Coronavirus

[Vanimal46]

Austin is now in stage 2 on the Covid Risk guideline, meaning vaccinated people are free to be without masks indoors and outdoors. I’m seeing businesses take down their mask requirement signs all together, or changing it to “masks encouraged”. 
 

We’re close to the finish line y’all and it feels great! 

[Squirrel]

My club just sent out a notice that all those who are vaccinated can be without masks ... how they intend to implement knowing that and then following through keeping track of the vaccinated/unvaccinated is beyond me. But I'm vaccinated and intend to play tennis and work out without a mask ... yay!

[Vanimal46]

14 hours ago, Squirrel said:

My club just sent out a notice that all those who are vaccinated can be without masks ... how they intend to implement knowing that and then following through keeping track of the vaccinated/unvaccinated is beyond me. But I'm vaccinated and intend to play tennis and work out without a mask ... yay!

Honestly it doesn’t seem like they wanted an official way to track vaccinated people vs unvaccinated in every day life. If they did, they should have made the paper card credit card sized to easily store it on you. Or have us enroll in an app to show we got it. Instead, we have an index card filled out by Bob at CVS. 

[Squirrel]

13 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Honestly it doesn’t seem like they wanted an official way to track vaccinated people vs unvaccinated in every day life. If they did, they should have made the paper card credit card sized to easily store it on you. Or have us enroll in an app to show we got it. Instead, we have an index card filled out by Bob at CVS. 

Well, mine is much smaller than an index card, but yeah, larger than a cc. Still, not sure how or if they can they can enforce that.

I have mixed feelings on this, a vaccination passport sort of thing, but overall I don’t think it’s enforceable. It’s left up to individuals to be honest about their status. Those who have refused to wear masks, refuse to get vaccinated would just lie about it. However, I do think there should be some kind of accountability until we reach the herd immunity threshold. It helps that they are now vaccinating children 12yo and over

[Vanimal46]

23 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Well, mine is much smaller than an index card, but yeah, larger than a cc. Still, not sure how or if they can they can enforce that.

I have mixed feelings on this, a vaccination passport sort of thing, but overall I don’t think it’s enforceable. It’s left up to individuals to be honest about their status. Those who have refused to wear masks, refuse to get vaccinated would just lie about it. However, I do think there should be some kind of accountability until we reach the herd immunity threshold. It helps that they are now vaccinating children 12yo and over

I doubt they can. Businesses can’t require customers to show their vaccination card for entry. That would be a big privacy violation. Businesses can still require face coverings in their store as a preventative measure. However, they won’t have the backing anymore of local/state mandates. 

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

I doubt they can. Businesses can’t require customers to show their vaccination card for entry. That would be a big privacy violation. Businesses can still require face coverings in their store as a preventative measure. However, they won’t have the backing anymore of local/state mandates. 

As I said, I don't think it's enforceable. However, we are seeing some places come out with strong vaccination policies ... but we'll see if they are able to keep that. As I said, I have very mixed feelings about it. Private companies have a better ability to try and create policies for their own places of businesses, but we'll see. I mean, we only have one of these pandemics once a century. And it's not over yet ... but we are truly on the downside of the mountain now.

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, Squirrel said:

As I said, I don't think it's enforceable. However, we are seeing some places come out with strong vaccination policies ... but we'll see if they are able to keep that. As I said, I have very mixed feelings about it. Private companies have a better ability to try and create policies for their own places of businesses, but we'll see. I mean, we only have one of these pandemics once a century. And it's not over yet ... but we are truly on the downside of the mountain now.

Yeah, and to get ahead of myself, I was too broad before to say it’s a privacy violation to ask for vaccine info.... International travel, working in industries like school, healthcare, etc. , and joining certain organizations have policies in place to request that info. I’m fully on board with it. The task seems too difficult for simple things like entering a grocery store, or going to a restaurant. 

[Squirrel]

8 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yeah, and to get ahead of myself, I was too broad before to say it’s a privacy violation to ask for vaccine info.... International travel, working in industries like school, healthcare, etc. , and joining certain organizations have policies in place to request that info. I’m fully on board with it. The task seems too difficult for simple things like entering a grocery store, or going to a restaurant. 

