COVID19 2022

[Ikoiko]

As I commented on the article, my MS neurologist recommended the Covid vaccine to all his MS patients, so did my PCP. So did the CDC, the NIH, and the WHO. My bf is a viral vaccine expert, and I have a degree in public health. I can't fathom not getting the vaccine.

BTW, the article supported the vaccine. Most of the commenters did not.

[agate]

Wonder what they mean about "making their MS worse." Any time I have a vaccine that causes a fever (as the flu vaccine often does), my MS symptoms get worse for a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks, but that is just typical MS behavior--a rise in body temperature can set off MS symptoms but so far as anyone know, the disease itself isn't progressing. It's just doing what it does--acting up when there are certain triggers, like increased body heat.

Surely that isn't what people mean when they say the COVID vaccine might make their MS worse. They must mean that not enough is known about the COVID vaccines yet for anyone to be sure they don't make MS worse.

That's true, in a way, but that's no reason to avoid the vaccine, IMO. You have to take some risks sometimes, and when there's a disease out there that is killing as many people as COVID has been killing, I wish more people were willing to risk the vaccine.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Ikoiko ~

Would you mind copying and pasting some of the commenters' responses to the article? I am curious as whether any of them provide details of how or in what way the vaccine could make their MS worse. Is this a private or public Facebook page? If it's public, then perhaps you could give us the link to save you copying and pasting.

John has a perfectly healthy 40 year old friend, who is intelligent and hard working. He refuses to get the COVID vaccine. John has asked him why he doesn't want to get it, and his friend said that he doesn't trust Big Pharma. They have a mutual friend, who died from COVID in 2021 in his mid-60s right before the vaccines were available. That alone should be enough motivation to get a vaccine for John's friend. But he isn't budging.

Meanwhile, John's entire family and all of his other friends are fully vaccinated. They haven't grown horns or tails, or acquired any strange diseases or symptoms of disease. So, if he can't just look around him and see that vaccinated people are okay and agree to getting the vaccine, nothing is going to persuade him.

John and I can't make sense out of his friend's decision, because it doesn't make sense.

Agate ~

As you say, it is true that not enough is known about long term effects of the COVID vaccine. That is the case with all vaccines. We need time to determine the safety and efficacy of every pharmaceutical.

I think about how many millions of people have been vaccinated for various epidemics and pandemic through centuries. What if we all said no to the vaccines for polio, smallpox, measles, diphtheria, tuberculosis? Maybe there would be no one left on Earth by now?

People, who travel to other countries, often have to have vaccines to prevent diseases endemic to the country. Every medical form I have completed for my children, husband, and now me, asks: Have you traveled to a foreign country in the past X months?

Over the past few days, there have been 4 mass shootings in various states. We have a national problem with people, who believe radical lies and are easily persuaded and gullible. It is pervasive, and it bleeds into the COVID vaccination issue. Some people still do not believe that COVID exists.

Over 1 million people in the U.S. have died from COVID, and that number is probably inaccurate. There are so many people, whose deaths may not have been attributed to COVID, because they had underlying conditions. Three years into this pandemic, I have gone from knowing no one who had COVID to knowing many of my loved ones having it, and their loved ones having it. Some have long term COVID symptoms. All are fully vaccinated.

We are facing many crises in the U.S. and globally. If we don't come together to solve these crises, we are doomed. How much longer can we sustain our existence on a dying planet, bombarded constantly with bombs and missiles? How can we hold our society together, if we cannot feel safe in church, or a grocery store, or a theater, or a hair salon, or a school? Or anywhere? How can we contain COVID, if a significant number of the population refuses to be vaccinated to protect the greater good? Or refuse to wear a mask on an airplane for the greater good?

Every morning, I give thanks and admire the sunrise. Every evening, I give thanks and admire the sunset. Sandwiched in between those peaceful moments, there is chaos.

