So we are heading into muddy March, and it’s time to check in. How's everybody doing? I’m not trying to prime the pump, but Joe Biden has been president a little over a month. The snow may melt. You’re on a list somewhere to get vaccinated. How you doin’?
Scheduled for my first vaccine and feelin' pretty happy about that. Then I heard of another mutant strain that doesn't seem to be affected by antibodies and so now I'm not feelin' as happy about much. Wait, the sun it out, the foot of snow laying in wait in below zero temps is now beginning to look pretty droopy and sad in the 40+ degree weather. Looking forward to turning over the first shovels of garden soil soon. I might be rushing things a bit.
I want to be digging in my yard, as well. I can call to get the vaccine starting on Monday and I'm pretty excited about that, though I've had some interesting conversations today about other populations I would put in front of me for a shot.
The thing is, you may be able to identify some individuals you might put in front of you based on one on one discussions, but it gets complicated to identify them as a population in a public health setting. I read something in the Courant today that just got me mad because the premise was, certain people would have been next to get vaccinated because of their medical conditions. However, the premise was incorrect because their conditions were not even on the CDC list. It sets some readers up to believe they are somehow being overlooked, when they would not have qualified as one with an underlying condition from the list. I may be going down the wrong path based on the actual conversations you had today, but I'll say a few things anyway. I've been writing our Governor and others for awhile to promote an age-based, simple and objective approach to vaccination. I've heard too many stories of people finding a way to be included in earlier groups and it sure looked like some were taking advantage based on who they knew. And then there were other stories where the qualifications weren't clear, causing lots of confusion.
Even with the conditions listed on the CDC site, the scope is not specified. Consider "Cancer". There are over 100 types of cancer and there are many cancer treatments, and not all put the person at additional risk of COVID complications (e.g. what about skin cancer?). State to state, they are interpreting this condition on the CDC list in different ways and it's causing a lot of confusion. I see cancer patients agonizing over this across the country in online discussions - not wanting to skip the line but not understanding if they legitimately qualify. Are they at increased risk or not? And stage of treatment makes determination fuzzy if a state decides a person should have active cancer (vs in remission). After surgery, when a patient might be told, "we got it", is that person cancer free? Maybe or maybe not. Then comes possibly chemo and/or radiation and perhaps longer term treatment of some sort. For the states that claim that one must be in active treatment, when does that end? All of this to say, there are a lot of subjective judgments that are made. And depending on how things work, some people may be lucky enough to get a doctor note and others with the same health status may not. Is privilege a factor? Not every patient has easy access to docs.
From a public health perspective, it becomes complicated to implement it equitably and efficiently. The good thing about going by age groups is, it's objective and efficient and does prioritize high risk groups - related to age. Risk of death and hospitalization is highly correlated with age. There are younger people who are medically compromised who will now have to wait longer. It's disappointing. This has been so hard for a lot of people, for lots of different reasons. It certainly has been for me. Last week was especially difficult. Hopefully, this objective process will speed things up and make it easier to get vaccines out to everyone. The sooner we reach herd immunity the better. And I hope a pediatric vaccine is developed soon, too. I don't see how school can get back to normal without it. You may not feel like it, but you are at high risk. I have a couple of friends, a few years younger than you, who ended up hospitalized with COVID. One nearly died. I lost an older family member. Don't feel like you shouldn't be getting the vaccine yet. It's time. Stay well.
Just to simplify everything Jac wrote: we’re looking for herd immunity and the only way we’re going to get there in as little time as possible is for everyone to get their vaccinations when their time pops up. Don’t feel guilty and don’t cut the line. Just get it when you can and continue to wear your masks just in case. We don’t know what we don’t know about this monster. Just take the vaccine when they call your name. And I’m still doin’ just fine. Thanks for asking.
Better every day, Susan; though if I remember correctly the last time you asked was shortly after the siege of our nation’s Capitol and I replied with a line from “Pulp Fiction”, so there really was no place to go but up.