My business has asked everyone to provide vaccination information ... privately. In order to create policies that are good for the whole, I think they want to know if we, as a group, who perform in a tight, enclosed, indoor space, is at least meeting the minimum standard for herd immunity. Until which time we reach that, protocols will remain in place. But we as a group don't know who is or not. If people don't want to provide that information, then it is assumed they are not vaccinated in terms of figuring out protocols moving forward.

[Vanimal46]

Sigh… The Delta variant is spreading fast, and Austin is back to stage 4. Meaning vaccinated and unvaccinated are going to be masking up again. Around 60% of people above 12 years old in Austin and surrounding counties are vaccinated. The rest of the state is at 30%. It’s frustrating taking a step forward only to take a step back. 

[Dodecahedron]

6 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Sigh… The Delta variant is spreading fast, and Austin is back to stage 4. Meaning vaccinated and unvaccinated are going to be masking up again. Around 60% of people above 12 years old in Austin and surrounding counties are vaccinated. The rest of the state is at 30%. It’s frustrating taking a step forward only to take a step back. 

I wish there was more we could do.  Living in Texas, you know there isn't.  

Republicans listen primarily to the southern evangelical wing of the party.  Democrats would be wise to begin listening to the southern Democrats who have had to contend with them all these years.  It's just impossible to reason with people when they believe your political party is worse than murderers and rapists, but are literally devils in the flesh.  Democrats in DC have no idea what they are up against as the Republicans go further down this road.  Northern Democratic naivete is no longer cute.

[Vanimal46]

8 minutes ago, Dodecahedron said:

I wish there was more we could do.  Living in Texas, you know there isn't.  

Republicans listen primarily to the southern evangelical wing of the party.  Democrats would be wise to begin listening to the southern Democrats who have had to contend with them all these years.  It's just impossible to reason with people when they believe your political party is worse than murderers and rapists, but are literally devils in the flesh.  Democrats in DC have no idea what they are up against as the Republicans go further down this road.  Northern Democratic naivete is no longer cute.

No doubt about it. Our governor gets his base riled up about minimal distractions like mask enforcement, so they can pass worse policies without the greater population knowing any better. I am quite certain Abbott will push back on any new mask mandates implemented again, and our ICUs will be overflowing. 

[Dodecahedron]

29 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

No doubt about it. Our governor gets his base riled up about minimal distractions like mask enforcement, so they can pass worse policies without the greater population knowing any better. I am quite certain Abbott will push back on any new mask mandates implemented again, and our ICUs will be overflowing. 

When Abbott was attorney general, I repaired some computers in his office in the AG building downtown.  This would have been around 2003.  I walked in and checked in at the desk.  When the ladies at the front desk found out I was going to his office they started fawning and saying how great he is, saying he is wonderful, generous, and just plain awesome.  He later rolled up in his wheelchair and asked what brought me to the building.  When I told him, he said OK and wheeled away.  The ladies at the front desk later said how lucky I was to have talked to Abbott, acting like I had some kind of celebrity moment.  I had no idea that the guy in the wheelchair was him, so I thought the ladies were mistaken/crazy.  I honestly thought they believed I was leaving, and not arriving, because in my view I had not yet spoken to anybody.

Abbott is a millionaire because of the lawsuit he filed which caused him to have to use a wheelchair the rest of his life, but the very first thing he did as attorney general was he pushed a law through the legislature barring anyone else from making more than $250,000 from such settlements.  That's a lot of generous and awesome right there.

[Squirrel]

Some places I know never stopped with the mask wearing indoors. I have a friend who lives in France and she said they still have to wear masks indoors. Everyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, should probably consider that in crowded, public, indoor spaces, such as the grocery store. I put mine on when I'm in line at a register. At work we had to fill out an online form as to our vaccinated status and those who are not vaccinated have no choice ... masks, indoors or outdoors, AND they have to get tested every week.

 

[Vanimal46]

Whelp, just got a text from a friend who’s vaccinated that he has Covid and caught it from another vaccinated co-worker. The delta variant doesn’t care about the first vaccine…. Be careful y’all. I’m making an appointment to get tested now because I saw him last weekend. 

