Coronavirus 2019

Teachers and other school staff are now top priority in Florida.  Publix's website moved them to the front of the line today - if you were a teacher you got access to appointments and only after all such people got bookings were they made available to the other categories.  I don't have any problem with that; we need our teachers vaccinated asap so schools can reopen and stay open.

Publix is now offering both the J&J vaccine (on Wednesdays) and the Moderna vaccine (on Mondays and Fridays).  It will be interesting to learn whether there is a difference in demand for the Moderna vs. the J&J.

Stef got a J&J appointment today.  I am still not remotely eligible

Got my 2nd Moderna today.  I will now live forever.

@irwin posted:

Got my 2nd Moderna today.  I will now live forever.

Yes, as a Zombie.

Seriously, congrats to you!

@irwin posted:

Got my 2nd Moderna today.  I will now live forever.

Please report back.  Many on the next day start feeling bad for about 2-3 days.

@jcocktosten posted:

Stef got a J&J appointment today.  I am still not remotely eligible

But you're so much older than her!  Whatzup with that?

@bman posted:

But you're so much older than her!  Whatzup with that?

She is on medication that makes her eligible - I am not

@jcocktosten posted:

She is on medication that makes her eligible - I am not

I assumed it was because she is cuter than you are.

@irwin posted:

I assumed it was because she is cuter than you are.

Me too!!

I resemble that remark

I'm desperate to travel but I have to tell you I'm not really interested in doing it wearing masks and being separated and all the other stuff. I don't believe that's going to be an option until maybe mid-2022.

It makes me wonder about the idea of vaccinated-tourism. Entry into restaurants, museums, etc. upon proof of 2 weeks plus from 2nd vaccination shot or whatever the time period is from the 1st vaccination of Johnson & Johnson's.

@The Old Man posted:

I'm desperate to travel but I have to tell you I'm not really interested in doing it wearing masks and being separated and all the other stuff. I don't believe that's going to be an option until maybe mid-2022.

It makes me wonder about the idea of vaccinated-tourism. Entry into restaurants, museums, etc. upon proof of 2 weeks plus from 2nd vaccination shot or whatever the time period is from the 1st vaccination of Johnson & Johnson's.

Texas will let you do whatever you want, so there’s that. Probably some other shithole states as well.

@billhike posted:

Texas will let you do whatever you want, so there’s that. Probably some other shithole states as well.

It will be interesting to see how many retailers and other businesses stick to science instead of stupidity and continue to require masks and social distancing in their buildings. For that matter, which way does the populace lean since they voted for these idiots? Are they rushing indoors into movie theatres and restaurants?

RE: Texas, they are really putting the enforcement,if any, on the business owners. Really unfair to them. RE: Old Man, same feeling on travel. Really want to travel somewhere but not willing to short change my vacay with the necessary restrictions. NOT going to Texas! Looking at Mexico end of April, just not sure it's worth the trip right now.

Understand all concerns.  For what its worth, we went to Mexico in October and it felt far safer than Florida.

Masks distance sanitizing temp checks amd info taking for contact tracing everywhere

State like Texas amd Florida imposing rule requiring amlnd emforcement on businesses is horrible although at least as to local business shows who cares about health amd saftey and who values only money.  There are many places we will no longer patronize

@The Old Man posted:

I'm desperate to travel but I have to tell you I'm not really interested in doing it wearing masks and being separated and all the other stuff. I don't believe that's going to be an option until maybe mid-2022.

It makes me wonder about the idea of vaccinated-tourism. Entry into restaurants, museums, etc. upon proof of 2 weeks plus from 2nd vaccination shot or whatever the time period is from the 1st vaccination of Johnson & Johnson's.

I have a card now in my wallet proving the dates of my vaccinations.  It is my form of "passport" to enter various establishments.

In Israel, they have what they call the "green passport."  Since the fact of vaccination of a person is known to the government, if you have had your two vaccinations, you can download onto your cellphone from a government website a "green passport" allowing you entry into gyms, cinemas, and so forth. Everyone has a cellphone, of course.

@wineismylife posted:

Please report back.  Many on the next day start feeling bad for about 2-3 days.

My arm was super sore.  A bit queasy to stomach next day, then went away. The Mrs. had a sore arm, and a bit of swelling.

