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Post by Phalon on Dec 13, 2020 10:52:50 GMT -6
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Post by Phalon on Dec 18, 2020 7:18:58 GMT -6
Because sometimes you just need a laugh:
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Post by Phalon on Dec 20, 2020 7:49:08 GMT -6
How's the vaccine rollout going there, Moonglum? There have been a few snags here, which I think would kind of be expected with this massive a distribution. I read there's been some discussion that after the healthcare workers and nursing home residents get vaccinated here, that teachers should be next in line - I think that's a good idea; so many kids are falling through the cracks with virtual learning.
I also read that London and other parts of England are going into a stricter level of restrictions. While it seems it's for the best, I hope it doesn't drastically change Christmas plans for your family.
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Post by moonglum on Dec 23, 2020 23:50:57 GMT -6
How's the vaccine rollout going there, Moonglum? There have been a few snags here, which I think would kind of be expected with this massive a distribution. I read there's been some discussion that after the healthcare workers and nursing home residents get vaccinated here, that teachers should be next in line - I think that's a good idea; so many kids are falling through the cracks with virtual learning. I also read that London and other parts of England are going into a stricter level of restrictions. While it seems it's for the best, I hope it doesn't drastically change Christmas plans for your family. It's progressing slowly. About 400,000 first doses so far. The new variant discovered has put more areas into Tier 4, which effectively is a full lockdown. This variant is more transmissable. Now a 'second' new variant has been discovered, apparently originating from South Africa, which means that starting from Boxing Day virtually the whole southern half of the UK, and a lot of the north, will move to Tier 4. Our eldest daughter and family were meant to be coming down from Yorkshire for Christmas but that has been cancelled, so Vox has installed Zoom on her laptop. For the first time in many, many years there will be just four of us around the Christmas table. I hope everything is well with all Whooshites, and Vox and I wish you all a Good Christmas and a very safe New Year.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 24, 2020 8:52:36 GMT -6
I'm sorry your Christmas isn't going to be quite as planned, Moonglum, but I wish you the same - a very merry Christmas to you and Vox, and a safe New Year, much better then this past one!
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Post by Phalon on Jan 4, 2021 8:51:26 GMT -6
I was getting quite discouraged last week with the slow progress of getting people vaccinated; in the three weeks since the first deliveries were made, only a little over 2 and a half million people had been vaccinated. Some reports I read stated that part of the problem is the healthcare system is already overloaded with Covid patients, and the medical staff who are already overworked and at their wits end, are now supposed to undertake the daunting job of mass vaccinations. I think Mitt Romney's idea to enlist everyone certified to give shots - military combat medics, first responders, veterinarians, nursing and medical students - is a good one. He also urged that large venues, now closed due to the pandemic, be set up as temporary vaccination clinics. That happened here in Michigan last week, when U of M used the "Big House" football stadium as a giant vaccination site in Ann Arbor.
I was also discouraged to read that so many who are eligible in the first tier to receive the vaccine, opted not to get it. Ohio Gov. DeWine, for example, reported that 60% of nursing home workers declined vaccination. I dunno how I feel about that - what if they change their minds at a later date? Should they have to "go to the back of the line", or because they work with those most vulnerable to the virus, should they again be given first priority? It seems unfair if they've refused the first time around, but change their minds, to give them priority over the rest of the population when you've got elderly people in Florida, which has some kind of weird first-come-first-served plan for the elderly, literally camping out overnight at vaccination sites, only to be turned away because the vaccines for that day were already gone. Is that just being petty though?
Much more encouraging though was that 2 million more doses were given by Saturday, nearly as many that were given in the 3 weeks prior. Glimmers of hope.
Stay safe.
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Post by Phalon on Jan 16, 2021 11:41:37 GMT -6
When I read this article the other day, it (in a way) reminded me of the book we read as a group, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". 'In a way', not because of how this man or his family is being treated, but because of the "medical phenomenon" that protein in his blood contain "super antibodies" that neutralize the virus. Like the HeLa cells that came from Henrietta Lacks advanced cancer research, this man's antibodies can help scientists develop ways to kill the virus and mass produce these supper antibodies. www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/he-unknowingly-had-covid-19-now-his-blood-contains-rare-n1254232
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Post by moonglum on Jan 17, 2021 0:42:04 GMT -6
That is an amazing story Phalon. I know the UK population is much smaller than the USA but I thought I would show you our latest figures. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55690720Stay safe.
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Post by Phalon on Jan 18, 2021 8:39:01 GMT -6
I thought so too. With all the discouraging and bad news, it's nice, maybe even necessary, to read some encouraging news.
