Caitlin Doughty from Ask a Mortician has put out a video on how fucked up the response to the care of COVID bodies is
Warning - blunt direct talk about death and bodies.
As an aside, her book, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, is so interesting and a good read.
I haven’t listened to the video yet, but I know someone whose wife is a mortician. He said since March she has been working six days per week and that she comes home every evening and does paperwork until at least 10pm. The stories about how many bodies her mortuary alone is processing is just astounding.
If you’ve had the vaccine, can we talk side effects? Also, which vaccine did you receive and did you have COVID previously?
I’m day after first dose of Moderna and had Covid in early March. I am surprised by the quick onset of side effects and that I’m still feeling as badly as I am today. Headache, joint pain and fatigue are the biggest side effects I’m having but they are persistent and Advil isn’t doing much for relief.
Others in my circle who’ve received the Moderna vaccine have sailed through without side effects, so I’m curious if previously having Covid somehow plays into this. Google is failing me on this, so I’m here seeking some good old anecdotal data from CEP, haha.
Your immune system was already primed for response by natural infection.
This is the same reason why the second shot tends to give people more side effects. They are primed by the first dose. It is your immune system mounting a response. At least that is how I understand it...?
discogranny I had my first shot of modena Thursday afternoon. I had a headache and felt tired all day Friday, but I was still able to work/go about my day, though I'm pretty sure I was grumpy because I didn't feel great. My arm was pretty sore to, but it's mostly normal now.
My DH has done both doses of Pfizer. He mostly just had a sore arm from the first shot. He did have one evening of dizzy/nausea where he went to bed a couple hours early, about 24 hours after the second dose. He was back to normal the next day.
Post by wanderingback on Jan 31, 2021 18:11:42 GMT -5
So my partner just told me about someone who is kind of "bending the rules" in regards to getting vaccinated. In my area they're vaccinating teachers and education workers. This person does teach for a university, but in another state that is a plane ride away. They obviously have been teaching virtually this whole time. In non pandemic times they do fly there once a month to teach, but that hasn't been the case since covid and won't be the case for awhile. But they have an appointment for next week. They don't go anywhere and they have a car for transportation.
In our area there are way less vaccines than people who are eligible. One of my coworkers who isn't a medical person, but does see our patients (she does education stuff, like gives our prenatal patients info) had her vaccine appointment canceled last week because our city didn't get a big enough shipment as was expected. She rides the subway to work every day as well.
Anyway, I guess my partner could be considered an "education worker" as well since that's some of what he does, but it's all been virtual since covid. But he's not signing up until it really gets to his tier since he can just stay home indefinitely and doesn't have to work out in the public.
ETA: Sorry if my point wasn't clear. I was discussing this in regards to giving an example as to why inequities are happening. People that are working from home, healthy and tech savvy are having a lot easier of a time making appointments than others who might be more at risk. My city has just put out data and that's clearly what is happening. So this was just a specific example to show how the systems are set up for inequity when there is a limited supply of vaccine and it's not going to the people who are working outside of their homes/more at risk.
It’s such a tough call. There is a lot of messaging about getting a shot if it’s offered to you, because more vaccinated people is better. But I know I am feeling a lot of guilt about having been able to get my first dose, even though I’m in PA’s extended 1a group due to two health risks. I am an in person teacher, and I didn’t jump the line, but I am youngish (42) and pretty healthy outside of obesity and a heart issue (and a clotting disorder that doesn’t seem to factor in). I almost didn’t go because I know a lot of older folks are having trouble getting appointments in my area and I happened to get lucky.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
So my partner just told me about someone who is kind of "bending the rules" in regards to getting vaccinated. In my area they're vaccinating teachers and education workers. This person does teach for a university, but in another state that is a plane ride away. They obviously have been teaching virtually this whole time. In non pandemic times they do fly there once a month to teach, but that hasn't been the case since covid and won't be the case for awhile. But they have an appointment for next week. They don't go anywhere and they have a car for transportation.