The Big Picture is being overthrown. Life is fleeting and fragile, and we all must learn to live with the challenges we face, and love and respect each other, because everyone on Earth has problems. Power, money, greed, and continued oppression have resulted in our life now in 2022. It isn't just here in the U.S. It is global.

Aside from COVID, our pre-COVID life wasn't all that great. I don't want to return to that life, because that is how we ended up where we are now. I want to move forward.

This keeps me awake at night. I just pray constantly for positive changes in the World. I feel helpless, so prayer is the only thing I can do.

Let us all send positive, healing energy into the Universe that we can turn things around and make the World a better place for all of us.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[agate]

Well, today I had an appointment with the audiologist to check up on the hearing aids, a checkup that was needed because one of the aids keeps falling out. It was comforting to see that the van driver and everyone in the ENT place was wearing a mask.

Then I returned home and saw neighbors buzzing around, none of them wearing a mask. I'm sure they're glad to be rid of the masks but I don't think we're out of the woods yet, and those of us who are older may always be vulnerable.

Another complaint I have about a lot of nursing homes and assisted living places: The people are compelled to associate with one another closely, what with roommates with beds not so very far apart from one another, meals eaten at tables with others in common dining areas, etc. How does this help to prevent the spread of COVID?

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Agate ~

Did you get your issue with the errant hearing aid get resolved today? I hope all is well now.

Everyone is susceptible to getting COVID with the BA.2 subvariant, but the risk is greater for people, who have an underlying condition, or are elderly, and/or disabled. For that reason, your driver and ENT staff have an obligation to wear masks. Your neighbors don't have that obligation, but they should recognize that other residents are vulnerable and wear a mask to protect those residents.

We probably don't know an accurate statistic as to the number of nursing home/rehab residents, who have died from COVID. Because they are considered a "medical facility," they probably have state and federal laws mandating masks for staff and visitors. Evidently, some may not have a mandate for COVID vaccination of patients/residents, since we know that Jeanie has not been vaccinated.

The only option for the patients/residents of these facilities is in home care, but as we've discussed many times, that is a challenge to obtain. No one would choose an out of home placement, if they were able to remain in their own home with proper care.

It is too soon to lift the mask requirements on airplanes and public indoor gatherings, at the least. But summer vacations are on the horizon, and there is a lot of money to be made in the tourist industry. So, we take our chances.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[SuzE-Q]

And here the covid #'s continue to rise again!

[Ikoiko]

My gastroenterologist doesn't wear a mask now that our county in Maryland has dropped the mask mandate. I, of course, still wore a mask to see him and he would probably wear a mask if I asked him to. At least I hope so.

[Virginia]

Got my 2nd COVID booster today. Went to Doctor and it was mandatory that everyone wear a mask.. Suited me fine, as I had mine on anyway.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Ikoiko ~

I am surprised that your GI didn't wear a mask.

Everyone in my dentist's office, at the medical center, where I saw the NP and my PCP, and in the lab, where I had my blood drawn, wore a mask. It is required for entrance into the facilities. If you don't have a mask, they are available in the lobby.

I don't think dropping the mask mandate should apply to medical environments.

In that situation, I would definitely ask every person attending to me to wear a mask. In fact, if I walked into a medical environment, where people were unmasked, I would exit immediately.

When John transported me to the lab for my blood work, and I had an issue with the check in, I walked out to his car and told him that I needed assistance. He got out without his mask, and I said, "You have to wear a mask in this facility." There are signs at every turn stating that masks are required.

This is why COVID has such a grip on us, because preventative measures have been downplayed and removed.

In my opinion, masks should be mandated for medical environments for patients and staff.

Prayers for all to be safe and well ~

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

Congratulations on getting your second booster today! I hope you do not have any adverse side effects. I'm happy to hear that you and everyone in the doctor's office were masked. Sleep well!

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

With COVID cases rising due to the BA.2 subvariant, officials are now stating that one-third of Americans in Northeast and Midwest America should wear masks indoors.

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Another article states that one-half of the people in these regions should wear masks indoors.

