Arlene Gilbert of Matlacha has experienced anaphylaxis.
It's a life-threatening allergic reaction.
So, rather than getting vaccinated for COVID-19 at a pharmacy or county site, she has to go to an outpatient clinic, putting her even lower on the list for the shot.
NEWS AT FOX 4 NOW SO WE CANSHARE YOUR LISTING ON AIR ANDONLINE.THE ROAD TO GETTING A COVID-19VACCINE IS COMPLICATED BYLIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES.TONIGHT, A SOUTHWEST FLORIDAWOMAN SHARES HER JOURNEY TO GETTHE SHOT WITH FOX 4’S RACHELLOYD.0-:10:15-:25:29 - :361:00 - 1:05ARLENE GILBERT WEARS MANY HATS.GRANDMOTHERACTIVISTAND ON SOMEDAYS, SHE’S BOTH.
RIGHT NOW,SHE’S JUST A WOMAN READY TO GETBACK TO SOME SORT OF NORMALLIFE.I haven’t been able to huganybody.
I used to love toentertain and just have peopleover.LIKE MANY SENIOR CITIZENS INSOUTHWEST FLORIDA, SHE’S WANTSTO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.BUT A NEAR-DEATH ALLERGICREACTION SHE HAD TO A VACCINEMORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO MAKESGETTING THE covid vaccine SHOT,COMPLICATEI felt swelling.
I -uncontrollable itching, I knewexactly what it was.SHE HAD EXPERIENCED ANAPHYLACTICSHOCK.
SO, HER DOCTOR TOLD HERIN ORDER TO GET EITHER THEPFIZER OR MODERNA VACCINE, SHEWOULD HAVE TO GO TO ANOUTPATIENT CLINIC WHERE MEDICALPROFESSIONALS COULD MONITOR HERAFTER she gets THE SHOT.ROBERT HAWKES, DIRECTOR OF THEPHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM ATFLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITYSAYS FOLLOWING HER DOCTOR’SORDERS ARE CRUCIAL.Most of the medical facilitiesthat are available have all ofthe equipment necessarysomeone were to go into ananaphylactic shock.
People wouldcarry what we call the EpiPens.BUT HER DOCTOR’S ADVICE POSEDYET ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
BECAUSELOCAL PHARMACIES AND COUNTYSITES were GETTING PRIORITIZEDFOR VACCINE SUPPLIES.
THAT LEFTEVEN FEWER SHOTS AT THOSCLINICS.I had fears that it would takeforever for me to get a vaccine.AFTER MONTHS OF DAILY CALLS TOLOCAL FACILITIES, SHE FINALLYTURNED TO THE FACEBOOK GROUP"SOUTH FLORIDA COVID-19 VACCINEINFO." THEY LOCKED IN ANAPPOINTMENT FOR HER AT JACKSONHEALTH IN MIAMI.They really took care of me.And, the whole procedure didn’ttake me very long.
Just thewaiting to make sure I didn’have a reaction.
And I returnthere at the end of the monthfor my second vaccine.THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLAND PREVENTION SAYS IF YOU *DOEXPERIENCE ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCKAFTER GETTING THE FIRST DOSE OFA COVID-19 VACCINE, DO NOT GET ASECOND.
GILBERT IS ALSO WORKINGTO HELP ANOTHER VULNERABLE