Vaccination experience was a positive one

It seems true that a majority of New Yorkers have experienced great frustration when trying to arrange for COVID-19 vaccinations. Thankfully, though, at least some things in our state and district are working very well.

My family has called the New York state COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline (1-833697-4829) with many questions during the past few months. Calls to the hotline are answered by an actual person — not a maddeningly endless digitized menu — who is knowledgeable, patient and helpful. The hotline must deal with countless numbers of calls each day, but it works well.

Having gotten appointments, my wife and I went to the University at Albany site for our first vaccinations. Although there were many people being processed, the system was well organized for efficiency and well staffed with welcoming, helpful, even cheerful staff (i.e., they laughed at my dad jokes), from the National Guard members who ran the parking area, to the folks managing the process and administering the vaccinations, to the observers in the post-shot (for safety) waiting area.

Despite the crowds, the whole process took less than 45 minutes including the 15-minute post-shot wait period. And the site was comfortable and well managed for safe and sanitary conditions.

Both of these critical functions prove that although the numbers are daunting (one person administering shots told us her “personal best” for most shots in one day was 88), they can be done thoughtfully, efficiently and in a consumer-friendly fashion.

This is all worth saying,

“Good job.” We are New York tough.

Ben Goldberg Albany