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In my opinion, everyone, everywhere, who is vulnerable should always wear a mask indoors and outdoors. But in these locations, where COVID is surging, everyone regardless of age or vulnerability, should wear masks.

It's important to note that fully vaccinated (including boosters) people are getting COVID. Some people are getting it twice, including Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. Jimmy Kimmel got COVID twice in a matter of 3 weeks.

This subvariant is mean and nasty! So, we all must do what we can to avoid getting it, and that means wearing a mask.

I'm not preaching to the choir here. I am reaching out to others, who may be reading this thread, who don't feel the need to wear a mask.

John and his wife and another couple are flying to a 4 day vacation next week. I asked them all to wear their masks on the plane, even if it is not required. They are overdue for their second booster. I haven't told him, but I probably will, that I fear he'll get COVID, not know it, and give it to me. Selfishly, that impacts how close I can be with him, like in a car, which puts me further behind in my goals to take care of my needs. I just wish that I didn't have to be so dependent upon him.

Everyone stay safe and be well!

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Virginia]

Rose, as I read your post I thought, at the end of the day, all of us want to be independent for as long as we can be and to the fullest extent that we can be.

Thanks for the articles. I know that it is bad in the area I am in, and I am seeing a few more mask but it still doesn't seem to be stopping that many from not wearing them.

[agate]

Rose, if you keep your mask on and are careful about handwashing and not getting too close to people (like John in the car), you'll be fairly well protected. It's important to keep our strength up so we can resist infection but I know you try to eat a nutritious diet and stay as rested as possible.

A couple of months ago the grocery delivery service I use sent out a notice about at-home COVID vaccine offered by the county. I've called and been told they didn't know when or if they'd be doing that any more. Today I called again and was told that I'd be contacted soon, maybe in the next week or so.

This could be really good news--a way to get that second booster without making a trip somewhere.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

You are so right about all of us wanting to maintain our independence for as long as possible. I remember taking care of my elders, transporting them to appointments, shopping, etc. They always bemoaned that they had to rely upon me for help, and I would assure them that I treasured our time together and wanted to help them.

When John visited today, I showed him a text I received about my credit card being used at a McDonald's. I knew that it was a scam/spam, but I just wanted to show it to him. John replied that I am "sharp for (my) age" when comparing me to his elders. He said, "I don't worry about you being taken advantage of, because you're aware of things that my mom wasn't, when she was your age. I worry about you falling. That is my biggest fear for you."

The primary obstacle to my driving independence is that I have an eye exam and new glasses. That was my intended next appointment prior to breaking my toe.

How are you feeling after your booster yesterday? I hope you have had no side effects.

Agate ~

An in home booster shot sounds wonderful! I hope that happens for you!

I know that I will be safe if I avoid people. I have been doing that for years. My problem is that I have to avoid John in the car, which means that I have no transportation for the dental and medical appointments awaiting me.

I wear masks, gloves, carry packets of hand sanitizers and alcohol wipes in my purse, and am cognizant of every move I make in the "real world." This was my life, pre-COVID and will be my life as long as I am on this planet.

Everyone, please stay safe and be well ~

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

[Virginia]

Rose, no real complications from my booster. I had a very sore arm, but tonight even that is better. I have been tired and did not exercise as I had said I would do. Some of the tiredness may have come from doing a little bit too much yesterday and some from the booster.

Agate, that in home vaccine sounds great. I really hope this materializes for you and for others without transportation. I had wondered why this was not implemented everywhere. I think it should be.

[SuzE-Q]

FYI, there appears to be a Paxlovid rebound effect, maybe the cause of so many people developing active illness and worsening after only recently testing negative and recovering from a COV 19 infection?

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"[P]atient diagnosed with Covid-19 was typically prescribed Paxlovid, took it, felt better, perhaps even tested negative, and then suddenly tested positive days or even more than a week later. For some, the resurgences were asymptomatic. But for others, they were as bad or worse than the original illness."