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day to Mondays and made Columbus Day (also permanently on a Monday) a federal holiday. The day to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4^th, 1968. The holiday was first signed into law in 1983, and first observed in 1986. Following resistance in some states, it was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000. Sadly, this year, the focus on this holiday has been eclipsed by so many current events, but it is still worth taking just a moment to recognize the accomplishments of this man whose life was taken far too soon – before he even reached his 40^th birthday.

I wanted to take a moment to recognize Dr. King because I admit I have been a bit obsessed with the trials and tribulations of the rollout of the COVID vaccine. Since the announcements of last week, I had been puzzled by the fact that my appointments for the two doses of the Coronavirus vaccine had not been deleted from my patient portal at Mount Sinai Hospital. Yesterday I received the following e-mail:

 

 

 

Mount Sinai Vaccine Appointment

 

You are receiving this email because you are scheduled for a vaccine appointment at Mount Sinai. We are writing to alert you that the supply of COVID-19 vaccines has been changing and that we have had to cancel some patient appointments for vaccination. We are keeping your appointment on the schedule at this time, and will confirm it with you 24 to 48 hours in advance, when we have confirmed the vaccine supply. Please do not call the hospital or your doctor’s office about COVID-19 vaccination at this time.   For more information, please visit our website. It may also be in your best interest to find other vaccination options through the New York State and  New York City COVID-19 vaccine sites. If you are able to make an appointment that way, please cancel your Mount Sinai appointment using MyChart or Zocdoc.   Please note that New York State is now requiring proof of residency or employment in the state in order to be vaccinated. For more details on the document requirements, click here. If you are not eligible for vaccination in New York State, please cancel your appointment with us as we are required to follow these rules.    We are disappointed that supply fluctuations have made the vaccination process so uncertain. We know how important it is to you to be vaccinated. We are committed to providing this important service to you as soon as we possibly can.

 

Taking the suggestion that “it may also be in your best interest to find other vaccination options through the  New York City COVID-19 vaccine site” to heart, I thought I would try looking at local availability of vaccines. The one closest to us is at Montefiore Marble Hill Family Practice. After asking for basic demographic information, they ask a question about “occupation.” The final category is “age 75 and over.” Clearly, they have not updated the site, since the “senior” category is now 65 and over. So, I told a little white lie and checked that box. Then I hit “Submit” and quickly saw:

 

 The maximum number of people have already responded to this form.

 

Next, I tried the second suggestion on the list, a local Rite Aid store. Although it said that my wait time would be 17 minutes, it also said:

 

There are currently no appointments available. Please check back tomorrow as we continue to add availability.

Given this situation, it should come as no surprise that fake vaccines are now becoming increasingly available over the internet. This video from the Wall Street Journal is important and frightening.

Fake COVID-19 Vaccines

So, meanwhile I am waiting as patiently as I can. What more can we do? I just hope we will do a better job of overcoming racial strife than we have done managing the COVID pandemic.

Love,                                                           

Rebecca