I see I'm due for a covid post.
I only have one window open to an NPR article dated December 18 titled “Newly Released COVID-19 Data Show Most U.S. Cities Are 'Sustained Hotspots'” which includes a map that is almost entirely red. This quote says it all...”The data show how seriously the pandemic is affecting each state and local area, Panchadsaram says, and the upshot "is that it's all really bad."”
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What else is there to say? Hospitals are still overwhelmed, our healthcare workers are seriously exhausted and demoralized because too many stupid and/or selfish Americans just won't follow the simplest guidelines of mask wearing in public and not gathering in groups until it's under control. Saw one tweet today from a nurse that a husband and wife had both died that day after hosting a Thanksgiving gathering for 20 people. As bad as it's been since Thanksgiving, now we have the Christmas surge to look forward to.
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The US is continuing to rack up another million confirmed infections every 4 or 5 days, thousands are dying every day even with a national death rate, as of December 27, of something like 1.7% (at its highest in mid-May 2020 it was 6.2%), info via this site. Texas death rate as of December 26th was 1.79% while my county was 2.96%. Yay us.
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The only good news is that there are now two vaccines out there, Pfizer's and Moderna's, and our healthcare workers are getting vaccinated and of course all those Republican naysayer congressmen who have continuously downplayed the virus and refused to wear masks and held and attended super spreader events are now jumping the line to get vaccinated. But even that good news is diluted by Trump sitting on millions of doses with no plan in place to get them distributed.
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A news item from CNN dated December 28 related that this month more than 63,000 Americans have died from the virus, the most of any month since the pandemic started meaning more than 1 in 1,000 people have now died from the virus and the rate is accelerating and some hospitals are now or are looking at rationing ICU beds in the near future.
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I had a surprise email today. I figured it would be early to late spring before I would be able to get vaccinated but I have been informed that as an established patient of the Hermann Memorial system and being over 65 I am eligible to get the vaccine now and it provided a link to make an appointment. I looked at it earlier today and at that time, mid January was open for an appointment. I didn't follow through then. I'm kind of freaked out, I figured I'd have a couple of months to see how people were faring who got vaccinated. I'm being silly I know and I will sign up for it.
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Current US statistics via Worldometer as of today 12/28/20, 21:29 GMT: cases – 19,701,832; deaths – 342,347. Texas is still #2 for infections and #2 for deaths.
WOW, you are one of the lucky ones- just be sure to linger a while after the injection if you are allergic to shellfish, that seems to be the reaction that requires quick medical intervention but you knew that already. We likely will not be seeing vaccines up here until mid summer.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if AZ will ever get vaccines. Our governor seems to want to kill us all. Florida is making seniors stay out all night in the cold, waiting for shots. They don't take reservations. It's just stupid. I'm glad you're getting the shot.
ReplyDeleteIt is too difficult to assimilate all the data. It's demoralizing. It makes me so sad.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got a date for vaccination. Something else I'm conflicted about. I am allergic to penicillin, anaphylactic shock. My dentist had me taking an antibiotic before any dental work, after the new hip. Three or four times on the way home I was curious about my hands getting numb, and then my lips. The last time it happened I made it back to work when the reason and the reaction hit me at the same time. I turned to the phone to call 911, but couldn't lift my arm. Fortunately one of the road guys came in and called 911.Now I have a new primary whose judgement I do not trust. I think I'll ask several doctors for an opinion.
Ask to have the vaccine done in a hospital, Joanne, so that you can be monitored. We are going to inquire about that for someone in my family.
DeleteGet the vaccine now
ReplyDeleteGet the vaccine, it has been tested on over 21,000 adults of all age groups - that is more test persons than in any other approved vaccine to date - and the entire development is well documented and reviewed: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577
ReplyDeleteI am scheduled for second week in February for the first dose and three weeks later for the second. Don't forget the second dose!
For me the absolute worst news on the virus is this study on small infants, which found that even in kids who had the virus without symptoms or a very mild course of disease, biomarkers were detected in their blood (after recovery) that indicate a possible high risk of organ failure, esp. kidney, in later life.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201208121044.htm
OK, so it's hard to keep kids at home right now, but honestly.
A couple of hours after I first looked at available dates I decided to sign up and it had jumped almost two weeks but I did get a date and time so I'll be getting it Jan. 26. don't know which one since both were listed.
DeleteFlorida seems to be favoring those of us over 65 for the vaccine and I saw that I can go to the library to sign my husband and me up to be scheduled for the Moderna one. I'm going to take it as soon as I can.
ReplyDeleteI almost had a chance to get the vaccine but the pharmacy had made an error and said they were not supposed to offer for over 65s yet just medical and essential people so my appointment was cancelled after all. As soon as my group comes up again, I will get it.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been informed when vaccines will be available here yet. Roger is 78 years old, so I'm assuming he'll be near the top of the list in our small town. He's going to get it as soon as it's ready. I'll have to wait a bit longer, being a young 68 year old with no pre-existing conditions. I'm not a big fan of vaccines or shots, but I'll take that over the virus.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, if I got that vaccine e-mail I'd make an appointment right away! We're still in a holding pattern here.
ReplyDeleteI wish I would get news about a vaccine. I would most certainly take it. I am far more fearful of the flu. Wonder if I will ever get notified??
ReplyDeleteI have no idea when I'll be able to get the vaccine. On the one hand, I'm 56 with no health issues. On the other hand, I have to go to work every day & interact with employees. On the THIRD hand, we are all now wearing masks when we interact with each other. Anyway - I'll be in the final wave of vaccine recipients I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's first vaccine is Thursday. I think it is awful they don't do the spouse too. I'm 69 with many health issues so hopefully it won't be too long. I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I hesitate to get it, but I suppose people would be falling left and right if it was bad.
ReplyDelete