Covid Vaccine Availability in Colombia

[koblitzcam 5]

Me and my fiancé are pretty worried right now. She is from Colombia and the doctors won't see you for your pre interview medical appointment unless you're fully vaccinated. We are worried about the availability of vaccines in Colombia. She hasn't received her first dose of any vaccine, but we're worried if she gets the first one that the second dose will not be available when it comes time to get it, of whatever vaccine might be available now.

 

She has an appointment tomorrow and I've suggested to her unless the doctor can reassure her that there is plenty of supply for a second dose to just cancel it. I'm worried that we could be locking ourselves into, for example, Pfizer. Then possibly there will be plenty of Moderna vaccines in the future and no Pfizer availability in Colombia.

 

They weren't able to tell her over the phone which vaccine they have right now to give her tomorrow. If we have the choice we would prefer a single shot one so this isn't a concern, but does anyone know what the vaccine availability is in Colombia? Also considering flying her somewhere for the second dose when she can get it, whether that is in Colombia or somewhere else in South America.

 

There's just a lot going through my head right now and I'd appreciate any insight.

Edited September 22, 2021 by koblitzcam

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

What are your plans if she cancels the appointment?  

[koblitzcam 5]

It would just be to reassess the situation and do more research at what our best option is as far as which vaccine is the most readily available I guess. I'm just freaking out because I have no idea what will get her here the fastest.

[Seemoreglass83 18]

Tough situation we are all in but supposedly a bunch of vaccines arrived this week. I think I would go ahead and have her get the first shot. Might be a while before she gets her second shot, but might as well get in line now. If you cancel the appointment, you are just delaying the wait more. She'll have to get it eventually. Now I might say go ahead and get the Johnson and johnson one shot buuuut, with the restrictions for travel coming in November, I'm not sure if the j and j will be on the approved list of vaccines.

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

2 hours ago, koblitzcam said:

It would just be to reassess the situation and do more research at what our best option is as far as which vaccine is the most readily available I guess. I'm just freaking out because I have no idea what will get her here the fastest.

Do your diligence, but I have read that mixing Pfizer and Moderna is acceptable. 

[waiting1234 25]

Anything approved by the WHO is an acceptable vaccine. The list includes every vaccine they are giving out in Colombia so you don’t have to worry about that.

[Andrs01-2020 24]

What travel restrictions for november? I've been searching and nothing, us embasy, cdc etc - I have travel (US citizens) back and forth just showing antigen negative.. not vaccinated

 

where is the info that the doctors will not see you if not fully vaccinated? Covid is not even listed on the required vaccines for the pre-interview

I was about to start scheduling for the visa interview and theses news are crazy

 

 

[koblitzcam 5]

I don't believe I said anything about travel restrictions. If anything I meant restrictions to see the doctor. The government has made a new rule which it seems like the doctors are misinterpreting and they will not schedule an appointment unless you are fully vaccinated for covid starting in October.

 

Another update for my personal situation:

 

Her sister is a doctor and did a bit of networking to allow us to find a Johnson and Johnson vaccine that she has an appointment for this Saturday. We got very lucky to have this "in".

 

I feel bad we are taking away a vaccine from a village, but at the same time I feel like our situation is a little more time sensitive. Also I'd like to put a big portion of the blame on the government and doctors that are refusing to see people without the vaccine.

[Seemoreglass83 18]

13 hours ago, koblitzcam said:

I don't believe I said anything about travel restrictions. If anything I meant restrictions to see the doctor. The government has made a new rule which it seems like the doctors are misinterpreting and they will not schedule an appointment unless you are fully vaccinated for covid starting in October.

 

Another update for my personal situation:

 

Her sister is a doctor and did a bit of networking to allow us to find a Johnson and Johnson vaccine that she has an appointment for this Saturday. We got very lucky to have this "in".

 

I feel bad we are taking away a vaccine from a village, but at the same time I feel like our situation is a little more time sensitive. Also I'd like to put a big portion of the blame on the government and doctors that are refusing to see people without the vaccine.

So someone in the whatsapp group with a doctors appointment after oct 1 talked to the doctors office and they said she could come to the appointment even though she only had the first shot so it sounds like maybe they are realizing the situation that people are in waiting for the second shot. A bit of good news I think. Also, can the mods merge the two threads? No need to have two, right?

[waiting1234 25]

Not to mention that if you are younger most places will only give you the AstraZeneca shot which you have to wait 48 days between doses for. We had an in and got them to give us the sinovac which only has 28 days between doses and then were able to get are appointment scheduled for a week after that for the medical exam.

[Nat_Bogota 2]

7 hours ago, Seemoreglass83 said:

So someone in the whatsapp group with a doctors appointment after oct 1 talked to the doctors office and they said she could come to the appointment even though she only had the first shot so it sounds like maybe they are realizing the situation that people are in waiting for the second shot. A bit of good news I think. Also, can the mods merge the two threads? No need to have two, right?

 

Yes would be great to merge both. On our end my wife is Venezuelan and is not in Colombia so has no access to any shots. The doctors have said to still come and see if they will provide an exemption.

 

Would love to know about the whatsapp group if anyone can provide