Great column, as always. There is a steady turn towards realization that this will be with us on an ongoing basis. I see your point. I'd add, though, that the flood of non-vaxxed, severe cases flooding the hospitals is boxing out those who need other vital medical treatments, and is burning out our docs and nurses. And if they're un-insured, or under-insured, they're capsizing financial resources as well. What do you think of life insurance and health insurance companies adjusting their premiums, as is done with smokers. If you smoke, you pay more. A LOT more. Or, do it the other way: a nice discounted premium for those who are fully vaxxed. Because each unvaxxed person is a walking Petri dish that allows the virus to morph into yet another variant. The faster the population is fully vaxxed, the faster this problem diminishes.
A very good and very useful synopsis of Where We Are Now. My own experience, as a 70YO white woman, vaccinated and boosted in a sensible area of a blue state (MA), is consistent with this. Having never had a flu shot and never gotten the flu, in March 2020 I was pretty blasé about Covid. Then I started reading about the wildcard aspects of Covid, and PDQ I started masking. Apart from grocery shopping, going to the post office, and walking in the woods with my dog, I'm either home alone (I'm a freelance editor) or on Zoom for one meeting or another. Now (vaxxed and boosted) I know a bunch of people who've had it, all vaxxed and in many cases boosted, and had mild symptoms or none at all. I'm still observing precautions, but I'm also pretty well convinced that if I get Covid I'll be OK. Gotta say, though -- those unvaccinated people in red states with irresponsible GOP governors still piss me off big-time.
The other day, I saw a great cartoon featuring Lucy from Peanuts. She reported that the CDC said that COVID was spread through the nose and mouth. However, she reported an update that it was mostly spread through assholes!
I don’t recognize this country anymore. I used to think rational people would prevail. The unvaccinated most at risk are the little ones who can’t get the shot—so, as far as I’m concerned, the MAGA morons aren’t dying fast enough.
You've stated very well the very obvious. We weren't in this "all together." The social irresponsibility of the unvaccinated forced us to adapt. Although divided, we'll conquer. At a very great cost to society as a whole.
I do not say this lightly my concern is that in a red state with tens of thousands unvaccinated a new and deadly variant will emerge. South Africa's Maricon rose in the most desperate areas. Lets hope that the boosters help diminish this torment. Great article as usual. Thank you.
Within the last few days, actually all occurred last Friday, I know three people who have tested positive. All are vaccinated but only one is boosted. They each have had mild, cold-like symptoms including a sore throat but nothing in their lungs. Dry cough and nasal congestion. I also have an acquaintance who lives in Florida but traveled up the Eastern Seaboard by car with her husband last December (2020). They both got Covid. Unfortunately for her, she has long Covid with the absolute worst symptom I have ever heard of. Everything she tries to eat tastes like rotting meat due to nerve damage from Covid. Her husband had mild sickness. Recently, her teenage daughter also had Covid (September 2021). Guess what? She has the same nerve damage as her mother and everything she tries to eat tastes like rotting meat. She has been told that this may never get better - for her or her daughter. I do not know if they are vaccinated or not. I assume they are not. Choosing to not get vaccinated is like playing Russian Roulette.
This captures precisely how I am feeling. Covid is closing in but I am weirdly resigned and not depressed or terrified as I was over a year ago. On the money as always.
Two things: 1) a close friend, all three shots and masking, got a very BAD case of break through with some long haul symptoms. Fortunately he did not require hospitalization, but it was scary. Recently I read that when one recovers from break through, one has "super immunity." I hope that's true! And 2) a niece who is a doctor says that there's some research underway to see if those with asthma may have some built-in immunity. They don't know. But it may be a reason that I did not get Covid from my friend. Who knows? I have more questions than answers.
I think we're all doing a balancing act between avoiding covid and hoping we get a mild case of Omicron which combined with being boosted is reportedly the protection gold standard. I got call last night from a 79 year old boosted, mask wearing, social distancing friend. He had thought it was just a cold but got tested, and boom. He's fine so far, mild symptoms. Rinse and Repeat, as you say we're all going to hear this scenario repeated many many times.
