RICHMOND, Va. – Starting this week, pharmacies in Virginia administering COVID-19 vaccines will be in sync with the state’s rollout, keeping the focus on seniors, but a young woman’s chance of being vaccinated came a little earlier than expected.
Mel Pruett has been living in fear for eleven months.
“It was really scary going to the supermarket for the first time, even my car. I remember holding my breath because I was so scared, ”Pruett said. “I am someone who cannot get sick. It can literally kill me “
The Richmond woman does not take any risks when it comes to coronavirus. She lives with a debilitating underlying condition called POTS. It stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
“I know I look healthy, like a normal 20-year-old, but that’s an invisible disease, an invisible condition that affects your whole body,” explained Pruett. “It affects your heart, it affects your blood pressure, it affects your cognitive thinking.”
Mel Pruett
RELATED: Richmond Woman Raises Awareness of ‘Invisible’ Illness
And it also makes her vulnerable to COVID-19.
“Therefore, if I have an infection, I would essentially die,” Pruett said.
But her fears will soon end.
When Walgreens first made COVID vaccine appointments in Virginia, Pruett was able to claim one.
She said a friend tagged her in a post on Facebook warning her about hookups five hours away in Pennington Gap in the southwestern part of the state.
“I woke up at 2 a.m. for my vaccination appointment and had to drive through Tennessee,” Pruett recalls.
While Pruett qualified for Category 1B because of her pre-existing condition, the Virginia Department of Health has asked all pharmacies that administer injections to prioritize seniors 65 and older.
So how did Pruett and other Virginians under 65 get an appointment?
RELATED: Pre-Register for the COVID-19 Vaccine on the Vaccinate Virginia Website.
“It took us a few days to figure out how that logistics will work,” said Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine chief.
Avula said when additional pharmacies were added to a federal vaccine program, coordination details were still being finalized.
“In the meantime, we didn’t want people to be on vaccine or deter people from vaccinating communities while on this vaccine,” Avula said. “So we said go ahead and use whatever process you all want for the first few days.”
As of Monday, Avula said pharmacies will book appointments using the statewide pre-registration system set up by VDH.
In a statement, a Walgreens company spokesman said the pharmacy will follow VDH’s directions to give priority to people over 65. However, Walgreens will not cancel appointments already made by people under 65.
While Pruett waits for her second dose, she says she’s looking forward to getting her life back on track.
“I feel like this is almost a second chance at life,” Pruett said. “This is a life saver.”
Pruett mentions social media for helping her find an appointment, and wants to encourage others who want a chance to use social media as a resource to help others.
She hopes to get her second dose closer to home.
There is currently no residency requirement for vaccines, but VDH encourages those to take a chance in their local health district as allocation is based on geographic population.
Precautions covid19
Most patients with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. However, in a small proportion of patients, COVID-19 can lead to more serious illnesses, including death, especially in the elderly or those with chronic medical conditions.
COVID-19 mainly spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms appear within 14 days of exposure to an infectious person.
Virginia health officials urged the following precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Only use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Stay at home when you are sick.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid non-essential travel.