[Dodecahedron]

How do people go this far over the edge?

Price of Covid vaccine:  $0.
Average daily hospital stay in Louisiana:  $1767.  (Though I am thinking Covid hospitalizations cost more.)

"Scott Roe said he didn't regret not getting the vaccine and would rather be hospitalized than get it."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-hospitalized-covid-19-told-160432588.html

[Vanimal46]

18 minutes ago, Dodecahedron said:

How do people go this far over the edge?

Price of Covid vaccine:  $0.
Average daily hospital stay in Louisiana:  $1767.  (Though I am thinking Covid hospitalizations cost more.)

"Scott Roe said he didn't regret not getting the vaccine and would rather be hospitalized than get it."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-hospitalized-covid-19-told-160432588.html

We have lots and lots of people living in an alternate reality like the guy in the article. This short, succinct quote from him tells me exactly what type of guy he is… "Their agenda is to get you vaccinated."

Government conspiracy nut job. He should be extremely grateful for his recovery. But instead, he’s exactly the type to go on Facebook and say it’s not so bad, don’t get vaccinated. 

[Dodecahedron]

9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

We have lots and lots of people living in an alternate reality like the guy in the article. This short, succinct quote from him tells me exactly what type of guy he is… "Their agenda is to get you vaccinated."

Government conspiracy nut job. He should be extremely grateful for his recovery. But instead, he’s exactly the type to go on Facebook and say it’s not so bad, don’t get vaccinated. 

If there is a conspiracy, it seems more likely it would be from the churches in the area who run that hospital who are happily taking all that cash after ensuring people like him don't take preventative measures.

 

[Vanimal46]

Tested negative, thank goodness. I truly hoped there will be an endpoint to this. But I’m realizing this is going to be a continuous process learning to live with it. It’s not an event that will end. 

[Squirrel]

On 7/22/2021 at 1:33 PM, Vanimal46 said:

Whelp, just got a text from a friend who’s vaccinated that he has Covid and caught it from another vaccinated co-worker. The delta variant doesn’t care about the first vaccine…. Be careful y’all. I’m making an appointment to get tested now because I saw him last weekend. 

Vaccines don't keep you from getting it. They keep you from being hospitalized or from death. No info yet on those who get vaccinated then get it, what the long-haul affects are. That's why it's best to still be cautious, even if vaccinated.

[TwinsDr2021]

On 8/14/2021 at 12:03 PM, Dman said:

On 8/14/2021 at 12:03 PM, Dman said:

Of course it doesn't guarantee you don't get Covid wearing a mask doesn't either but how many people have died that got the vaccine?  The only side effects of the vaccine are maybe a headache and sore arm that isn't much of a side effect compared to death IMO. 

 

From the CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html

More than 351 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through August 9, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 6,631 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Telling people the only known side effect is a headache and sore arm is either complete ignorance on your part or you are blatantly lying, I am not sure which is worse.

Yes death and side effects are extremely rare, they are real

[Dman]

51 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

From the CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html

More than 351 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through August 9, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 6,631 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Telling people the only known side effect is a headache and sore arm is either complete ignorance on your part or you are blatantly lying, I am not sure which is worse.

Yes death and side effects are extremely rare, they are real

Even so and I didn't realize the numbers were even that high I'll take the odds of taking it versus not.  Most of America and the world is starting to agree.  So I guess using your logic most of the educated world would be ignorant and blatantly lying. Project warp speed was something best left unattempted because people could die just being given a vaccine to create a layer of protection.

[TwinsDr2021]

13 minutes ago, Dman said:

Even so and I didn't realize the numbers were even that high I'll take the odds of taking it versus not.  Most of America and the world is starting to agree.  So I guess using your logic most of the educated world would be ignorant and blatantly lying. Project warp speed was something best left unattempted because people could die just being given a vaccine to create a layer of protection.

Where did I say anything that you are accusing me of saying?

I have never said that people shouldn't take the vaccine, I never once said that it shouldn't have been developed

You are the one that asked how many people have died, I pointed you to the CDC site. You are the one that said there were no side effects, I again pointed you to the CDC site.

Don't get pissed at me for you being ignorant and telling people nobody has died or has side effects.

