As a person with comorbidity (hypertension), I  applied for a vaccination schedule last April 3. I found an error in my application and corrected it on April 7. I got a schedule for April 8. I was vaccinated with sinovac in a QC public school today April 8. My 2^nd dose is scheduled on May 6. This is my story.

The ZYX of my vaccination story:

Z (Outcome)- So that people who are qualified to be vaccinated will be able to do so as quickly and as easily as possible

Y (Reason why)- Lives can be saved. Families can stay strong. Our country can progress to the new normal.

X (How)- By sharing my own personal experience, which is really just an anecdotal  case for 1 patient in 1 location in 1 city. Each vaccination case is different but there are enough similarities that may prove useful to at least 1 other person out there; and if so, this is worth it.

Quick Tips. Top 10 Lessons from my vaccine story.

1. Observe. Social media like FB for posts on the vaccine. Info may be more recent, relevant and credible.
2. Ask those who have done it. Learn from their failures and successes.
3. Search and use multiple channels. Don’t just depend on the mobile app or the website. Call. Email. Repeat until you get the response that you need.
4. Prepare. Missing 1 requirement can mean missing your schedule.
5. Dealbreakers on your vaccination schedule include: bp of 140/90 when measured on-site, , not having your doctor’s prescription and medical certification, no ID.
6. Share the good and the bad. Sometimes there are more lessons in failure.
7. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
8. The pandemic and the vaccination brings out the best and the worst of people. There are more good than bad. Expect but keep calm when you encounter  the ff: line breakers (sumisingit), loud complainers (blaming everyone but themselves), slow movers (they slow down the line), rule breakers (not qualified but insist on getting the vaccine).
9. Persist. Don’t allow 1 “No” , 1 person or 1 lacking requirement prevent you from getting your vaccine. If there’s a will, there’s a way. There are people who blindly follow rules. There are people who don’t care. But there are more people who will listen and let you
10. Be grateful. God is great and works in mysterious ways. Appreciate the people managing the vaccine lines and your good karma will be immediate.

Still reading? Here are some FAQs Frequently Answered Questions

How I Became Aware of the Vaccination Schedule?

My sister Maria Corazon De Ungria,  shared in our family messenger group,  that using the EZConsult  app, her husband Jojo was able to get a  vaccination schedule  on April 5. On Facebook ,  I also noticed friends’ posts (Sylvia Reyes and Maria Liza Nava) that applying for a schedule was quick and the vaccination process was easy.  Those who got vaccinated  were not medical frontliners. They were of my age range , same health condition (with comorbidity) , same location (QC). Not surprisingly, during the orientation at the covid vaccination facility today, there was an appeal to share the info thru social media.

How I Got  a Vaccine Appointment?

I asked my sister and my peers on what they did. All unselfishly shared that they used an app, EZ Consult, which they downloaded on the App and Google Stores. They just applied and got a schedule. ‘

I did this last April 3 and waited. On the same day, I arranged a teleconsult with my HMO, Medicard. I filled up their on-line form at their website, messaged them on Facebook and waited for a response.

April 5 came, and my sister shared the bad news. Her husband, despite having lined up for 3 hours, was refused vaccination based on the judgement of an on-site doctor. The reason: my brother-in-law did not show a satisfactory  medical certification from a relevant specialist who can certify that the comorbidity exists and/or that it was safe to proceed with the vaccination. I was not surprised that my sister, who sees the good in everything, shared tips from that experience. (Included in the appendix portion of this article).

In response to this, I immediately checked with my cardiologist if I can come to the clinic and get a medical certification. Because of the ECQ, the cardiologist’  secretary replied that she was not sure when the doctor will hold clinic. I wasn’t too keen on doing this physical visit since the doctor’s clinic is within a hospital facility and the threat of catching covid is too high.

Since I have not received a response to my online queries to my HMO, I called their hotline on April 5 and requested for a teleconsult schedule. Got the HMO LOA Letter of Authorization on the same day. Followed the instruction to email it to my doctor. Doctor responded Apr. 6 that the teleconsult could be on April 7 via viber. Prior to the teleconsult, I vibered my doctor my last medical records. Apr. 7, teleconsult done, I got my medical certificate.  

When I applied using the EZconsult app last Apr 3, I got an email stating that my application was received and being reviewed.  My peers who already got vaccinated shared that they got a schedule immediately after completing the application. Since I haven’t received any notice or email as of Apr,7, I decided to look again at the app itself, and also to check out the website. To my surprise, I found that 2 critical answers I put in the app were not correctly reflected in my application. The 2 errors were:

Willing to be vaccinated? My answer last Apr. 3= Yes. As shown in website and app = No.

With comorbidity. My answer last Apr3 = Yes. As shown in website and app = No.

I couldn’t find how to correct the erroneous entry thru the mobile app. However I did correct it using the app website. Within minutes after correcting the 2 errors, I was able to get a schedule for the next day! Woohoo!

Refer to this article for comorbidities

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/29/COVID-19-vaccination-comorbidities-illnesses-priority.html

“Those under 65 years old with chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and chronic kidney disease can preregister to receive the vaccines now.”

