Getting a vaccination in the USA

August 20, 2021 11:07 AM

I'll be travelling from the UK to Florida in late November to visit a family member, all being well. Can I get vaccinated while I'm there? Do I just walk into a pharmacy and ask for a shot?

I've had two doses of Pfizer already but I'd like to get a booster. I won't be eligible in the UK based on what they're now saying as I'm not quite old enough. Can I get one in Florida do you think?

posted by hazyjane to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

In the US, booster shots are currently only authorized for people with specific pre-existing conditions. In some jurisdictions and for some providers, getting a third-shot booster requires specific referral from a medical provider who is treating that specific condition. However, the situation is changing rapidly and I have no specific knowledge of Florida vaccine roll-out.

I would say ask again in early November. Anything people say right now will be outdated in two weeks.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:12 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

I should clarify - we are expecting the CDC and FDA (Public Health England and MHRA equivalents) to issue guidance regarding booster shots for the general public in the next few weeks, which is why I recommend waiting for more information. Anything before then is guesswork.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

If you’re in the approved/eligible group (likely to be at least 8 months since your second shot and potential limitations such as age or occupation) and depending on availability it’s very possible that all you would need to do is walk into a Florida pharmacy and get it.

But as said above, it’s really best to just wait and see
posted by raccoon409 at 12:08 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks all. Do you happen to know please what kind of proof I will need of when I got my last shot (and potentially what medical conditions I have)?
posted by hazyjane at 12:56 PM on August 20, 2021

I was under the impression that you could, technically, walk into a pharmacy, say you have no insurance (which it sounds like you won't, at least for this purpose?) and get vaccinated as if for the first shot. Is that not the case? (And if it is the case, what potential complications might there be?)
posted by trig at 1:02 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

When were your first shots? It sounds like the plan is to start giving boosters in the same order of eligibility that we received our first shots, and they'll want us to go 8 months after our vaccine (not sure if that's first or second dose). So older folks and nursing home residents will go first, for example, 8 months after vaccination. Tentatively they are talking about starting in October. I'm not sure 40-something folks without pre-existing conditions will be eligible for a booster in November.

Most places aren't asking for proof of anything. If you want to skirt the system in the US, you'd not tell them you had a vaccination at all, but then you'd get a new American vaccination card (do you have a vaccination card you'd want them to complete?). Also I don't think anyone has to show proof of medical conditions or anything like that.

I think they'll ask you for a US address, so you'll get registered as getting a booster or a first round as if you were a Florida resident.

We can't really answer your questions yet because we don't know. I do know that if you are getting a booster before Americans of the same age and medical conditions, many of us are likely to be grumpy and not super helpful (and some of us are conflicted about giving boosters to Americans who aren't immunocompromised right now anyway). And plenty of Americans are going ahead and not being honest and getting boosters right now. It's a bit of a mess. Lots of fear, not a ton of information.

And, if what happened in the spring is any indication, dates and eligibility can change all the time. I agree with folks above that early November would be the right time to get this information with any hint of accuracy.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:05 PM on August 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I do know that if you are getting a booster before Americans of the same age and medical conditions, many of us are likely to be grumpy and not super helpful (and some of us are conflicted about giving boosters to Americans who aren't immunocompromised right now anyway).

I am severely immunocompromised, waiting for access to my third shot (I've been told it's not technically a booster since the first two didn't really work), and feeling extremely grumpy about this question. If you have to lie to get a shot, including what the nuns used to call lying by omission, don't get one.
posted by FencingGal at 5:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

Response by poster: No lying intended don't worry. My last shot will have been 7 months ago by the time I intend to arrive and medical condition is high blood pressure. So probably not eligible but if I possibly will be I want to have whatever proof with me I would need to show such as a note from my GP. I also have a flexible ticket and could move my flight if I had to. So yes I do want a booster and yes there are ethical concerns about that because of vaccine availability in poorer countries but if I am eligible in the US I do intend to ask for one.
posted by hazyjane at 11:58 PM on August 20, 2021

Right now thousands and thousands of vaccine doses are being tossed away in the USA. Unless there is a shortage in the area where you'll be at the time you'll be there I would not feel bad about using one. PLEASE make sure there is no shortage though once you arrive, as at that point people here would've started to be eligible for boosters and there could be a rush. Those who are eligible in November would've gotten their vaccines in December-March, which means for most places they're in the most vulnerable categories (i.e. not you).

Provided the availability situation does not change, getting it may be as simple as walking into a pharmacy and claiming this is your first one and you have no insurance. Pharmacies will likely pressure you to provide insurance but you are not required to give it. You might want to schedule ahead of time--vaccines.gov will give you providers in the area and even let you search by vaccine type. Check that website relatively close to when you'll be there as the type of vaccine at a given pharmacy may change. Have a local address on hand as based on the Florida Department of Health website they're only for residents, seasonal residents, or people providing goods and services in Florida (dunno how you prove the last one).

Also, maybe it goes without saying but: Florida is an absolute Covid shitshow right now and it's only going to get worse. Making this trip will not be safe for you or anyone you come into contact with. At the very least please ensure you are always wearing an N95, KF94, or KN95 mask. Cloth and surgical do not cut it. Recent research indicates they just do not have a tight enough seal or robust enough filtering capability--a study came out of Finland where it was found that vaccinated healthcare workers were spreading Delta to their patients despite the use of surgical masks. Finally, there is the possibility you will encounter aggressive anti-maskers who will yell at you and even attempt to go so far as to take your mask or spit on you. Especially in Florida. In your place I would not make the trip at all.

Edit: Sorry, I just saw that you were not intending to lie! In that case you will probably not be eligible. You won't be a resident and who knows if someone in Florida will pay attention to a GP note from another country (because Florida).
posted by Anonymous at 5:57 AM on August 21, 2021