September Covid @Content

[basilosaurus]

At home tests are nasal swabs? I did not know this. The ones I purchased here are spit tests. I've gotten the nasal swabs but they had to be done in a government licensed facility (often at the airport) for travel.

According to our now largely irrelevant app there have been no reported cases within 10 miles of me. One case of tb, though. They're still enforcing masks on public transport. Pages are optional but the vast majority mask. Some still do even when outdoors, but they're now the exception.

[YeahSure]

I learned something new about isolation guidelines. DH and I got it for the first time, and I learned that because I'm immunocompromised, I may be contagious longer and am supposed to isolate for 20 days. That's a lot of sick leave! So I reached out to my doc's office who said that if no symptoms after ten days I can test, and 2 negative tests, 24 hours apart, I can stop isolation.

I was finally symptom free on Sunday (day 16) and tested negative. Then yesterday tested positive. So now I could test negative today and tomorrow to go back 1 day early, but at this point I'm just going to save myself the stress of it and wait it out.

[fortnightlily]

Sept 12, 2023 6:40:40 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

At home tests are nasal swabs? I did not know this. The ones I purchased here are spit tests. I've gotten the nasal swabs but they had to be done in a government licensed facility (often at the airport) for travel.

Every home test I've been sold or given in the United States has been a nasal swab.

[madDawg228]

Rant ahead - All this talk about masking 5+ days after positive testing, makes me pissed. I work in a cubicle setting, and how are cubicle workers supposed to eat/drink throughout the day? Once winter sets in, eating outside isn't an option around here (PNW). This is just another example of how little thought these policies have had on non-management workers.

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 12, 2023 11:32:37 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

Rant ahead - All this talk about masking 5+ days after positive testing, makes me pissed. I work in a cubicle setting, and how are cubicle workers supposed to eat/drink throughout the day? Once winter sets in, eating outside isn't an option around here (PNW). This is just another example of how little thought these policies have had on non-management workers.

I feel like this would just be the same as it's always been in covid times - if masking up, the mask comes off while eating or drinking. 

[madDawg228]

Sept 12, 2023 11:35:56 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Sept 12, 2023 11:32:37 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

Rant ahead - All this talk about masking 5+ days after positive testing, makes me pissed. I work in a cubicle setting, and how are cubicle workers supposed to eat/drink throughout the day? Once winter sets in, eating outside isn't an option around here (PNW). This is just another example of how little thought these policies have had on non-management workers.

I feel like this would just be the same as it's always been in covid times - if masking up, the mask comes off while eating or drinking. 

I've never been a fan of that policy, I've grumbled about it the whole re-opening process. But you're right.
I hope this winter isn't a shitshow,I think the stress of last seasons are preemptively freaking me out.

[curbsideprophet]

Sept 12, 2023 11:35:56 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Sept 12, 2023 11:32:37 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

Rant ahead - All this talk about masking 5+ days after positive testing, makes me pissed. I work in a cubicle setting, and how are cubicle workers supposed to eat/drink throughout the day? Once winter sets in, eating outside isn't an option around here (PNW). This is just another example of how little thought these policies have had on non-management workers.

I feel like this would just be the same as it's always been in covid times - if masking up, the mask comes off while eating or drinking. 

And they wonder why people don’t want to come back into the office. We should not be forcing Covid + people back into the office. If you know you are testing positive I would expect you to go outside to remove your mask to eat/drink.

The policy should be don’t come back to work until you are testing negative.

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 12, 2023 12:01:40 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Sept 12, 2023 11:35:56 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I feel like this would just be the same as it's always been in covid times - if masking up, the mask comes off while eating or drinking. 

And they wonder why people don’t want to come back into the office. We should not be forcing Covid + people back into the office. If you know you are testing positive I would expect you to go outside to remove your mask to eat/drink.

The policy should be don’t come back to work until you are testing negative.

And jobs (if they even offer special paid leave anymore, which mine thankfully still does for covid) aren't going to pay people to stay home beyond the five days, if at all. Not to mention, from an HR perspective, if the person is well enough to return to work beyond the isolation period (we do have a checklist for staff on when they can report back in), they can't force them to eat or drink elsewhere. 