Great column, as always. There is a steady turn towards realization that this will be with us on an ongoing basis. I see your point. I'd add, though, that the flood of non-vaxxed, severe cases flooding the hospitals is boxing out those who need other vital medical treatments, and is burning out our docs and nurses. And if they're un-insured, or under-insured, they're capsizing financial resources as well. What do you think of life insurance and health insurance companies adjusting their premiums, as is done with smokers. If you smoke, you pay more. A LOT more. Or, do it the other way: a nice discounted premium for those who are fully vaxxed. Because each unvaxxed person is a walking Petri dish that allows the virus to morph into yet another variant. The faster the population is fully vaxxed, the faster this problem diminishes.
A very good and very useful synopsis of Where We Are Now. My own experience, as a 70YO white woman, vaccinated and boosted in a sensible area of a blue state (MA), is consistent with this. Having never had a flu shot and never gotten the flu, in March 2020 I was pretty blasé about Covid. Then I started reading about the wildcard aspects of Covid, and PDQ I started masking. Apart from grocery shopping, going to the post office, and walking in the woods with my dog, I'm either home alone (I'm a freelance editor) or on Zoom for one meeting or another. Now (vaxxed and boosted) I know a bunch of people who've had it, all vaxxed and in many cases boosted, and had mild symptoms or none at all. I'm still observing precautions, but I'm also pretty well convinced that if I get Covid I'll be OK. Gotta say, though -- those unvaccinated people in red states with irresponsible GOP governors still piss me off big-time.
96% of the patients in our ICU with COVID are unvaccinated. 100% of our COVID patients on ventilators are unvaccinated.
The other day, I saw a great cartoon featuring Lucy from Peanuts. She reported that the CDC said that COVID was spread through the nose and mouth. However, she reported an update that it was mostly spread through assholes!
NOT VACCINATED? As George Carlin would say, "What, are you fuckin' stupid?"
I don’t recognize this country anymore. I used to think rational people would prevail. The unvaccinated most at risk are the little ones who can’t get the shot—so, as far as I’m concerned, the MAGA morons aren’t dying fast enough.
You've stated very well the very obvious. We weren't in this "all together." The social irresponsibility of the unvaccinated forced us to adapt. Although divided, we'll conquer. At a very great cost to society as a whole.
I am reminded of the periodic discussions in this country over wearing helmets on motorcycles.
I do not say this lightly my concern is that in a red state with tens of thousands unvaccinated a new and deadly variant will emerge. South Africa's Maricon rose in the most desperate areas. Lets hope that the boosters help diminish this torment. Great article as usual. Thank you.
Within the last few days, actually all occurred last Friday, I know three people who have tested positive. All are vaccinated but only one is boosted. They each have had mild, cold-like symptoms including a sore throat but nothing in their lungs. Dry cough and nasal congestion. I also have an acquaintance who lives in Florida but traveled up the Eastern Seaboard by car with her husband last December (2020). They both got Covid. Unfortunately for her, she has long Covid with the absolute worst symptom I have ever heard of. Everything she tries to eat tastes like rotting meat due to nerve damage from Covid. Her husband had mild sickness. Recently, her teenage daughter also had Covid (September 2021). Guess what? She has the same nerve damage as her mother and everything she tries to eat tastes like rotting meat. She has been told that this may never get better - for her or her daughter. I do not know if they are vaccinated or not. I assume they are not. Choosing to not get vaccinated is like playing Russian Roulette.
This captures precisely how I am feeling. Covid is closing in but I am weirdly resigned and not depressed or terrified as I was over a year ago. On the money as always.
As always right on point AND too true
Covid tests are readily available on Amazon!
You, distinctly, have the talent to give us the true perspective always.!
Nancy Roehm
COVID, coup, corruption, immunity: Name three catastrophes and an antidote.
Two things: 1) a close friend, all three shots and masking, got a very BAD case of break through with some long haul symptoms. Fortunately he did not require hospitalization, but it was scary. Recently I read that when one recovers from break through, one has "super immunity." I hope that's true! And 2) a niece who is a doctor says that there's some research underway to see if those with asthma may have some built-in immunity. They don't know. But it may be a reason that I did not get Covid from my friend. Who knows? I have more questions than answers.
I think we're all doing a balancing act between avoiding covid and hoping we get a mild case of Omicron which combined with being boosted is reportedly the protection gold standard. I got call last night from a 79 year old boosted, mask wearing, social distancing friend. He had thought it was just a cold but got tested, and boom. He's fine so far, mild symptoms. Rinse and Repeat, as you say we're all going to hear this scenario repeated many many times.