Cozumel News March 6, 2021

In this issue of Cozumel News March 6: Cozumel Vaccine Update, Official Vaccine Registration, The Vaccines Arrive for Seniors Over 60, Improvements Needed to Help Seniors, Vaccines an Overall Success, Requirements to get Vaccinated, Status of the Second Vaccine Dose.

Cozumel COVID Vaccine Update

A False Start

As expected, a project this big has many glitches. As the information has trickled down, much confusion occurred as misinformation kept hitting the social media. This has caused frustration among both local and English-speaking residents.

The first rumor was that registration was to be at the post office on Melgar. That is a location where some local seniors register for and pick up their monthly Government stipends. There was a registration taking place, but for a specific group of Mexican seniors.

Attempts to Clear Things Up

Thus, the grumbling started on social media that only Mexican Nationals were going to receive the vaccine. I try and clear things up on other Facebook pages outside of the Sun as time allows. However, it gets frustrating when people ignore the information, dispute the information, and some are downright insulting.

Keep informed on the COVID-19 related news in Cozumel, Mexico by joining The Cozumel Sun Facebook Group! Read VERIFIED information as it is confirmed.

Cozumel News March 6, 2021 Continued

Official Vaccine Registration

The first official directive asked everyone over 60 years of age to register for the vaccine online. In preparation for the date the site was to open, I assumed we would need our INAPAM senior cards, our CURP numbers, etc. After years of living here I have experienced things changing in the process of conducting various transaction. Now, I prepared with originals and copies of everything!

Problems Right out of the Gate

On the first day of registration, the site immediately crashed! It took two of us taking turns days and evenings for days before we were able to get in. I checked my sources and verified it was not us. Yes, there was a problem, and they were working on it.

A few days later the website was running. All I needed was my CURP number to register. I printed out the confirmation number that stated in large letters they would contact me soon to schedule an appointment. I passed this information along.

The Over 60 Vaccines Arrived

The vaccines arrived before anyone was contacted to schedule an appointment. They posted a schedule for the first round of vaccinations expected to cover 50% of the over 60 population. The Pfizer vaccine administered to seniors over 60 on February 25, 26, and the 27^th was quite the experience.

Unfortunately, they used a number off the INE card. This is the official Mexican Citizen identification card. The card has a number that based on their adrress, identifies where they go to vote. This number was used to direct the citizens to one of the three Government Hospitals.

We Do Not Have INE!

Panic! I immediately tuned in to my favorite radio station and posed the question to the Municipal President who was appearing live. Several people asked the same question, and I was relieved that right before the interview ended, we received a response.  

Non-citizens residents that had medical insurance at ISSSTE or IMSS were to report to those locations. Everyone else report to General Hospital.  The documents to bring are the medical card (IMSS or ISSSTE only), the resident card, copy of the vaccine registration, and copy of a copy of a utility bill.

A Second Confirmation

Later that evening a Medical Director gave a LIVE interview by the emergency entrance of General hospital. Emergency is on the street behind the main entrance. The Speaker was standing to the left of the Emergency entrance and pointed to a double chain link door. Walking over, she pointed it out as the location to come to.

Asked about the residents that do not hold an INE card, she repeated the same information the Municipal President had given earlier that day. I spend the day and evening passing on the information online and answering questions.

IMSS

Following instructions, at six a.m. I reported to IMSS with Bartolo. There were already about 40 people in front of me. The people in wheelchairs and canes were given priority. I rode my electric wheelchair as I cannot walk long distances. They started at eight a.m. I was done and on my way home by nine a.m.

Their System

The military and medical personnel were in charge and there was an amount of disorganization on day one. Hopefully, it improved as the day went on and into the next day. They did not hand out numbers.  As people got up from their chairs and went in, some people in the back of the line snuck up to take their seat.

We called this problem to their attention as I was going in for my turn and the soldiers started removing the empty chairs to place in the back. They gave us no date for the second dosage, nor documentation that we had the first one. I thought to ask about the second dose only on my way out. The response was thirty to sixty days, he did not know. It was probably a security guard!

General Hospital

Remember the evening report showing the exact location behind the hospital where they were going to set up? They set up in the front of the hospital!

Sharon went to General hospital.  I had Gelmy push her on our manual wheelchair. I had no idea if they had seating or shade, nor how long she would have to wait in line. As it turned out, that location also gave priority to wheelchairs and canes. Unfortunately, it was almost ten thirty in the morning before the vaccines arrived there.