In our area there are way less vaccines than people who are eligible. One of my coworkers who isn't a medical person, but does see our patients (she does education stuff, like gives our prenatal patients info) had her vaccine appointment canceled last week because our city didn't get a big enough shipment as was expected. She rides the subway to work every day as well.
Anyway, I guess my partner could be considered an "education worker" as well since that's some of what he does, but it's all been virtual since covid. But he's not signing up until it really gets to his tier since he can just stay home indefinitely and doesn't have to work out in the public.
Could it be the case that this person’s university got doses and is vaccinating their faculty and staff based on the local tiers so that’s why they are going? I work at a university in a neighboring county and their roll out has been different than in my county. The county where my university is had over 50% of their loca healthcare workers decline the vaccination so they moved more quickly to the education tier. Our campus got doses and prioritized older faculty and staff and then will open it to everyone. We’ve been told if we have an underlying condition that puts us in a risk category and are able to get the vaccine elsewhere before they have enough doses on campus to get one. I was able to get an appointment at a county site so I got the vaccine. I haven’t told anyone but family since my county of residence is different from my work county, and I’m afraid of being judged not worthy of the vaccine yet.
So my partner just told me about someone who is kind of "bending the rules" in regards to getting vaccinated. In my area they're vaccinating teachers and education workers. This person does teach for a university, but in another state that is a plane ride away. They obviously have been teaching virtually this whole time. In non pandemic times they do fly there once a month to teach, but that hasn't been the case since covid and won't be the case for awhile. But they have an appointment for next week. They don't go anywhere and they have a car for transportation.
In our area there are way less vaccines than people who are eligible. One of my coworkers who isn't a medical person, but does see our patients (she does education stuff, like gives our prenatal patients info) had her vaccine appointment canceled last week because our city didn't get a big enough shipment as was expected. She rides the subway to work every day as well.
Anyway, I guess my partner could be considered an "education worker" as well since that's some of what he does, but it's all been virtual since covid. But he's not signing up until it really gets to his tier since he can just stay home indefinitely and doesn't have to work out in the public.
Could it be the case that this person’s university got doses and is vaccinating their faculty and staff based on the local tiers so that’s why they are going? I work at a university in a neighboring county and their roll out has been different than in my county. The county where my university is had over 50% of their loca healthcare workers decline the vaccination so they moved more quickly to the education tier. Our campus got doses and prioritized older faculty and staff and then will open it to everyone. We’ve been told if we have an underlying condition that puts us in a risk category and are able to get the vaccine elsewhere before they have enough doses on campus to get one. I was able to get an appointment at a county site so I got the vaccine. I haven’t told anyone but family since my county of residence is different from my work county, and I’m afraid of being judged not worthy of the vaccine yet.
ETA: I drove to my work county to get the vaccine since that’s where I am eligible. Maybe I read wrong and in your example the person is getting one in a county where he is not eligible based on his work? Clearly I’m confused!
So my partner just told me about someone who is kind of "bending the rules" in regards to getting vaccinated. In my area they're vaccinating teachers and education workers. This person does teach for a university, but in another state that is a plane ride away. They obviously have been teaching virtually this whole time. In non pandemic times they do fly there once a month to teach, but that hasn't been the case since covid and won't be the case for awhile. But they have an appointment for next week. They don't go anywhere and they have a car for transportation.
In our area there are way less vaccines than people who are eligible. One of my coworkers who isn't a medical person, but does see our patients (she does education stuff, like gives our prenatal patients info) had her vaccine appointment canceled last week because our city didn't get a big enough shipment as was expected. She rides the subway to work every day as well.
Anyway, I guess my partner could be considered an "education worker" as well since that's some of what he does, but it's all been virtual since covid. But he's not signing up until it really gets to his tier since he can just stay home indefinitely and doesn't have to work out in the public.