Ummm... it is. But my son is off to an outdoor first anniversary celebration with his girlfriend and my wife is on a Dramatists Guild Zoom Meeting so I'm enjoying my day in the manner to which I've grown accustomed: talking with family and friends. It's just virtual this year.
So in answer to your question: I'm doin' great! How YOU doin'?
Even though my lawn is still blanketed in snow, I saw BIRDS! The birds felt safe enough to sing to me from the porch railing outside my window. Dare we hope?
The motto at our house since all this began has been “Keep moving forward like a shark” which is probably why we mostly think about our next meal. Getting ready to go to the appointment for my first shot the past year flashed before my eyes. It reinforced how our focus on getting through made us discard, ignore and sometimes stuff the distractions and annoyances we couldn’t control anyway. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had it way better than most people (remember people?). The struggle for so many others has been greater than I can imagine. What’s been life and death for millions has been an inconvenience for us. A truly epic inconvenience, yes, but still just an inconvenience. Personally, I’ve been through darker times, just not this long. Anyway, all this makes me point to a quote from Zen interpreter R. H. Blyth that I’ve leaned on most of my life and may have shared on the Dating Jesus site.
“The more we suffer, intelligently, the deeper our life. Buddha said that life is suffering and taught us how to avoid both. This is wrong. Deep suffering is deep life. Nirvana is often taken as a condition of supreme joy. But it is also that of supreme sadness. The point anyway is not the joy or sadness, but the supremeness.”
So in answer to your question, we’re fine thanks. And grateful.
Wow. Just wow. This describes my pandemic entirely -- an inconvenience, but we haven't lost any one. We still have our health, and our incomes and I grieve for those who don't. It's the sadness I'm only beginning to recognize. I couldn't before now because I think an acknowledgement would have crushed me.
Scheduled for my first vaccine and feelin' pretty happy about that. Then I heard of another mutant strain that doesn't seem to be affected by antibodies and so now I'm not feelin' as happy about much. Wait, the sun it out, the foot of snow laying in wait in below zero temps is now beginning to look pretty droopy and sad in the 40+ degree weather. Looking forward to turning over the first shovels of garden soil soon. I might be rushing things a bit.
I want to be digging in my yard, as well. I can call to get the vaccine starting on Monday and I'm pretty excited about that, though I've had some interesting conversations today about other populations I would put in front of me for a shot.
The thing is, you may be able to identify some individuals you might put in front of you based on one on one discussions, but it gets complicated to identify them as a population in a public health setting. I read something in the Courant today that just got me mad because the premise was, certain people would have been next to get vaccinated because of their medical conditions. However, the premise was incorrect because their conditions were not even on the CDC list. It sets some readers up to believe they are somehow being overlooked, when they would not have qualified as one with an underlying condition from the list. I may be going down the wrong path based on the actual conversations you had today, but I'll say a few things anyway. I've been writing our Governor and others for awhile to promote an age-based, simple and objective approach to vaccination. I've heard too many stories of people finding a way to be included in earlier groups and it sure looked like some were taking advantage based on who they knew. And then there were other stories where the qualifications weren't clear, causing lots of confusion.
Even with the conditions listed on the CDC site, the scope is not specified. Consider "Cancer". There are over 100 types of cancer and there are many cancer treatments, and not all put the person at additional risk of COVID complications (e.g. what about skin cancer?). State to state, they are interpreting this condition on the CDC list in different ways and it's causing a lot of confusion. I see cancer patients agonizing over this across the country in online discussions - not wanting to skip the line but not understanding if they legitimately qualify. Are they at increased risk or not? And stage of treatment makes determination fuzzy if a state decides a person should have active cancer (vs in remission). After surgery, when a patient might be told, "we got it", is that person cancer free? Maybe or maybe not. Then comes possibly chemo and/or radiation and perhaps longer term treatment of some sort. For the states that claim that one must be in active treatment, when does that end? All of this to say, there are a lot of subjective judgments that are made. And depending on how things work, some people may be lucky enough to get a doctor note and others with the same health status may not. Is privilege a factor? Not every patient has easy access to docs.