The boys' school vaccinated all the teachers and staff and had a few extra doses so my wife got a Pfizer a few weeks back as she volunteers there 3-5 days a week.  They did second doses yesterday and had a few extra again so I was able to get my first dose.  Sore arm today but otherwise no issues.  Looking forward to getting my second down the road.

I made my first work trip in 12 months last week to Florida (Tampa area).  I stopped at a Circle K and 8 of the 10 people weren't wearing masks.  Seems that way most places I went (except for Bern's).  Couldn't wait to get back to Ohio.  I feel really bad for business owners that have to go against the Governors and enforce mask wearing on their own.

Florida - America’s schlong.

@wineismylife posted:

Please report back.  Many on the next day start feeling bad for about 2-3 days.

Shot #2 (Moderna) was received around 10:30 AM on 3/10.  As of now (1 PM on 3/11) only two side effects:

1) Minimally tender arm.

2) As you know, Moderna is run by a Greek guy.  Probably explains my desire for a plate of olives and feta cheese and a bottle of Assyrtiko.

@irwin posted:

I have a card now in my wallet proving the dates of my vaccinations.  It is my form of "passport" to enter various establishments.

In Israel, they have what they call the "green passport."  Since the fact of vaccination of a person is known to the government, if you have had your two vaccinations, you can download onto your cellphone from a government website a "green passport" allowing you entry into gyms, cinemas, and so forth. Everyone has a cellphone, of course.

I too have such a card, the problem is they could be easily forged--there's no standards nor security on the card. We need a national passport, but I think it's too late now and there could be great resistance to it.

It appears my wife and I have Saturday morning appointments for the Johnson single dose.

It's really uplifting to hear of so many of you getting appointments and getting the "jab."  I am more optimistic than I've been in a while that we are finally getting to the finish line of this pandemic.

@Rothko posted:

It's really uplifting to hear of so many of you getting appointments and getting the "jab."  I am more optimistic than I've been in a while that we are finally getting to the finish line of this pandemic.

There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel and much to be optimistic about but to remain in focus we are only 10% and a smidge vaccinated as of today as a nation.  Much work left over then next 3-4 months.

Wife is getting her first Moderna shot today. Has to drive about 50 miles to get it, though. I'm still waiting.....

Trying to schedule an appointment for my mom is so far a major pain in the balls, and it doesn’t help that she lives 65 miles away. But my wife and I did get our J&J single jabs this morning at a mass vaccination event that will do 2,400 of them today. It was well-organized.

Stef got her J and J.  Other than the long drive, super easy

Publix opened up their appointments at 7:00 a.m. as usual today.  In South Florida, the appointments were gobbled up fast.  But now, 6 hours later, there are still appointments available in a bunch of counties up north or out west in the panhandle.  You can go online and book one, even as I type this. No one wants them there, I guess.

It's either time to reallocate some of those vaccines to the middle and south part of the State, or time to open up the categories a bit more of eligible persons.

@Rothko posted:

Publix opened up their appointments at 7:00 a.m. as usual today.  In South Florida, the appointments were gobbled up fast.  But now, 6 hours later, there are still appointments available in a bunch of counties up north or out west in the panhandle.  You can go online and book one, even as I type this. No one wants them there, I guess.

It's either time to reallocate some of those vaccines to the middle and south part of the State, or time to open up the categories a bit more of eligible persons.

And that is with the age lowered to 60 starting today

Got my first jab of Pfizer this morning via my health care provider.  Second jab to follow on 4/5.  No symptoms thus far....knock on wood.

The whole thing is weird.  Offer 5,000 doses to teachers, only 1,900 show up.

27% of Trumps supports won't take it.  Others claim virus doesn't affect young folks.

Granddaughter finally back in school [4th grade] in NJ.  Very first day, girl next to her tested positive, now Delia has to quarantine 14 days.

@flwino posted:

The whole thing is weird.  Offer 5,000 doses to teachers, only 1,900 show up.

27% of Trumps supports won't take it.  Others claim virus doesn't affect young folks.

Why get vaccinated when it will all go away like a miracle and in any case, it's a hoax perpetrated by the left!

