I’ve figured out that I am going to be one of the last people eligible for the vaccine. It’s of my own doing.
I am single. Live alone. No offspring (though I think Sally should count), but that means I have no dependents. No comorbidities (apparently a morbid sense of humor doesn’t count). I am not a health care worker. And though I have always thought of myself as essential, as it turns out, in the grand scheme of things, my work is some of the least essential work out there. I am not essential in the eyes of the government, and I am not all that essential in the day to day operations of my business when push comes to shove.
I am not complaining. Just stating the facts.
I will, however, get in line as soon as I am able. After years of pooh-poohing the flu shot, I made sure to get mine early in the fall this year. I’ve been getting flu shots the last few seasons because I discovered my skimpy, anemic health care plan actually pays for them. I finally endured a shingles shot - and its booster - because that was covered as well.
These are some of the ‘adulting’ things I’ve discussed previously.
In addition, I think I am indicative of many Americans who avoid taking care of these sort of health priorities - even with a health care plan - because we don’t want to afford them, can’t afford them or have to prioritize where we spend our money. Supposedly we are in the 80 million range - those without health care and those with inadequate health care. In this case, my health care plan was sufficient, but I was not aware it was. That’s on me, but it’s also on the epically confusing health care we have in this country.
I’m just now finding out that Medicare is only marginally less confusing. But let’s set that aside for another day.
The coronavirus vaccines are rolling out across the country and everybody is pretty excited. And they should be. A historic worldwide collaborative effort went into the making of not one but several incredibly efficient vaccines.
I learned early on that the fastest vaccine that ever came to market took something like four years. People were speculating back in the spring anywhere from a year to a decade. Of course, there are still some questions to be answered about certain aspects of these vaccines because there hasn’t been enough time to know the answers to questions like:
Can you still transmit the virus even after you’re immunized?
How long will the immunization work? I mean, we need a different flu shot every single season.
Are there any long-term effects?
There are some great articles that shed light on these issues and I am going to link to them. As per usual, I have a glossed over understanding of all of this stuff.
But what I really wanted to say was that it was always going to come down to pharmaceuticals for America. We don’t have the patience or the tolerance or the willingness to pull off what New Zealand or Australia did. For America, it was always going to be give me a vaccine, or give me death!
Same attitude as with firearms.
Mass shooting at Port Arthur in Tasmania that killed less than fifty people and most of them were not even Australians and they found the political will to do something about it.
Mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, at a mosque and they found the political courage to do something about it.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, where kids who were barely old enough to write their names were slaughtered by a weapon designed to tear humans apart and the pusillanimous politicians in America did. . . nothing.
Just as they’ve done for every mass shooting since. Nothing.
Americans can’t abide by restrictions - of any kind - on our ‘freedoms’. We want the easy fix, or it’s every man, woman and child for themselves. Many Americans are okay with the deaths so far from coronavirus because, for the most part, out of sight, out of mind.
Now they are going to stand in the line for the miracle cure. It asks nothing of them. So it is perfect. Pharmaceuticals to the rescue.
When it comes to the vaccine, my worry is the worry of some of the experts I read online. It’s not easy to get people to return for a ‘booster’ shot. Once vaccinated, some people are going to act with even more recklessness, even though there will still be risk in doing so. Anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists are going to avoid the vaccine.
Surely you’ve heard that Bill Gates has placed tracking units in the doses?
For the time being, these are triumphant days. The vaccine is a reality. Most people say they will take it. Thankfully, it’s not supposed to cost them anything. It has reached medical facilities across the nation. That light we see is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the popular vote, the electoral vote and every court challenge save one and even Vladimir Putin has called to congratulate the president-elect. America has its first female vice president. I don’t think enough is being made of that.
Christmas is still scheduled to happen on the 25th of this month. The commie liberals haven’t banned it yet.
Take heart. The end of the pandemic is closer than it was yesterday.
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Have you heard about the iceberg on a collision course for South Georgia Island?
Now, you have.
Also, have you seen Randy Rainbow’s latest? You absolutely must!