It's not just the population difference between our two countries, Moonglum. There's this...
"Because people are sticking so well to the guidelines we do think the peaks are coming over the next week to 10 days for most places in terms of new people into hospital."
However, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance stressed it was a "suppressed peak" that would "boil over for sure" if controls were eased.
He said: "This is not the natural peak that's going to come down on its own, it's coming down because of the measures that are in place.
"Take the lid off now and it's going to boil over for sure and we're going to end up with a big problem."
If only people would stick to the guidelines in the U.S., we wouldn't be in such the mess we're in.
Stay safe as well.
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Post by moonglum on Jan 18, 2021 10:44:32 GMT -6
Point taken, Phalon.
Have you heard anything from Joxie. I havn't seen any posts from her for a while, I hope she's ok.
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 18, 2021 16:25:01 GMT -6
I check in on my phone, but I prefer to post on my computer. I’ve had other things occupying my time online, not leaving me time to drop in while on my computer.
I’m fine. No illnesses, other than the weather messing with my sinuses. Making me dizzy from time to time. Still doing my best not to get or pass on the virus. Waiting, not so patiently, for warmer weather to get here. And for Summer, when the virus should be less a problem, due to the heat, and hopefully due to the vaccines as well.
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Post by Phalon on Jan 23, 2021 6:21:53 GMT -6
I don't know what it's like there, Moonglum, but in the States, there are still anti-mask protests happening. Here, where I live, it's not so bad - I think a lot of it has to do with the summer people and tourists not being here; the town's population falls drastically in winter. Yesterday though, there were two people in the grocery store without masks - it's been a while since I've seen anyone in a store without a mask.
Glad to hear, Joxie!
My boss texted me yesterday - she's scheduled to get the vaccine today. She's the first person I know personally who's been able to get it (she's over 65).
Stay safe, stay well.
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 23, 2021 14:30:53 GMT -6
My Aunt, on my Dad’s side, called me last night. She asked if I knew that my Mom’s brother was in the hospital with COVID. I didn’t. (Mom was how I got my family/community information, and now that’s she’s gone, I learn of thing if someone thinks to inform me.) He was supposed to have come home yesterday, but breathing complications prevented his release. His wife, my Aunt’s sister, also has COVID, but she’s at home.
—— My dad had three brothers, and my mom two brothers. My dad’s oldest brother married a woman with three sisters. My dad’s second oldest brother married another one of the sisters. My dad dated a third sister, but she married one of my mom’s brothers. The youngest sister dated my dad’s youngest brother, but married someone completely outside of my family. So, my cousins on my dad’s side were cousins of my cousins on my mom’s side. (People’s eyes glaze over whenever I try to explain how we’re all connected.)
Years ago, when I worked at a speaker factory two of my coworkers were talking about a half brother they share. When someone asked if they were brother and sister, they said they weren’t related to each other. They shared a half brother because one’s mom had had a child by the other’s dad. They had to repeat themselves several times, because some didn’t get it, and kept asking how they had the same half brother, but weren’t at all related to each other. Someone asked me if I understood it, and I said that I totally got it. And then I explained how my mom and dad’s families are intermingled. Yeah. That stumped them too. Some people just can’t wrap their heads around things they never experienced themselves.
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Post by Phalon on Jan 24, 2021 8:58:01 GMT -6
I remember you explaining that before, and I was probably one of those people who was left with glazed-over eyes. I got it this time though! Admittedly probably only because I drew a handy-dandy little chart. (Hey, I had nothing better to do this morning - it's in the low 20s, it's snowing, and I had a pot of coffee on.)
That one is easier to understand - no chart needed. Although the coffee probably helps.
Hope they have quick recoveries very soon.
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Post by moonglum on Feb 3, 2021 11:54:08 GMT -6
Vox and I have had our first vaccinations.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 3, 2021 15:34:29 GMT -6
So glad to hear this. I pray it’s a permanent fix for you both, and that you never have to worry about getting this virus EVER.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 4, 2021 7:03:40 GMT -6
Great news, Moonglum! Congratulations to you and Voxie Lady.
Our county has a vaccine registration sign-up; based on the current rate of vaccination, I'm scheduled to get my vaccine in August.