From what I've been able to read, it seems that there are two ways to reach herd immunity:  the vaccine; or getting Covid and recovering.  If a significant percentage of the population doesn't take the vaccine, then the Covid virus will just continue to spread, perhaps slower than right now, through the unvaccinated population.  Those people will either be asymptomatic or they will get sick.  Some will go into hospitals, and some will die.  The vaccinated people, in the meantime, will be almost entirely immune from serious illness or death.  The unvaccinated people are making a decision to gamble that they won't get seriously sick or die.  Just as the vaccinated people are making a decision to gamble that the vaccine isn't going to harm them.

If that's the case, once the vaccine becomes readily available to everyone who wants one (apparently by the summer), I see no reason why anyone should continue Covid precautions such as mask wearing or social distancing.   

As someone who intends to be fully vaccinated, I will have little or no sympathy for those who voluntarily elected not to take the vaccine but get sick.  Just as I am sure that the unvaccinated people will have little or no sympathy for me if I get some terrible complication or illness from the vaccine.

@Rothko posted:

As someone who intends to be fully vaccinated, I will have little or no sympathy for those who voluntarily elected not to take the vaccine but get sick.  

Along with those who continue to not give a shit about spreading it, Fuck them.

@Insight posted:

Got my first jab of Pfizer this morning via my health care provider.  Second jab to follow on 4/5.  No symptoms thus far....knock on wood.

When I got my first, and then my second, I didn't knock on anything. I just ignored the cassandras and was fine. Those with serious reactions are low.

Canada’s chief public health doctor is reporting that the AZ vaccine is not causing blood clots.

Although she also said border closures were racist, wearing masks is more harmful than not wearing them, and that there was no airborne transmission of Covid. Also that the cases in Canada would be 10 times higher than they are as of now if nothing is done and a further harsher lockdown not introduced (for the record what has been done is loosening of restrictions), so I’m taking her pronouncement with something of a healthy degree of skepticism.  I’m hopeful she’s right this time though especially since the Europeans seem to be saying the same thing.

Yeah, apparently there's a higher percentage of blood clot cases amongst the general population than with those who have had the AZ vaccine.

17 million AZ vaccinations in Europe and only a handful of blood clots. It's being blown way out of proportion.

Mrs. S had her first shot of AZ on Saturday. She started to feel flu-like, exhausted, spacey on Saturday afternoon. She's a fair bit better now, but is still exhausted 78 hours after the shot.

I completed my second shot of Pfizer about a month ago. I was fine after the first shot, but felt crappy for about 48 hours after the second shot.

Everyone's immune system reacts differently...

@csm posted:

Canada’s chief public health doctor is reporting that the AZ vaccine is not causing blood clots.

Although she also said border closures were racist, wearing masks is more harmful than not wearing them, and that there was no airborne transmission of Covid. Also that the cases in Canada would be 10 times higher than they are as of now if nothing is done and a further harsher lockdown not introduced (for the record what has been done is loosening of restrictions), so I’m taking her pronouncement with something of a healthy degree of skepticism.  I’m hopeful she’s right this time though especially since the Europeans seem to be saying the same thing.

In her defense, when she said "wearing masks is more harmful than not wearing them and that there was no airborne transmission of Covid" it was very early in pandemic and many other public health experts were saying the same thing, as I recall. 

The problem with AstraZeneca is that it's gotten a bad rap already a couple of times.  First, there was the test data problems where they screwed up the dosage on one of the Phase III trials.  Then the numbers came back and some countries restricted the vaccine to people less than 65 years old.  And now this.  While AZ might be an effective vaccine, it has some serious PR problems.  I've read that in Germany they can't give the AZ vaccine away - and now they've halted all AZ vaccines due to the blood clot issue.

Look at it this way:  If you are given a choice between AZ and either Pfizer, Moderna or J&J, would you choose AZ?  I don't think many people would.

So the problem that the US is going to have is when AstraZeneca gets around to applying in the US for emergency use authorization, does the US approve it?  Knowing that most Americans aren't going to want it, and we have enough of the other vaccines to cover our population?

If the US doesn't authorize it, that would likely be a death knell for its use in third world and second world countries.  I suppose the US could authorize it, and then just ship our allotment of AZ doses overseas for other countries to use.  That might present an image problem however; the US keeps the top tier vaccines for itself and ships the second tier vaccines to poor countries.

Regarding reactions, about 8-10 hours after getting the J&J, I had a bit of lethargy as well as minor upper-body muscle aches. My wife had those a little more pronounced as well as the chills. We were both noticeably better the next day.