By Andrew Leheny
On Thursday, March 11, I was scheduled to receive my first COVID 19 vaccination. Yet despite being on-time and not having a fever, I was twice denied by an official of the pharmacy administering the vaccinations to receive the inoculation.
Here’s some background. Nearly a month earlier, on February 13, my wife Becky received the first of the two-part COVID 19 inoculation at St. Francis University in Loreto, Pa. The event was administered by the Mainline Pharmacy group. Becky fully followed the Mainline Procedure and all went smoothly.
I was to follow the same procedure for my March 11 appointment at the same location. I registered through my health care provider and was assigned an inoculation time by Mainline of 1:06 p.m also at Saint Francis. I was instructed not to arrive more than 15 minutes early; and that my shot would take approximately one minute, followed by a precautionary brief wait. The entire experience should not exceed a maximum of 30 minutes total. I anticipated no problems for my vaccination.
However, my first impression on arrival at the college was that of chaos. .Although it was raining a line extended out from the inoculation location into a parking lot. I was concerned because I only came 10 minutes early as instructed. I could clearly see how crowded it was inside, with no room for social distancing and no attempt being made to make this situation less congested.
Those outside were told to “come in out of the rain.” People crowded in as several nurses took temperatures. Apparently mine was fine and I pointed out to one nurse that I arrived as directed and was to be vaccinated within a few minutes at 1:06 p.m. The nurse said “that doesn’t matter any more.” From where I stood there was a line of at least several hundred persons ahead of me. When I continued to ask what had happened I was told a representative of Mainline Pharmacy would speak with me. I spoke with Steve Pope, the director of Sales and Marketing for Mainline. I told Mr. Pope I could see he was coping with some problem, but he said there was “no screw-up.” He asked what I wanted and I said I followed all of Mainline’s instructions and I wanted to receive my shot a my scheduled time of 1:06 p.m.
Mr. Pope said he was dealing with 2,000 people and it would be “unfair” for others already in line to allow me to get my vaccination before them. Except, I pointed out, it was Mainline that scheduled me for this specific time and directed me not to come more than 15 minutes in advance. I heard people complaining in line of Mainline ignoring its own procedures and allowing people in early. Mr. Pope then refused my request to allow myself and others to follow Mainline’s own schedule. I said this was what was really unfair, punishing those who followed the rules and benefiting those who did not. I had to leave because I will be 70 soon, have a pacemaker and could not stand for what appeared to be a couple of hours more. This had to be a difficult day for anyone with health issues. I had hoped Becky would have had a better experience for her second shot today (March 13) but she also encountered a line going out into the parking lot.
Instead of being only with a group getting their second inoculation, first timers were also participating today Doesn’t this send up a red flag of increasing the chance of confusing first and second inoculations? Again the times assigned to receive shots were not being following.
In the January 29 issue of the Altoona (Pa.) Mirror, Mr. Pope informed the public, once their inoculation was established, to arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled time. He said persons who arrived earlier would be required to wait in their vehicles until 15 minutes remained until their inoculation. He said masking and social distancing would be enforced. But other than wearing masks, social distancing and waiting requirements were not at least consistently enforced. Mr. Pope refused to follow the Mainline schedule on March 11 or 13. Mr. Pope said previously including a short wait after inoculation only a total of 30 minutes would be involved. This was far from accurate.
Why Mainline ignored their own plan needs to be explained and not be permitted to reoccur.
(My freelance articles have appeared in such publications as “The Washington Post,” “Pittsburgh Post Gazette”, and other regional and national publications. I give permission for publication of this article. Although I would be grateful for appropriate payment, my primary concern is that the COVID 19 procedures are done safely and efficiently. andy.leheny@yahoo.com)
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