 

 

[Dman]

7 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Where did I say anything that you are accusing me of saying?

I have never said that people shouldn't take the vaccine, I never once said that it shouldn't have been developed

You are the one that asked how many people have died, I pointed you to the CDC site. You are the one that said there were no side effects, I again pointed you to the CDC site.

Don't get pissed at me for you being ignorant and telling people nobody has died or has side effects.

 

 

OK sure, but all I was truly trying to say and as you pointed out over exaggerated is that encouraging people in any way not to take the vaccine is against their own best interest.  Odds are the people who died of the vaccine would have died had they got Covid. The odds of dying of the vaccine are extremely low.  So low 99,9% of the time you won't die of the vaccine.  Scaring them because there is a .0019% they could have a bad outcome versus a much higher percentage if they don't just doesn't make logical sense IMO.  I don't think we should be providing cover for an anti-vax approach.

[TwinsDr2021]

10 minutes ago, Dman said:

OK sure, but all I was truly trying to say and as you pointed out over exaggerated is that encouraging people in any way not to take the vaccine is against their own best interest.  Odds are the people who died of the vaccine would have died had they got Covid. The odds of dying of the vaccine are extremely low.  So low 99,9% of the time you won't die of the vaccine.  Scaring them because there is a .0019% they could have a bad outcome versus a much higher percentage if they don't just doesn't make logical sense IMO.  I don't think we should be providing cover for an anti-vax approach.

Correct, but what we should be doing is pointing out the facts like you just did, and tell people if they are still concerned to go and talk to their doctor. Why is that considered so controversial?

Telling people false stuff leads to distrust, when is telling everybody the facts scaring them? I have friends that won't get the vaccine, and to a person they say the reason is pretty much because of the way you are approaching it, (lying about deaths, side effects, if you don't get it you will die, if you get it you can't get Covid but still wear a mask, etc...)

I have been trying the other way, compassion, understanding and real facts, and with the people I know it seems to be working better, sure there are idiots out there, without any common sense, understanding, or willing to do any research themselves other than the new feed that is being delivered to them.

[Dman]

36 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Correct, but what we should be doing is pointing out the facts like you just did, and tell people if they are still concerned to go and talk to their doctor. Why is that considered so controversial?

Telling people false stuff leads to distrust, when is telling everybody the facts scaring them? I have friends that won't get the vaccine, and to a person they say the reason is pretty much because of the way you are approaching it, (lying about deaths, side effects, if you don't get it you will die, if you get it you can't get Covid but still wear a mask, etc...)

I have been trying the other way, compassion, understanding and real facts, and with the people I know it seems to be working better, sure there are idiots out there, without any common sense, understanding, or willing to do any research themselves other than the new feed that is being delivered to them.

No issue with that at all.  Treating people with respect goes a lot further than the other way around.  I am just passionate about it because I don't want people to needlessly die.  I do have friends that have had family members die of Covid and none of them had gotten the vaccine.  A stance like Simmons where  he is creating doubt just irks me because he could change someone's mind and then that person might be someone that dies of this terrible disease.  I just want people to be safe, to be healthy to live a good life.  The best odds of accomplishing that are by getting the vaccine.

[Squirrel]

@TwinsDr2021 and @Dman ...

Your discussion has gone afield of the OP in discussing Simmons, therefor I've moved you posts to a more appropriate location on our website. We don't want to discourage conversation, but discussing Covid without relating it to Simmons moves it off topic into a broader discussion.

Thanks.

[Vanimal46]

US will recommend getting booster shots after 8 months

[MMMordabito]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

US will recommend getting booster shots after 8 months

[Vanimal46]

12 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I’ll be interested in finding out if J&J will require booster shots. I got that one in early April before the blood clot info came out… Only Pfizer has made this announcement according to the link. I’m also interested if booster shots will remain a free offering like the initial shot. 

[MMMordabito]

 

58 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’ll be interested in finding out if J&J will require booster shots. I got that one in early April before the blood clot info came out… Only Pfizer has made this announcement according to the link. I’m also interested if booster shots will remain a free offering like the initial shot. 

I must have been a couple weeks behind you, because I had my J&J shot cancelled.  I'm Pfizered now.