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Post by moonglum on Feb 5, 2021 0:48:54 GMT -6
Thanks, both. I can't believe we are getting through this vaccine roll-out so quickly, over 10 million in a little over a month. We have an army of volunteers helping out, retired doctors and nurses, army medics, it's amazing. At this rate, we'll be due our second dose at the end of April/beginning of May. August, Phalon gosh that must seem like an age, but hopefully, it'll be sooner. It was strange, Vox got a call nearly three weeks ago but when she phoned to book the appointment there was a problem. Because she'd suffered an anaphylactic shock some years ago, she had an infection and they gave her a massive dose of penicillin, they said she couldn't have the vaccine because all they had at the time was the Pfizer one. They told her she'd have to wait for the Oxford/Atrozenica vaccine. They told her they would put her on the list! She phoned two or three more times and got the same answer. Then I got the call to go and get mine and Vox came with me. While I was getting mine done I asked the nurse about Vox and she said she would speak to the doctor. He came over and we spoke. He said there shouldn't be any problem giving her the Pfizer vaccine and get her to phone and book. I said she's outside in the car and he said 'bring her in we'll do it now'. Result! It just goes to show, never talk to the receptionist, always the doctor!
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Post by Phalon on Feb 6, 2021 8:08:52 GMT -6
I hope it'll be sooner - I was hoping to be vaccinated before going back to work in spring and having to deal with the public every day. I'm in the last priority group to get the vaccine though.
OMG, how lucky that she came with you!!! Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
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Post by Phalon on Feb 12, 2021 7:12:27 GMT -6
Are you guys double-masking? I first started doing it a few weeks ago when the new virus variants starting appearing in cities close to here; I also wanted to get used to wearing two masks before the nursery opens again in spring, and I'd have to be with the public for 8 hours a day.
This week there has been at least one case of the variant found in our county. At the grocery store, it seems more people were double-masking than not.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 12, 2021 14:30:34 GMT -6
I’ve pretty much been double masking the whole time. I started out using one of my mom’s medical masks, and an old dust mask I hadn’t even opened. Then I learned about using coffee filters inside of, or inbetween, masks. Sometimes I used all three, then just used the medical mask and coffee filter. Then I saw a video about how to tie knots in the ear loops to get the mask to fit tighter around the mouth and nose. Sometimes it would shift too much in one direction, so I then started wearing a second medical mask over it. I didn’t put a knot in those loops. Now I wear the knotted mask on my face the right way, and I flip the outer mask and wear it the wrong way. I figured that way, the inner mask protected others, and the outer mask protected me.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 26, 2021 8:10:16 GMT -6
I had some good news on the vaccination front this week - I may qualify to get my vaccination sooner than I expected. I'm currently in the very last group to be vaccinated - "mass vaccination of anyone over age 16". I may qualify though as an essential worker in the tier above that. We shall see - registration for that tier begins Monday. Keeping fingers crossed.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 26, 2021 12:15:46 GMT -6
Glad to hear it. I’m sure you’ll feel safer at work once you’ve had both shots. I haven’t been notified about getting the vaccine yet, and I haven’t looked into it on my own. I haven’t decided if I’ll get it, or not. And, if I do get it, I’ll wait and see how it goes first. I never get a flu or pneumonia shot every year, but I’m more inclined to get this shot than those. If I’m at the right place at the right time, and the shot might go to waste, I might get it if no one else is available.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 27, 2021 9:01:14 GMT -6
I will! I've never received the flu or pneumonia vaccines with any regularity either - I don't recall ever getting a pneumonia shot, and the last flu shot I had was maybe when the girls were little and would bring every germ out there home from school or daycare. I am looking forward though, to getting the Covid vaccine.
I don't see that it's a green flag to stop taking precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, and I think that's how some people are going to view this once they get vaccinated. A friend of mine called this week, wanting to get together with a mutual friend Friday night to go out to a restaurant for drinks - they are both older and each got the first dose of the vaccine. I miss them terribly, and call me paranoid, but I'm just not ready to do that yet. (The friend who called was the same one who said last spring that we'd not get together for drinks until the vaccine came out; the last time we met was late summer when we had a social distanced lunch outside).
I think about my co-worker who got Covid early October, is still on blood thinners and suffers extreme fatigue. Every time I talk to him, he reminds me to stay safe. Gonna keep doing that.
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Post by Phalon on Mar 21, 2021 5:17:58 GMT -6
I was feeling a bit deflated yesterday.
Every day my co-worker and I, first thing in the morning, ask each other if we "got the call". We check our cell phones at breaks, at lunch, and when we get ready to leave for the day, asking each other the same question. Nothing. It's become kind of our cynical joke - we are both waiting (not so patiently) to be scheduled to get our vaccines.
