COVID-19 vaccines: medical concerns and recommendations

[Ed L]

I feel very bad for all of the PF members who are suffering with Covid or have relatives with Covid. I don't remember it ever being this horrible.

I read about Israel is giving people forth doses and did some research. Since I own 2 Galils, and have a host of vulnerability factors that the Galils don't address, I considered myself eligible for a 4th dose. So about 5 hours ago I got my 4th dose of the vaccine. My three previous doses were Pfizer. Today I got a Moderna booster dose. This is what the pharmacist gave me based on the fact that the card I showed her already had two doses of Pfizer on it. I had heard that mixing the doses might increase effectiveness. I have no idea on the validity of this, but I gave it a shot.

I claimed that this was my third dose. So I was able it put on a vaccine card that has my first two doses. I have another vaccine card that has my third dose listed as my first dose--so I am ready when it is time to take my fifth dose.

I originally wanted to get my bloodwork done before I got the 4th dose so I could compare the antibody level is now to blood that I would get drawn 3-4 weeks after this dose. But the pharmacy had the Moderna available for walk-ins; my area seems to have 4 times the number of new daily cases that it had at its previous worst. Since I had a weekend to recover from any after effects before I needed to be back at work, I decided to snag the 4th dose of the vaccine immediately.

[breakingtime91]

Many know here that I am a school teacher. I am a teacher at an elementary school in New Mexico. I am currently not vaccinated because I had a frank discussion with my doctor given the medications I am on and the illnesses I already have that I was weary of the vaccine, he agreed that given my age and fitness level that we should wait. So I am not vaccinated. I had covid two months ago, I was better in 5 days. Not saying this is the norm or what others experience but my experience was I popped positive on a weekly test I take, I isolated, slept, drank water, took vitamins, and 5 days is what it took.. We are getting ready to start class on Monday and only staff has been in schools this past week. We had multiple members that are fully vaccinated and boosted show symptoms, test, and test positive this week. This was seen across the majority of campuses in our city. I am on the leadership team for the school and we are all very concerned what this will mean when the kids all come back and many of them coming from vacation etc. Pray for us if you are so inclined, but it doesn't seem that this variant gives a shit if your vaccinated or not. Regardless of bad symptoms or mild, kids deserve to be in person but if we hit a certain threshold we will have to shut down again. It is just such a disheartening feeling that all of us are doing all we can to keep each other safe and the school safe but a new variant shows up and sweeps the rug out.

One of the hardest things I have had to do is explain to coworkers was just because they were jabbed does not mean they cannot spread the virus. Many didn't believe me and I had to pull up news articles and studies. This branding and narrative is the thing that is putting kids at risk. We had to retell staff that was vaccinated, "if you show symptoms get tested and stay home. You will still spread the virus." The silence in the room when I got done talking was pretty telling.

[HeavyDuty]

Many know here that I am a school teacher. I am a teacher at an elementary school in New Mexico. I am currently not vaccinated because I had a frank discussion with my doctor given the medications I am on and the illnesses I already have that I was weary of the vaccine, he agreed that given my age and fitness level that we should wait. So I am not vaccinated. I had covid two months ago, I was better in 5 days. Not saying this is the norm or what others experience but my experience was I popped positive on a weekly test I take, I isolated, slept, drank water, took vitamins, and 5 days is what it took.. We are getting ready to start class on Monday and only staff has been in schools this past week. We had multiple members that are fully vaccinated and boosted show symptoms, test, and test positive this week. This was seen across the majority of campuses in our city. I am on the leadership team for the school and we are all very concerned what this will mean when the kids all come back and many of them coming from vacation etc. Pray for us if you are so inclined, but it doesn't seem that this variant gives a shit if your vaccinated or not. Regardless of bad symptoms or mild, kids deserve to be in person but if we hit a certain threshold we will have to shut down again. It is just such a disheartening feeling that all of us are doing all we can to keep each other safe and the school safe but a new variant shows up and sweeps the rug out.

One of the hardest things I have had to do is explain to coworkers was just because they were jabbed does not mean they cannot spread the virus. Many didn't believe me and I had to pull up news articles and studies. This branding and narrative is the thing that is putting kids at risk. We had to retell staff that was vaccinated, "if you show symptoms get tested and stay home. You will still spread the virus." The silence in the room when I got done talking was pretty telling.

Good luck, brother - you and your peers are on the front line of this. My partner is a HS sped teacher and is seeing much the same as you.

The messaging for vaccinations has been horribly mismanaged as the virus and knowledge of it has evolved. I know initially “they” said the vax would help keep you from getting it - and maybe that was the case with the original variant - but it seems obvious that what the vaccine does now is severely reduce the risk of catastrophic illness including hospitalization. Yes, you can still get it and yes, as you stated you can still spread it. This is the messaging that was handled poorly.

And this is why I still mask in public when indoors, I don’t want the karmic baggage of unknowingly transmitting Covid to someone else because of my negligence. We’re all going to get this thing, but I’ll do what I can to limit my own ability to pass it on.

[David S.]

Looking at the data on cases.

Very hopeful.

[Dog Guy]

I think part of the messaging problem is that people in general and Americans in particular have become lousy at comprehending any sort of message other than the most simple, basic instructions. They aren't following hundreds of pages of p-f thread, sorting through the facts and opinions, putting it all in their mental blender and making long term sense of it. People want a simple do this, get that, on to next week's episode. Look at the success of Twitter: short, easy to process messages. How does a public health expert get the word to millions of people who can choose between a nuanced explanation of an evolving disease that has only been around for about 2 years, when that same target audience gets bombarded with dozens of emotionally appealing, tribe-focused, base-motivating info blasts? Which message is going to win? Do you tailor the message to those who understand complexity and uncertainty and thereby miss most of the populace, or do you talk to your marketing department and try to get the most understandable message to the most people in the shortest time possible?
I haven't been surprised by the course of either the disease, or the vaccine, or the drug treatment success/failure. Not because I'm particularly smart or perceptive, but because I've had the time and willingness to follow a lot of sources. And because I was once a biology major who found epidemiology interesting. My take is that the messaging about how hard this will be has been out there all along, but it has gotten so lost in the noise that you have to work pretty hard to find it.
And I've probably completely goobered up my ideas here and this won't make sense to anybody...

[Balisong]

Looking at the data on cases.

Very hopeful.

That was an interesting watch thanks. I had been wondering what South Africa's curve/spike had looked like since the earlier cases of it were detected there. Looking like 2-3 weeks until the USA hits its peak.

[Kanye Wyoming]

Looking at the data on cases.

Very hopeful.

This guy is the best I’ve come across. I’ve come to trust his take more than just about anyone. Thorough, clear, no histrionics, just the facts ma’am.

[98z28]

This strikes me as a much more balanced and reasoned discussion (compared to McCullough) of the shit show that has been our COVID response*: https://zdoggmd.com/podcasting/attia-makary/


*I’m referring to the shit show from Collins and Fauci and crew, who’s non-nuanced rhetoric has given McCullough fertile ground from which to harvest. I know there are thousands upon thousands of front line healthcare workers and researchers who have been getting after it using the best available information, and I deeply appreciate you all.

[Bigguy]

Also a bit weird to me you’re an employee and they aren’t covering you under the hospitals own insurance. I assume you’re 65 or older and perhaps only work part-time?

I actually work for a security company that is contracted to the ER. I'm full time, but it's a small firm that doesn't offer benefits. I'm just riding a few months till retirement.

[Savage Hands]

Sitting here just got the booster and flu shot, wish me luck lol