From a public health perspective, it becomes complicated to implement it equitably and efficiently. The good thing about going by age groups is, it's objective and efficient and does prioritize high risk groups - related to age. Risk of death and hospitalization is highly correlated with age. There are younger people who are medically compromised who will now have to wait longer. It's disappointing. This has been so hard for a lot of people, for lots of different reasons. It certainly has been for me. Last week was especially difficult. Hopefully, this objective process will speed things up and make it easier to get vaccines out to everyone. The sooner we reach herd immunity the better. And I hope a pediatric vaccine is developed soon, too. I don't see how school can get back to normal without it. You may not feel like it, but you are at high risk. I have a couple of friends, a few years younger than you, who ended up hospitalized with COVID. One nearly died. I lost an older family member. Don't feel like you shouldn't be getting the vaccine yet. It's time. Stay well.
Just to simplify everything Jac wrote: we’re looking for herd immunity and the only way we’re going to get there in as little time as possible is for everyone to get their vaccinations when their time pops up. Don’t feel guilty and don’t cut the line. Just get it when you can and continue to wear your masks just in case. We don’t know what we don’t know about this monster. Just take the vaccine when they call your name. And I’m still doin’ just fine. Thanks for asking.
Better every day, Susan; though if I remember correctly the last time you asked was shortly after the siege of our nation’s Capitol and I replied with a line from “Pulp Fiction”, so there really was no place to go but up.
Is it or is it not your birthday?
Ummm... it is. But my son is off to an outdoor first anniversary celebration with his girlfriend and my wife is on a Dramatists Guild Zoom Meeting so I'm enjoying my day in the manner to which I've grown accustomed: talking with family and friends. It's just virtual this year.
So in answer to your question: I'm doin' great! How YOU doin'?
Great! And happy birthday, friend!
Thank you, ma'am!
Even though my lawn is still blanketed in snow, I saw BIRDS! The birds felt safe enough to sing to me from the porch railing outside my window. Dare we hope?
Yes. Let's.
Doin' better.
Same here. Maybe it's our almost-50-degree-weather today.
I hear the pussywillows are poking through and we have lots more sunlight...
Isn't that awesome?
Love your column. Miss our days at the Courant! (Jane)
The motto at our house since all this began has been “Keep moving forward like a shark” which is probably why we mostly think about our next meal. Getting ready to go to the appointment for my first shot the past year flashed before my eyes. It reinforced how our focus on getting through made us discard, ignore and sometimes stuff the distractions and annoyances we couldn’t control anyway. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had it way better than most people (remember people?). The struggle for so many others has been greater than I can imagine. What’s been life and death for millions has been an inconvenience for us. A truly epic inconvenience, yes, but still just an inconvenience. Personally, I’ve been through darker times, just not this long. Anyway, all this makes me point to a quote from Zen interpreter R. H. Blyth that I’ve leaned on most of my life and may have shared on the Dating Jesus site.
“The more we suffer, intelligently, the deeper our life. Buddha said that life is suffering and taught us how to avoid both. This is wrong. Deep suffering is deep life. Nirvana is often taken as a condition of supreme joy. But it is also that of supreme sadness. The point anyway is not the joy or sadness, but the supremeness.”
So in answer to your question, we’re fine thanks. And grateful.
Wow. Just wow. This describes my pandemic entirely -- an inconvenience, but we haven't lost any one. We still have our health, and our incomes and I grieve for those who don't. It's the sadness I'm only beginning to recognize. I couldn't before now because I think an acknowledgement would have crushed me.
That's just wonderful and I'm sure it's a huge relief. I am eligible to make an appointment for mine on 3/1.