Interview with Stacy Eilbert

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(The interviewer starts with an introduction)

Ann Lynn Parker,: Today we have an interview with an individual, Stacy, who works at CSD as a teacher. Stacy, if you don’t mind- please introduce yourself.

Stacy Eilbert: Hello my name is Stacy Eilbert, I have taught at the school for 15 years in the high school.

Ann Lynn: Wonderful, thank you for joining us. The purpose of this interview is to ask questions to learn about your experience going to the Oakland Coliseum site for the vaccination you received. How did you find the information to register for the vaccination? Explain if you don’t mind.

Stacy: Yes, one friend who also works at CSD, texted me if I knew that there were available appointments for vaccinations. So I texted, using a code number. If I remember right, there were a series of questions: are you a teacher? Where do you work? For the work questions there was a dropdown of different places of work to select from. For me, I’m a teacher so I work at a school, but there were various other options to select from like do you work at a store or a restaurant. Asked your age and other questions. Then they let you know whether you qualify or not. I was qualified but my partner did not, due to him not working nor he is not a teacher. It was an interesting procedure. I booked a date for yesterday and automatically the second date was set for March 3rd, three weeks after the first appointment. Both were set up at the same time. They gave the time and explained about the drive-through process. I already know where Oakland Coliseum was at. I already know where it’s located.

Ann Lynn: Wonderful, so when you arrived at the site was there a long line of cars or were there only a few cars and easy to get in?

Stacy: My appointment was at 5pm, I arrived around 4:30pm from the Hegenberger Freeway exit. I saw the Coliseum to my right but was not sure where to go myself. I went to where I saw people standing, but they said that was for employees, so I went further around the complex and saw the line to the right and got in that line. I saw orange cones and as I went forward inside, I saw a huge signal board with an “A” Athletic’s with a fence on both sides and two lines of cars entering. I saw a woman approach me, she was talking but had a mask on which for me, I could not hear her so didn’t know what she was saying. I gestured and pointed to my ears and shook my head and the woman motioned, “one minute” holding up her finger and walked to a table. She came back with a sign that said AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE and placed it on my windshield. I was not sure what she was saying due to the mask. She motioned me to go around to the right, it seemed she was communicating with others. I followed her, she had me pull out of line and park to the side, I was not sure but trusted that they had identified me as using ASL and waited for a couple of minutes. Then a man in a golf cart, who signed “come over” and waved me on to follow him. I felt relieved as he signed. Then followed him off to the left. Other cars went to the right but it seems that the left lane is for special cases. It went very fast, and it felt like VIP treatment. I pulled up to the nurse and other medical people and an interpreter came up right away. I rolled down my window and was ready to proceed.

Ann Lynn: Alright, I’m curious, that person in the cart, he signed, was he the interpreter all the way through the process?

Stacy: Right. They have 5 different interpreters. I asked questions while I was waiting as I was curious. Really, the person in the cart stayed with me the whole time. We both had masks on. He asked me questions like “are you sick” and other common questions. I said I was fine. He asked if I understood about the vaccine and if I accepted being vaccinated. I said I accept it. He asked to see my Drivers Licence, you must have a DL or ID card. I gave him my DL. I waited and he gave me a white record card stamped to show proof that I had received the vaccination. So I took the card, you must bring the card back to the second vaccination. Remember I mentioned the second appointment scheduled, that is when I must bring the record card for proof. Then I got the vaccination, the whole time the interpreter was with me, he explained that now you will rest 15 minutes in a parking lot. They put an orange post-it note on my windshield. Someone had taken the interpreter’s cart, so he walked by my car at the same time we both were chatting, as I pulled into another line to wait for 15 minutes. When I arrived at the front of the line someone took the orange paper from the windshield and checked the time, there were two minutes left, they asked if I felt ok, I said I felt fine. They said to wait for two more minutes. I talked with the interpreter. The last few minutes of the process a new interpreter came to switch with the interpreter I had for most of the process. The new interpreter helped me as I had more questions to ask. The new interpreter explained those that walk through must go to the BART station near the bridge area. Not all people that come for vaccinations drive through some walk. The interpreter asked how I knew where to come for the vaccination and I explained I learned through DCARA and FEMA. So thank you!

Ann Lynn: I’m curious about your experience, if you feel it was important, why it was important to go there and not to sites closer to your home?

Stacy: Good question, actually I had no choice. When I made the reservation they only had two choices of locations, both in Oakland, I live in Pleasanton. Really there was no other choice than to go to that location. Oakland was not far, only 20 minutes, it was fine. Warning to others that the site is large, thank God for the interpreters because everyone had masks on so I already felt stressed. It was hard work to try to communicate, but when the interpreter came up it was all smooth, I had no anxiety after that. Really I had heard rumors that there will be sites near my home but I wanted to get it over with, so I made the reservation there. That is why I picked Oakland, well, not picked but went.

Ann Lynn: Do you have any tips or warnings for the Deaf Community?

Stacy: First, when you first drive up make sure to indicate you are Deaf, quickly, as they already know what to do. The system is set up for the Deaf community with interpreters, five interpreters. The interpreters were set up by FEMA, including interpreters for many different languages including ASL. So, let them know quickly upon arrival, and they will get an interpreter to easily lead you through the process. Also, it’s important to arrive about 30 minutes early just to be able to relax and not rush. They never checked my appointment time. I had an appointment at 5:10 and I arrived at 4:30 and they just took me through. They didn’t say “you are early” or anything, just took me through the process. For me, it was good to arrive 30 minutes early to not feel stressed.

Ann Lynn: Thank you! I really appreciate your explaining your experience and tips, this is really valuable information for others in the community to learn from. Again, thank you for your time, we appreciate it!

Stacy: Thank you again for having interpreters at the site, have a good day!

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