Coronavirus

[Michael]

Numbers are going up here, too. Starting on Sept 12, we, in B. C., have to show a vaccine "passport," showing at least one vaccination, to get into restaurants, bars, gyms, concerts etc. And, sometime in October, the passport has to show two vaccinations. There is no word on what this passport will look like. There is talk that it will be a QR code on a smart phone. Not much help for phoneless me.

Alberta is in the worst mess. Early in the summer the premier was really big on FREEDOM!. If you had Covid, it was up to you to decide if you should self-isolate!!! It was up to you to decide if you should wear a mask or get a vaccine or be tested if you felt sick. Now it's up to you to put a price on your freedom: i.e. the government will pay you $100 to get a vaccine. Needless to say, the premiers of other provinces are really upset with that, because they're afraid that they will have to start paying people, too.

We don't go to many places, although we always wear a mask. I still go to the gym three mornings a week, but everybody in the class and the three instructors have had both vaccinations since April. Everyone in the class is over 70, so none of us are engaging in reckless behaviour.

[Morgan]

Michael, Very sorry to hear your group of 70+ classmates don't get to be wild and crazy these days. (ie reckless.)

[Michael]

Wild and crazy is definitely a thing of the past, not that I'm complaining!

[Randi]

[studentforever]

I went on a few SAGA holidays (over 50s only) and on one we christened ourselves the 'Sagalouts'. I'm sure UK readers, at least, will decode the symbolism. (I hasten to add that our overall alcohol consumption was lower and more of the high spirits were internally generated)

[Randi]

From the US National Archives:

"Nurse wearing a mask as protection against influenza. September 13, 1918."



The influenza epidemic of 1918 first emerged without warning in late spring of 1918, and was known as the "three-day fever." Few deaths were reported and victims recovered after a few days. When the disease surfaced again that fall, it was far more severe. One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Within months, it had killed more people than any other illness in recorded history.

More at: https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/influ ... index.html

[Maikel]

Came across this photo the other day, someone retweeted an old tweet.

A Georgia Tech home game during the 1918 college football season.



Original tweet: https://twitter.com/gtalumni/status/1260569168736387072

[Michael]

I found this about the Spanish Flu in Ladysmith. The USCGC Bear was stuck in Ladysmith in November 1918, and they took part in a parade to mark the end of WW I. During my search for something about the parade, I found this in a larger article.

Ironically, many local businesses saw the influenza outbreak as a commercial opportunity. A Ladysmith Drug Company ad urged people to buy “compound essence of cinnamon to ward off the first attack of the Spanish flu. 25 cents a bottle” – and an advertisement placed by Thomas & Harris on High Street proclaimed that the Spanish flu could be avoided by buying “solid leather boots and shoes – we have them in all sizes.” The Colliery, however, remained open throughout the epidemic, although all workers were encouraged to wear masks.

Mind you, with the Spanish flu and many men still overseas, the Bear found it very difficult to get coal, and they were stuck in Ladysmith for several days.

[Michael]

I saw this, while logging into imgur.

[Randi]

Vaccines Work: 97% Of COVID Deaths, 95% Of Hospitalizations And 94% Of Cases Are Among Unvaccinated Pennsylvanians

[Michael]

Sometimes I think articles like these should be published in Ripley's Believe It or Not!

[Randi]

[AvastMH]

Staggering - absolutely staggering! My lovely neighbour has a pet phrase 'What keeps their ears apart?'. Apply it liberally here.
It's so selfish and outrageous to put the medical staff at risk. Some people can't be vaccinated and they represent a very small number and unlikely to be much of a threat at all and that should be the limit.

We're going backwards thanks to those who will not be part of the community supportive folks:

[Randi]

I just got my flu shot.
(and $5 off groceries!)

[Randi]

I didn't have any significant reaction from the Pfizer covid vaccine, but I have a decidedly sore shoulder from the flu shot

[Michael]

Ouch!

[ggordon]

I often get a worse reaction to flu shots than I did from the Pfizer shots.

I'm old enough that I qualify to get a booster Pfizer shot now. Since it is well beyond the six months where they believe the efficacy starts dropping off, I decided to get the Pfizer booster before the flu shot. However, when I checked today there were no places nearby with appointments available. That should change soon though as they ramp up to handle the demand for the booster shots. Meanwhile I may as well get the flu shot.

[Randi]

Yes, they said I had to schedule the Pfizer booster online but that the flu shot was available then and there.

(They also had shingles vaccine, but I didn't want to get both at once.
Public service announcement: There is a relatively new vaccine available nowadays. If you haven't had a shot or it was a long time ago, look into it.)

[Michael]

I got the new shingles vaccine about a year ago. I had no reaction, but a couple of my friends did. I don't remember their symptoms, though. I do know they were very annoyed at me for feeling no ill effects.

[ggordon]

The new shingles shot came out about a year after I got the old one. I got sick from the old one and very sick for a few days from the new one. It was by far the worst reaction I've had to a vaccine.