Coronavirus

[studentforever]

Stay safe Michael - that graph is worrying. Politicians have to realise that viruses can't read and people don't always do as they are told even when they can read the instructions. My mantra when talking to students about designing items for use in surgery was - make it easier to use it correctly than to use it any other way and compliance will be high, surgeons are as intrinsically lazy as everyone else. Politicians please note.

[Michael]

We're being very careful, without being paranoid. Being married to a nurse who spent 30 years treating patients with cancer made her very cognizant of the need to keep people safe from catching infectious diseases. We're also lucky to be living on Vancouver Island. Island Health, one of seven health authorities, has the lowest rate of Covid in B. C. It may be because of the high proportion of old people who are more careful.

[arboggs]

Got my first dose today! Moderna. First in my immediate family because of my asthma. Was a pretty smooth experience. Very big line but moved quickly the entire time. About lost my mind when I got inside and "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel came on when I went inside! I feel fine, just have that weird pinch-y feeling in my side/armpit on the shot side like I've had with other vaccines in the past. A little drowsy but okay. Had a large piece of apple pie before I went to fortify.

[Randi]

My arm was very slightly sorer than the first time, but I have had far more of a reaction from other vaccinations.

I've been a bit tired this week, but I suspect that that has nothing to do with the shot

[AvastMH]

Wow! April - well done! Really pleased for you. Love that you got 'Stuck in the middle with you' as our backing music
Sounds like Moderna suits you. Thumbs up for that


Randi - you got your second one already I feel very tardy. No call for my number two jab - but that's due no later than two week's time now.

[Michael]

Here in B. C., we're well into the third wave. Here's the latest news, should you feel the need to discourage yourself just a bit more.

[AvastMH]

Here in B. C., we're well into the third wave. Here's the latest news, should you feel the need to discourage yourself just a bit more.

Well the article reads in a very wishy-washy way. I felt a bit better when they note that the vaccines available will be pushed to hotspot areas. Other than that it did not inspire.

[Randi]

Excellent NYT article for anyone who is curious or worried: I’m a Virus Expert Who Got the J & J Vaccine. I’m Not Losing Sleep.

[studentforever]

People do find risk hard to judge. Part of it is that taking a risk while you feel in control seems less of a problem than risk when you rely on someone else. Look at the way people judge the risk while travelling in cars versus public transport. One of the assistants at my optician, a bright young man who is waiting to do a 2nd degree when higher education opens up properly, announced that he was glad he had the Pfizer jab because he was vaccinated as a health worker and had to get his jab at the local hospital. He's under 30. I did point out that the risk was about the same as having an accident while driving to London and possibly less as the numbers indicate that women seem more susceptible than men although the confidence isn't very great. He looked a bit taken aback and said, 'Oh!'. (distance just over 400 miles).

[Randi]

For those in the US: Why You Shouldn’t Post Your Vaccination Card on Social Media

Millions of Americans are receiving their COVID-19 vaccines. Many have celebrated the occasion by posting a photo of their CDC vaccination card on their social media. However, doing that could put you at risk for identity theft.

[AvastMH]

People do find risk hard to judge. Part of it is that taking a risk while you feel in control seems less of a problem than risk when you rely on someone else. Look at the way people judge the risk while travelling in cars versus public transport. One of the assistants at my optician, a bright young man who is waiting to do a 2nd degree when higher education opens up properly, announced that he was glad he had the Pfizer jab because he was vaccinated as a health worker and had to get his jab at the local hospital. He's under 30. I did point out that the risk was about the same as having an accident while driving to London and possibly less as the numbers indicate that women seem more susceptible than men although the confidence isn't very great. He looked a bit taken aback and said, 'Oh!'. (distance just over 400 miles).

It's so true to say that most of us simply don't think twice about the daily risks we take, so bringing in a highlighted risk, however small, can skew opinions in non-sensical directions

For those in the US: Why You Shouldn’t Post Your Vaccination Card on Social Media

Millions of Americans are receiving their COVID-19 vaccines. Many have celebrated the occasion by posting a photo of their CDC vaccination card on their social media. However, doing that could put you at risk for identity theft.

Beggars belief

[Randi]

She didn’t get to wear her wedding dress because of the pandemic. So she put it on to get her vaccine.

[Morgan]

My daughter and son-in law just postponed their "wedding " for the second year. They did get married last year - but only with 7 family members and NO FANCY DRESS. It is still hanging in the closet. Kind of makes the panic over whether the dress was going to make it on time seem a little out of touch. Everyone is glad they did get married. We will have a big party, but the question is... will the dress fit?

[AvastMH]

Well - it's one way to make sure that you keep yourself fit and trim Morgan It's an awful important dress to grow out of

[Hanibal94]

Looks like I'll be getting vaccinated in New Jersey - my family and I just made plans to go there from June 24th to July 15th.
I'll probably get Johnson & Johnson, as it only requires one dose.

Another option would be to get the first dose of something else in Germany, and the second in New Jersey, but I think that's very unlikely as I am young, super-healthy, and don't work in a job that puts me at increased risk.
However, company doctors are supposed to start giving out vaccines in June, so it might work. But I would have to get Biontech (or maybe Moderna), as AstraZeneca is not used in the US of A. Just gotta wait and see.

Either way, it'll be great to go on a long vacation outside of Germany and see relatives again. I'm really looking forward to it, now that we've made concrete plans!

[studentforever]

Safe journey. I'm getting my 2nd Pfizer jab tomorrow so my immunity will be building nicely when I go to visit my brother next week. Then we are going on holiday for a week in Northumberland - holidays these days are like self-organised bus tours as almost everything has to be booked in advance. We usually have a list of things we fancy visiting, get up, look out of the window, listen to the weather forecast and decide where to go over breakfast, not so post-Covid. Check list starts off mask .... but it will be a change of view and some new faces.

Astra Zenica not recommended for under 30s in UK although the risk of clots is much less than the risk of clots once you have Covid. The argument is that they would use AZ if the only available vaccine but since Pfizer doesn't seem to have this side effect they will use that one or one of the other ones in the pipeline. I did read something about the same side effect being reported after the J & J vaccine which also uses a similar viral vector but I haven't heard about the stats.

Enjoy your holiday and I know it will feel good to see part of the family again.

[AvastMH]

Absolutely delighted to hear of your plans Chris I hope that you can magic up a jab before you go, but certainly when you get there. It will feel so good to get New Jersey hugs!

[Hanibal94]

I just got appointments!!!

It's with one of the vaccination centers, in a place called Annaberg-Buchholz, couple hours SE of Leipzig.
My first appointment is Monday already - quite early in the morning, but I can't really complain. They only just opened new appointments today, and I had to wait for over two hours on the official website!
The second is June 7th. It's gonna be Biontech or Moderna, as those are the only ones used in the centers.

Gods, this feels amazing. To get both vaccinations before I even go to the US of A, and to get MRNA ones, AND to get it over two weeks before I travel (which means no negative test result required)... It couldn't be better!

[studentforever]

I got my 2nd jab yesterday, slightly sore arm and a bit tired - come on immune system!!

[Michael]

Hooray for you, Chris!!! That's fabulous news!!!

When we got our first vaccine, April 6, they said we would be contacted and given an appointment for our second one. Now they're saying we have to register. This is all I've been able to get for the past two days;

We're experiencing a high level of traffic.
You're in a virtual queue, thank you for waiting.

They have a

I'm not a robot

Captcha at the bottom, and no matter how often I solve the clue, I just get returned to the original page...