Cutting the Line?

 

Cutting the Line?

 

I’m waiting for the shot in Jersey.  The original New Jersey protocol for the shot was age 75+, those with serious medical conditions, and healthcare workers were first in line for the shot.

New Jersey set up a website to register for the vaccine.  They notify you when you are eligible for the shot.  I signed up on this site on day two, even though I was 4 months short of 75.  I was advised I was on the list and would hear from them when I was eligible and they had a vaccine opening.

A few days later the state decided that anyone 65+ was also eligible and medical conditions included anyone who is or was a smoker.  Furthermore, they announced that proof of age or medical condition was not required.  They have also now opened up multiple lists to get the vaccine at multiple sites.

What could go wrong?  Well, some people that are not 65+ might just claim they are in order to cur the line.  Some people who do not now or even never did smoke might say that they are smokers. 

No proof is required, do you think some people might lie to cut the line? 

Remember, this is Jersey.  Jersey is a great state, but people from Jersey do sometimes take a me first position.

It is now two months into vaccinations.  New Jersey has vaccinated at least one shot into the arms of 1,250,000 residents.  New Jersey has 1,420,000 residents over 65 years old.  I am still waiting.  I’m guessing there is a lot of line cutting, and a lot of double booking on multiple sites that might lead to a larger back up than there should be.

Mind you, I don’t think I am special, and I am pretty damn healthy so maybe I am not any more vulnerable than anyone else even though I am a 74-year-old ex-smoker.  As long as others keep getting vaccinated, that leaves less people to give me the virus.  I’m not so sure that younger people should not be given preference so they stop giving the virus to us oldsters.  However, that was not the decided upon protocol.

People in New Jersey that are 65+ make up 20 percent of Covid cases, and they account for 90 percent of the deaths, so yes, I would like to get the vaccine.  I don’t want to wait for the line cutters, because line cutting will never stop.

When I was 10 years old, I stood in line with my mom waiting to meet Mickey Mantle and get an autographed copy of his new book.   I was about 60^th in line, but the line was not moving.  The front of the line was a scramble of line cutters.  My mom demanded I play by the rules and wait in line.  With a half hour left before Mickey was scheduled to leave, I disobeyed my mom for probably the first time ever.  I ran to the front of the line and pushed, ducked and gouged my way to get Mickey’s autographed book minutes before he left.

I will wait patiently for my shot.  Everyone who gets the shot makes us all safer, but at some point, if it looks like getting the vaccine might take forever, I will sharpen my elbows, buck up my neck, and claw ahead of the line cutters.

In the mean time stay safe, better times are around the corner.