How I Spent My COVID Vacation

December 2020: My temp agency called with a new assignment - registering patients for the Pfizer vaccine at the Javits Center. "Wow!," I thought, "they're going to do vaccines in such a large conference center in midtown Manhattan?" I was excited to hear the pay was good and I gladly accepted the offer. Finally getting back to work! Finally getting paid! Finally leaving the apartment!

The job began January 15, 2021. We'd all been self-quarantining at home for a number of months and were anxious to get back out into the real world. The first day showed us, though, this wasn't going to be the real world. We had apparently joined either the Army or first grade and we were going to be treated accordingly. For training, the registrars were mixed in with the nurses for a mass meeting where the supervisors explained "this is a clinical environment," which meant no food or beverages in patient areas. Also, no sweaters or coats, no books, and absolutely NO cell phones! We were told the aisles would be patrolled and if these items were found we may be asked to leave. Geeze, no warnings? Even speeding drivers get warnings.

We were told that meals were included and shown the cafeteria. Sounds great, but it was really just another way to ensure we were under control. We had a half hour for lunch and if we were late coming back we would be written up. Well, that's what they said, but we all saw that some people got away with murder and some got yelled at. Just like in the Army. Or first grade. 

The nurses were taken to another room for further instruction and the rest of us were broken down into two groups - those who would be registering patients and those who would be assisting the nurses in the vaccination area. I was labeled as a Registrar, but curiously, both groups are considered to be "registering" patients. The differences were not explained. This was the first of many, many things which were not explained. I chose a group and hoped I made a good choice.

Those of us now set to work in the registration area met with our new supervisor, Becky. Becky was a large woman with a pronounced midwest accent, you betcha! Becky wanted us to think if we didn't follow the established rules it could be dangerous to us. So she was given to saying things like "If you bring bottled water to your area, what are you drinking?" and then she'd answer herself: "COVID." "If you bring a book to your area, what are you taking home with you? COVID." And, of course, "If you bring your coat to your area, what will you be wearing? COVID." This became a great source of amusement for a number of my fellow Registrars.  "If you have a cell phone, who are you calling? COVID. Hello, COVID, are you there?" "If you pick your nose, what are you picking? COVID. Eww!"

At the end of the day we were taken to the registration area on the third floor. There were four rows of tables, with 20 in each row. Each table had a laptop, a plastic partition with an open slot at the bottom and a large, economy size bottle of hand sanitizer that looked like a ketchup dispenser filled with lemonade. We were told this sanitizer was produced in an upstate prison by inmates. It's good they had something do during lockdown. When you pumped the container, we quickly learned, the sanitizer shot out fast and furious, drenching the floor, the table and anyone standing in the immediate vicinity. It seems we'd all soon have clothing sanitized for our protection.

And So It Begins...

(BTW, this photo is a general photo I took of the Javits Center at another time. Photos and video during the vaccination period were forbidden!)

The day began at 6:30 am. I'm not usually awake at 6:30 am so this was a whole new world for me. We all met every morning in a large room downstairs so the supervisors could tell us important things like "The lockers are for day use only. If you leave anything in there overnight it will be removed and discarded."

We headed up to our tables and it was a free-for-all as everyone tried to get a table they liked and save a nearby table for their friends. Since I didn't know anyone yet I just sat somewhere that seemed safe. 

We logged in, pumped the sanitizer and waited for our patients. At 7:00 am on the dot, the National Guard opened the doors and a fleet of wheelchairs was loosed upon us! The first people eligible for the vaccine in NY were those 70 and older so I got to meet a lot of seniors my first week. Most were very nice and very happy to finally be getting the vaccine, but one woman launched into a 20-minute diatribe about how she had to stay locked up at home for the previous year and how she ALWAYS wears a mask when she goes out but her horrible neighbor doesn't and it's just not fair! I agreed with her - what could I do? The reason she had to vent all of her frustration from the past year onto me, I guess, is that I was the first human she talked to in the outside world. 

Part of the registration process was to ask the 12 questions. This is like the 4 questions for Passover, but it takes a lot longer. "Do you feel at all sick today?" was the first one. If the answer was yes, we called over a National Guard soldier and had them shot. No! Of course not! We had them removed from the floor, 'natch. What, you think we want to catch something? "Do you have cancer, AIDS or any immunocompromised disease?" was another question. This was because the vaccine may have a different effect for people with serious illnesses. They were sent to Medical Evaluation to chat with an RN who could provide advice. See? We were doing good work! "Have you ever had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine or to anything?" We asked this one just for us. So we could be prepared for what might happen after they got the shot. They were going to be in the waiting area for 15 minutes being "supervised" by a soldier, but if there was a chance they were gonna pass out or puff up it was not gonna be good PR so it was good to be prepared. 

After January 20th, a woman at my station told me how grateful she was that we were there and that Biden won the election! I told her I didn't think we were allowed to discuss politics, but admitted it was great that Dump was gone! Who knew he'd stick around for years moaning about a "rigged election" that was "stolen" from him? How could we have any idea that January 6th would be a day that would live in infamy? I wished her a happy day and was glad there were people out there who agreed with me. But then, they all agreed with me, since they were coming to get the vaccine. The anti-vaxxers simply didn't come, and that was just fine with us!

I met some people I just loved at the Center, and also met a few I didn't love. When Becky was gone a guy named Gregory took over and he was a little like a Shakespeare character in scrubs - full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing.

The Center ramped up its efforts at the end of February and had over 200 registration stations and the same amount in the vaccination area. The National Guard really did a great job of maintaining organization. One of them came up with the idea to have a lamp at each station, which we would turn on when we had a patient and off when they left. That way they could look down the long rows and tell which stations were free and direct the patients accordingly. Great idea! But we all had so much trouble remembering to turn the damn things on and off it didn't pan out the way it should have!

As the vaccinations turned to two, and then a booster was required, I continued to work at pop-up areas in schools, mostly in Brooklyn, and at a Senior Center in the Bronx and the Aqueduct race track in Queens. So for me, this COVID vacation has taken me to four of the five boroughs and is, unfortunately, not over yet!