Name: Don't game the system like this Catholic school did. You'll get your COVID vaccine eventually
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Don't game the system like this Catholic school did. You'll get your COVID vaccine eventually

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GERTHLouisville Courier JournalView CommentsJust wait your turn.Stop trying to jump line. Stop trying to get your vaccine before you're entitled to it.We’ve got people in their 70s and 80s and 90s who can’t get the coronavirus vaccine, and they're at a significant risk of death from a five-minute jaunt to the grocery store. And here you are, young and healthy, trying to push past them like you’re bellying-up to the bar on $1 import night at your favorite pub.It’s wrong and you know it's wrong.We’ve heard about a couple of millionaires in Canada who took a trip to the Yukon Territory and posed as hotel employees so they could get doses that were supposed to be for indigenous workersA Rhode Island lawmaker has proposed making it a felony to give vaccines to line-cutters after one hospital offered administrators the vaccine even though they have no contact or limited contact with patients.TMZ reported that one Beverly Hills doctor said his practice was being offered five-figure bribes to give people shots before their time.Here in Louisville, we’ve got Holy Trinity Catholic School.COVID-19 vaccine tracker:When the East End school put more than 300 people on its roster to receive shots even though the school only has about 50 workers.Don’t get me wrong, teachers and other school employees need the shots. They’re being asked to go into schools every day and deal with your snotty-nosed kids, and who knows what diseases those little creatures are carrying.But what Holy Trinity did was just plain wrong.Here’s what happened.Last week when the Louisville Metro Health Department began , the health department noticed that there were a lot —&nbsp;and I mean a lot —&nbsp;of people from Holy Trinity, a parish and school tucked into a nice St. Matthews neighborhood, showing up for shots.They were coaches and school volunteers and their spouses, and whoever, showing up to get jabbed.When the health department found out what was going on, it contacted the archdiocese and put an end to it.“They apparently believed, incorrectly, that they could include anyone who had contact with students, like volunteers," said Kathy Turner, a spokeswoman for the health department.COVID-19:Cecilia Price, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Louisville, said it was an honest mistake.“Because Catholic schools utilize a large number of volunteers in roles that are often held by paid employees in other school systems, our Superintendent’s Office understood that certain types of volunteers could be included in group 1B educator vaccines. This included volunteers who had regular and direct contact with children in schools, such as volunteer school nurses or teacher aides,” she said in an email. &nbsp;“Apparently, there was some misunderstanding about this guidance,” she said.Price said the archdiocese’s schools were told last week to cull their lists of employees if they loaded them up with volunteers.&nbsp;“The superintendent’s office sent out a clarification late last week to schools to include only parish and school employees, per instructions from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. Schools then resubmitted rosters previously submitted to the Health Department. The situation was promptly addressed, and the misunderstanding was not widespread,” Price said.Folks at Holy Trinity aren't the only ones trying to move to the front of the line.&nbsp;At a news conference Tuesday, Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the city's health department, asked people to wait their turn.“I know that a lot of people are calling and asking about changing phases and trying to get bumped up in line,” Moyer said. “I love that so many people want to get vaccinated. We do not have the flexibility to change what phase you are in.”I wanted to ask the Rev. Bill Bowling, the pastor at Holy Trinity, if the parish had disclosed to parishioners that it had tried to get 250 vaccinated who didn't qualify and what, if anything, the parish told older parishioners who qualify for the vaccine now but haven't been able to schedule appointments.&nbsp;He directed me to Price.&nbsp;Opinion:Sure, what Holy Trinity did isn't comparable to the millionaires in the Yukon or the folks in Beverly Hills who are trying to bribe their way to a vaccine. But we ought not be trying to game the system.&nbsp;If you really want to get your vaccination, volunteer to help administer the vaccines. After a couple weeks of volunteer work, they'll let you jump to the front of the line.But if you don't want to volunteer, your options are simple.&nbsp;Just mask up. Keep your distance. And wait your turn.&nbsp;Joseph Gerth&nbsp;can be reached at 502-582-4702 or by email at&nbsp;jgerth@courierjournal.com.View Comments

GERTHLouisville Courier JournalView CommentsJust wait your turn.Stop trying to jump line. Stop trying to get your vaccine before you're entitled to it.We’ve got people in their 70s and 80s and 90s who can’t get the coronavirus vaccine, and they're at a significant risk of death from a five-minute jaunt to the grocery store. And here you are, young and healthy, trying to push past them like you’re bellying-up to the bar on $1 import night at your favorite pub.It’s wrong and you know it's wrong.We’ve heard about a couple of millionaires in Canada who took a trip to the Yukon Territory and...

Don't game the system like this Catholic school did. You'll get your COVID vaccine eventually

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