Different Rules

Sharon was told based on her address she should be at IMSS! The lady was nice and said she could stay since she had already waited so long.

We live at the same address and I had to prove that I was enrolled at IMSS clinic. When Gelmy explained that the Municipal President stated anyone without IMSS and ISSTE insurance should be at her location, she told Gelmy he was not in charge of vaccinations! Not all the personnel where on the same page, obviously!

But they were much more organized! They gave out numbers, Sharon was number 18. They carefully monitored that no one jumped in front of the line. When the vaccines finally arrived, they moved right along.

They were more Organized

At that location you left with documentation that you received your first vaccine and a date for the second vaccine. Sharon’s is March 18^th.

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Cozumel News March 6, 2021 Continued

Improvement Needed to Help Seniors

Many Seniors in Cozumel as in other parts of the world, had no clue about the registration. They have no internet, nor knowledge of technology, and some live alone.

Many seniors were turned away when they arrived after walking in the hot sun to get there. Some sat in the sun for long periods of time only to be turned away. I do not know why they could not be registered on the spot. I am hopeful that this will be corrected for the next time around.

The lack of a telephone call to schedule an appointment cut out another important population. This was to be the method of identifying seniors that are home bound and need to be vaccinated at home.

Other prerequisites

When I arrived, I was asked if I had water and if I had eaten breakfast. I was asked who had accompanied me (also a requirement for us old folks). Many seniors need help completing forms, remember addresses and telephone numbers. PLUS, what if you have an allergic reaction! A family member needed to be there.

Gelmy observed family members dropping off seniors and driving off. (I am assuming they needed to get to work). Many seniors arrived on empty stomachs and without water to hydrate during the wait and after the injection.

Good Samaritans

Thank goodness people were observed purchasing food and water for seniors. Around Sharon and Gelmy family members left to purchase food and water for their Mom or Dad as well as other seniors seating around them that were unaccompanied. I worry about those that did not get help as well as those that were turned away.

They ran out of Vaccines

I saw it coming when I heard each of the three facilities had a little under four hundred vaccines per day for three days. It was confirmed when I heard that on day one someone at General Hospital was number four hundred something.  Further, there was no counting at all taking place where I went. On day two all three locations started running out of vaccines.

Vaccinations an Overall Success

I for one am incredibly grateful that I do not have to go back to the United States at some point later in the year to get vaccinated. I am grateful that as a resident of this country I am being vaccinated.

If you watch the news from the United States, it certainly sounded like there were a heck of a lot more problems, discrepancies, chaos, and longer waiting periods than we experienced here.

I am confident that as more rounds of vaccines are administered the wrinkles in the system will be ironed out and things will run even smoother.

Next time, I plan on taking extra water to distribute to the location nearest me. This will help the local seniors and show my gratitude.

I am assuming since March 18^th was the first date assigned at General Hospital for the second dose, that is the next expected shipment of vaccines. I will keep you informed.

If you need to be Vaccinated

If you have not registered follow the Cozumel Sun instructions in this issue: https://www.thecozumelsun.com/2021/02/06/cozumel-news-february-6-2021/.

You will need a printed copy of this registration. I do not know if they will call this time to schedule an appointment! If they contact you this time around, you will know where to go and what to bring.

Just is case they just announce the vaccines have arrived for the second half of the over sixty population, be ready.

If you have an INE because you became a Mexican Citizen, the schedule will once again direct you to what clinic to go to. You just need your INE card and a copy of your registration.

If you are a resident, find out from your Mexican neighbor what his INE region # is. That will tell you which of the three clinics to go to.

Wherever you go to in this case, it will be first come, first serve! I got there at six a.m. and was around number 40! If you are in a wheelchair, use a walker, or a cane, no problem, you will be moved to the front of the line.

The documents to have are the Cardnet booklet (IMSS or ISSSTE only), the resident card, copy of the vaccine registration, and copy of a copy of a utility bill. They looked at my documentation, they did not keep any copies.

The Second Vaccine Dose Status

Those that went to General Hospital have a return date scheduled with documentation.

Those that went like me to IMSS, have been told we will be contacted to schedule the next dose.

I have not received a report from anyone that went to ISSSTE, so I have no clue what system they used. If you were vaccinated there, please contact me and share the information.

As soon as we hear the vaccines have arrived, I will post the information!

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