Yesterday morning (Saturday) I got the text!!! I had 24 hours to confirm that I wanted the vaccine and schedule the appointment this Monday - I did so immediately. "Success! An appointment time has been reserved for you" was the response when I completed the short required questionnaire. A few minutes later, I received another text, requesting that I choose my scheduled appointment time. Nothing was available.
My co-worker got the same texts as I did....and got the same response. I called the pharmacy, and was told I was not scheduled - the woman I spoke with didn't even ask my name, so I asked how she knew I wasn't scheduled, even though the text I received stated differently. "Those appointments were filled Friday", she said.
Argh!
After weeks of declining cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in the state, our numbers in all three categories are surging again. Yesterday the numbers were the highest they've been in over 3 months.
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Post by Phalon on Mar 24, 2021 4:42:55 GMT -6
I stopped by the pharmacy on my way home from work yesterday, just to see if they had any vaccines left - that's how a co-worker's daughter got her vaccine the day before at the same pharmacy chain, different location. They had finished the vaccination clinic shortly before I arrived, and didn't know when they'd get more vaccines.
By the time I got home, I had an e-mail from the county health department. I was able to schedule both Hubs and I for our first dose next week! Whooo-hoooo! It's the Moderna vaccine, which I think is kind of funny in a weird sort of way - where we're getting vaccinated is literally 20 minutes where the largest Pfizer manufacturing plant is located.
Doesn't matter to me which vaccine I get - I'll take what I can get, and the sooner the better....
Had a customer yesterday - a snowbird that winters in Florida, lives here the rest of the time; they just returned home over the weekend. She was kind of taken aback that we still required masks to be worn.
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Post by Phalon on Apr 1, 2021 4:40:41 GMT -6
Hubs and I got our first vaccine dose a couple of days ago. Very impressed on how smoothly the vaccination site was run - aside from the 15 minute wait period after the shot was given to make sure we were okay, the whole process up to that point only took 10 minutes from the time we walked up to the door of the place. No side effects except a sore arm.
We get our second dose May 5th. Can't wait!
Numbers in the state are running amok - there was over 6,100 new cases reported Tuesday, the day we got our vaccine.
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Post by Mini Mia on Apr 5, 2021 18:59:13 GMT -6
Just learned from my Aunt that she got both her shots at the local county health department. I didn’t know they were bringing the vaccine in and quickly vaccinating people on their list. I called the department after getting off the phone with her, and I’m on the list to be called at some point to come get my first shot. Whoo Hoo! I’ll be able to relax once I’ve had both shots. She said it took about two weeks after getting on the list before she got her first shot. So, now I wait.
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Post by Phalon on Apr 12, 2021 8:35:32 GMT -6
Whew! That was a relief - I went to the grocery store early this morning, and all was calm. I usually go every week, but I haven't been the last couple, because honestly the two weeks before was an extremely uncomfortable experience for me. The "virus is a hoax" anti-maskers/anti-vaxers were making their presence known.
I can't believe how bad things are here - in this latest surge, Michigan is the worst hot-spot in the nation, after being one of the best, ranked 46 in the least infections out of the 50 states just a couple of months ago. In just the last four days we've had over 30,000 new cases - 2,000+ more than the entire month of February. Hospitals across the state are at 95% capacity.
A pillar of our community died last week of Covid - he was the same age as Hubs and I. He was such a nice guy, married 37 years, with children and grandchildren. His death shook the whole town.
Hope you get your vaccine soon, Joxie. LX and The Boyfriend get their first dose this coming week. No word yet on when BP and her boyfriend will get theirs.
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Post by Mini Mia on Apr 12, 2021 12:25:38 GMT -6
My first shot is on the 15th, and my second shot is four weeks later, on May 13th. I’m still leery of the vaccine, but I’d rather take my chances with getting it, than with getting COVID. My knuckles are swollen from my arthritis, and I know that inflammation will put a COVID patient on a ventilator.
My niece is a nurse, and she told me to start taking Tylenol the night before the shots, and to take it every few hours before and after getting the shots. The second one is the one kicking people’s butts, but Tylenol will help with both.
My nephew’s girlfriend has an autoimmune disease, and I learned from someone on Instagram who also has an autoimmune disease that they should take a Tylenol before the second shot, and Benadryl after. So, I passed that information on to her. She either got her first shot recently, or will be getting it soon.
I’ll still wear a mask afterwards, but I won’t have to worry about making a mistake. I will be able to relax a bit. I know I’ll still be able to catch the virus, but my body should be able to fight it off without hospitalization. Hopefully, I’ll never get COVID, but the longer it is a threat, the better my odds are of eventually getting it.
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