Could it be the case that this person’s university got doses and is vaccinating their faculty and staff based on the local tiers so that’s why they are going? I work at a university in a neighboring county and their roll out has been different than in my county. The county where my university is had over 50% of their loca healthcare workers decline the vaccination so they moved more quickly to the education tier. Our campus got doses and prioritized older faculty and staff and then will open it to everyone. We’ve been told if we have an underlying condition that puts us in a risk category and are able to get the vaccine elsewhere before they have enough doses on campus to get one. I was able to get an appointment at a county site so I got the vaccine. I haven’t told anyone but family since my county of residence is different from my work county, and I’m afraid of being judged not worthy of the vaccine yet.
Nope. The person lives on the East Coast, the university they work for is in the Midwest. The person is getting vaccinated on the East Coast where they live. They will not be going to the Midwest to teach anytime this school year. Yes, of course the university in the Midwest could've told everyone to get vaccinated regardless of where they are in the country, you're correct about that. But no, they are not flying to the Midwest to get vaccinated and then flying back if that university has doses.
All I know is the person said they were getting vaccinated next week and when my partner asked how they were now eligible (my partner was wondering if he could get vaccinated, so was just trying to inquire about the ease of being eligible and getting appointments) they said because they're going because they're technically an education worker due to being employed by the university in the midwest, although will continue to teach from home for the rest of this school year for sure. They won't be getting on a plane anytime soon to go to the university.
I was just pointing out that it's very clear to see how inequities are happening when cases like that are happening a lot in this city. If you're computer savvy and you're working from home you presumably have more time to search for vaccine appointments than someone who is working in a health care setting every day and not sitting by a computer. I certainly understand people wanting to get vaccinated asap regardless of "bending the rules," but the systems should be set up better to help those that need more support and have more risks such as working outside the home.
In terms of jumping the line, I think when people are lying that is when they are jumping the line. Flying somewhere they don’t live or work currently is lying because they work from home. Or saying they work outside of home when they don’t.
If they are in the county where they live or work and are being honest then I don’t think they are jumping the line. I do feel a little guilty for getting mine since I am younger, and every county is doing something different in terms of my occupation. But I also knew if I didn’t get an appointment when I could I wouldn’t be able to for months afterwards.
Could it be the case that this person’s university got doses and is vaccinating their faculty and staff based on the local tiers so that’s why they are going? I work at a university in a neighboring county and their roll out has been different than in my county. The county where my university is had over 50% of their loca healthcare workers decline the vaccination so they moved more quickly to the education tier. Our campus got doses and prioritized older faculty and staff and then will open it to everyone. We’ve been told if we have an underlying condition that puts us in a risk category and are able to get the vaccine elsewhere before they have enough doses on campus to get one. I was able to get an appointment at a county site so I got the vaccine. I haven’t told anyone but family since my county of residence is different from my work county, and I’m afraid of being judged not worthy of the vaccine yet.
Nope. The person lives on the East Coast, the university they work for is in the Midwest. The person is getting vaccinated on the East Coast where they live. They will not be going to the Midwest to teach anytime this school year. Yes, of course the university in the Midwest could've told everyone to get vaccinated regardless of where they are in the country, you're correct about that. But no, they are not flying to the Midwest to get vaccinated and then flying back if that university has doses.
All I know is the person said they were getting vaccinated next week and when my partner asked how they were now eligible (my partner was wondering if he could get vaccinated, so was just trying to inquire about the ease of being eligible and getting appointments) they said because they're going because they're technically an education worker due to being employed by the university in the midwest, although will continue to teach from home for the rest of this school year for sure. They won't be getting on a plane anytime soon to go to the university.
I was just pointing out that it's very clear to see how inequities are happening when cases like that are happening a lot in this city. If you're computer savvy and you're working from home you presumably have more time to search for vaccine appointments than someone who is working in a health care setting every day and not sitting by a computer. I certainly understand people wanting to get vaccinated asap regardless of "bending the rules," but the systems should be set up better to help those that need more support and have more risks such as working outside the home.
This is what bothers me about my cousin and his wife "cutting the line" they are wealthy, work from home but they knew when they appointments opened for 1A and just scheduled themselves. It's not that I don't think people are worthy. I want people to get vaccinated, I just wish that we had enough vaccine and a system to get it to people where it could be fair.