The Mar. 29 CNN article

What to prepare for the day of the vaccination?

Have a mindset of “Expect the best but prepare for the worst”

I wazed the vaccine site and determined how long it took to get there. I planned to get 30 minutes before my appointment.

I brought the following with me:

1. EZ Consult App QR code
2. QC ID + xerox (this turned out to be optional)
3. Government ID with address same as LGU where vaccination is + xerox
4. Print out of email confirming vaccination appointment.
5. Ballpen to fill up forms
6. Recent medical certificate and/or prescription confirming my comorbidity.
7. Fully charged earphone and phone to keep me busy (expect a 3 hour long line)
8. Portable BP monitor (just in case)
9. Alcohol, face mask, face shield, tissue (for safety protocols)

What I should have brought:

My hypertension medicine. The on-site doctor and the support staff were following a guideline that no vaccinations shall be administered to those whose BP on site were higher than 140/90. The reason cited is that BP may go up after vaccination so they were implementing the 140/90 cut off. In fact the only medical test done prior to vaccination is BP – everyone is checked using an on-site electronic bp instrument (Omron brand, digital). I was almost disqualified from getting the  vaccine since my first BP turned out to be 160/105. I was told to wait for 15 minutes to get this BP down. I knew from my daily BP monitoring that 140/90 is my normal BP and getting 140 /95 is not unusual.  My cardiologist told me not to worry about this. But I was afraid that the 140/90 guideline might be followed to the letter and I wont be allowed to take the vaccine. Fortunately, I kept my composure. I then  observed that there was a long line of people waiting for their BP to be taken using a manual dial type BP monitor.  I lined up, took slow deep breathes and relaxed. Upon reaching my turn, I greeted the lady handling the instrument. She responded to the greet. My BP? 120/80! I am sure that the much lower BP was the result of using a non-digital BP instrument plus my polite greeting.  But, in case I still got a higher reading, then if I brought my hypertension medicine, this would have been a way to temporarily lower my BP a the time of measurement.  Those who have asthma and respiratory concerns are also advised to bring their inhalers and medicine.

“Better if we take Catapres 75 mg sublingual for hypertensives before going to your schedule. Ako din, at first 140/90 din ang BP ko which is not usual. My normal BP is 115/80 kaya gulat ko when I got 140/90. The second time, it was 130/90 na so go na ako. My doctor friend told me that I should have taken that before I went to the site.”

Shared by a friend, Sylvia Reyes. Advise given by her doctor/friend. Pls. check with your own physician/ doctor/friends as to what is best for you. Just be ready when the gatekeeper in the covid line is hard to convince.

The vaccination site has all types of people. Expect it. But don’t let it get in the way of your objective of getting the vaccine.

I am extremely grateful to all the government people managing the covid vaccination site, the support infrastructure like the EZ Consult mobile app and website, and all those behind the scenes who made my vaccination today possible. A lot has been said about our government but I can’t help but compare that I got the vaccine today at about the same time as my friends in the US, Canada, Singapore and Australia.

My sister’s advise posted in our family group and her social media post:

Sharing some observations to facilitate the process:

1- important to register using the EZ Consult app. Make sure to generate your Bar Code using the Health Passport section.

2- Register your category… there is a classification scheme. Click the letter and the group list comes out.

3- Checklist of must bring: Govt ID (Senior and PWD this is a must); ballpen, prescriptions; medical abstract. Besides listing your sicknesses, the doctor today wanted a specific clearance that the PWD has been approved to receive COVID-19 vaccination. There are certain conditions which may not be allowed for vaccination, depending on the available vaccine. The doctor we spoke to gave examples today- immunocompromised patients, cancer patients, etc.

4- Arrive early. The line is considerable. Those with portable blood pressure monitors, you may opt to bring yours to avoid having to use the same monitor which has been used by many people. I am not sure if this is allowed but I dont see why not. For hypertensives, make sure you have a good night’s sleep and also take your medicine. BP needs to fall within the normal range so you will be asked to wait if your BP is high.

5- You need to know your Philhealth number. The forms asked for this. If you had filled up the EZ consult App, you should have the info.

6- Bring something to read or do besides your phone. The wait (ours was more than 3 hours) could be the best time to catch up on your reading, crossword puzzle, or must do but cannot find the time task.

7- Final screening- make sure you know what medicines you are taking. This is the final step before the jab- the doctor will make the final call of vaccinate or not to vaccinate.

8- Stay cool and follow instructions throughout…the organizers were really and truly trying their best to help facilitate the vaccination. Shout out to the team who were at the Emilio Aguinaldo Elementary School on 18th street today! Salamat po….!

9- Bring your own water- but also note that drinking a lot of water will make you go to the loo..and this may not be the best. So proceed with caution.

Below is in the health declaration form on-site. Suggest to review for each person. For example, it seems that the question: Has not been previously treated for COVID in the past 90 days may disqualify some people.

#COVID19Vaccinations #COVID19PH