Post by susquehanna on Jan 31, 2021 20:05:17 GMT -5
Here is an article from my local Pittsburgh newspaper that makes a lot of good points. It mentions that very tech sav people are having trouble securing vaccine appointments for their elderly family members. The one person points out that if she is very well versed in how to use the internet and she is getting frustrated with security appointments for her family members, then what about all of the elderly people who don't understand technology and don't have a younger family member to work on securing a vaccine appointment for them?
Stephie Byars and her husband were in a Giant Eagle parking lot when they got the Allegheny Alert.
“We turned off the car. I had my husband call up his parents on his phone and put it on speaker, and I went onto my phone and did the tech stuff,” said Byars, 37, of Dravosburg.
There were appointments open at the county’s vaccine distribution site in Monroeville. The Byars family was just one of thousands rushing to get signed up.
Talking with her in-laws, both in their 70s, she went through the health department’s online sign-up sheet on her own phone, zooming in on the form and noting how the site lagged while she tried to zip through the process.
She successfully made an appointment for her father-in-law for Feb. 12. Then, navigating back to the start of the form, she began the process again for her mother-in-law. It was too late. Within minutes, all of the slots were filled.
In terms of jumping the line, I think when people are lying that is when they are jumping the line. Flying somewhere they don’t live or work currently is lying because they work from home. Or saying they work outside of home when they don’t.
If they are in the county where they live or work and are being honest then I don’t think they are jumping the line. I do feel a little guilty for getting mine since I am younger, and every county is doing something different in terms of my occupation. But I also knew if I didn’t get an appointment when I could I wouldn’t be able to for months afterwards.
I edited my post to explain my thinking. I was giving that as an example of the inequities happening. I understand why people are "bending the rules" and not thinking about others, but the system isn’t set up in an equitable manner, so that’s what I was trying to highlight. People working in healthcare aren’t vaccinated yet, but people who work from home are. People who speak English Fluent are able to get vaccinated, but people who don’t aren’t vaccinated. And the list goes on in regards to inequities.
wanderingback, for sure. I think there is a lot of people who are able to get appointments fast because they work on a computer or have fast typing skills. I will put myself in that category.
Actually, there was an error in the website, and I got my confirmation emails in Spanish. I did not ask for emails in Spanish, and luckily I can read Spanish. But I wonder about those other people that got emails in the wrong language, and then they don't know what the email says.
I know at least a couple counties here in NC are taking messages at the Health Department and calling seniors back to make appointments. My inlaws did this.
My fiance got his first shot on Sunday. Right now only health workers or 65+ are getting them in mn, and in this particular system it is 75+. There were a lot of old people shooting him death glares when he was at the clinic. Lol. He's a mental health professional who sees the public on a daily basis, mostly homeless, so yes he needs it and qualifies for it. And he is not what you call clean cut like you would expect a typical health professional to look (he wore street clothes, has a beard and shaggy curly hair, loud boisterous but super kind temperament). There's a lot of unneeded judgement out there.
He did also see a lot of frustration from people who didn't know how to work the reservation process online and didn't actually have a spot and vaccine saved for them, and no one at the clinic could sit down and help them through it. There may be a need for elderly resources or customer service so they can be successful.
Post by mrsukyankee on Feb 1, 2021 13:54:28 GMT -5
I will say that as frustrating as England has been around a lot of issues, at least the NHS is doing a good job around the vax. They are sending letters letting people know to call when they are ready to have a certain age group get their vax as well as emails and text messages. You just call your local GP and the appointment is made by them, so you don't need to deal with technology. It's not perfect, by any measure, as our postal service is lagging, but lots of people are able to go online to look and see if their relatives or neighbours need to make that call (I sent a few messages to people in my neighbourhood to make the calls for their relatives).
Post by georgeglass on Feb 1, 2021 17:25:18 GMT -5
My parents just got appointments for next week. I am thrilled. They were actually offered shots for tomorrow, but my mom has lupus and was told to discontinue one med for a week before the shot. I had gotten appointments for them in their town later in Feb, but the town just said that they're not getting enough doses and will have to cancel a bunch, so this is wonderful news.