What the policy should be and what the reality of the country and the world is are two very different things and as someone who reported back to work in June 2020 (in NYC, no less, but with very rigid masking and social distancing rules but also the ability to still take your mask off while eating and drinking), the ship has long sailed. 

[seeyalater52]

State of play post ACIP today: new covid formulation approved, doses forthcoming (could be as early as this weekend but more likely next week and there could be delays since this rollout is a little different than past ones as it isn’t fully govt managed.)

6m+ are all approved, including boosters for all age groups for folks previous vaccinated. Kids under 5 still cannot mix and match boosters which is a bummer and is going to complicate access again.

[seeyalater52]

@@

It is also dawning on me that even though J will be 3 this weekend (!!!!) we may still not be able to get a vaccine at a pharmacy because I’m pretty sure pharmacy vaccine expanded access was part of the pandemic rules that all ended in the spring.

Too bad, it would have been the first time ever that getting a dose for him wasn’t a massive pain in the ass. I hope I’m wrong and there is a magic solution because his pedi does not stock Moderna and they continue to insist we can’t get cross-matched boosters for the littlest.

[starburst]

CVS is already scheduling for the new booster as early as Monday.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 12, 2023 18:00:03 GMT -5 starburst said:

CVS is already scheduling for the new booster as early as Monday.

Take any appts offered but I’d assume it comes with a major grain of salt as it isn’t clear that shipments will be in that early and the scheduling tool may not be updated to the newest booster. This has been an issue with a lot of the rollouts and I assume it will be a little rougher even this go around.

[lilypad1126]

I got my H and I scheduled for next week on Thursday at CVS. It was quite the process, but we’re scheduled and will get our flu shots at the same time. Now to get my parents to move on this.

ETA - I’m really hoping they have the new vax by then. I have so much work travel coming up that it’s either next week or November, and I’d obviously like this done before sinner rather than later. 

[pixy0stix]

I just realized I won't have to drive to find a mobile clinic to get DS vaxxed this time! Hot damn!

[Bad Dingo]

Sept 12, 2023 18:00:03 GMT -5 starburst said:

CVS is already scheduling for the new booster as early as Monday.

Thanks! I made an appointment for next Friday just in case it kicks my ass for 24 hours like the others. So worth it though.

[lo]

Sept 12, 2023 17:32:47 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

@@

It is also dawning on me that even though J will be 3 this weekend (!!!!) we may still not be able to get a vaccine at a pharmacy because I’m pretty sure pharmacy vaccine expanded access was part of the pandemic rules that all ended in the spring.

Too bad, it would have been the first time ever that getting a dose for him wasn’t a massive pain in the ass. I hope I’m wrong and there is a magic solution because his pedi does not stock Moderna and they continue to insist we can’t get cross-matched boosters for the littlest.

I just saw signs I think at Walgreens?? that said flu shots available for ages 3 and up, so I wonder if it’s the same for the covid vaccine. My peds office only allows same day appointments for vaccines and it’s always a pain to make sure our schedule is clear not knowing if appointments will be available until morning of.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 12, 2023 21:06:52 GMT -5 lo said:

Sept 12, 2023 17:32:47 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

@@

It is also dawning on me that even though J will be 3 this weekend (!!!!) we may still not be able to get a vaccine at a pharmacy because I’m pretty sure pharmacy vaccine expanded access was part of the pandemic rules that all ended in the spring.

Too bad, it would have been the first time ever that getting a dose for him wasn’t a massive pain in the ass. I hope I’m wrong and there is a magic solution because his pedi does not stock Moderna and they continue to insist we can’t get cross-matched boosters for the littlest.

I just saw signs I think at Walgreens?? that said flu shots available for ages 3 and up, so I wonder if it’s the same for the covid vaccine. My peds office only allows same day appointments for vaccines and it’s always a pain to make sure our schedule is clear not knowing if appointments will be available until morning of.

Here’s hoping! Pre pandemic I’m pretty sure pharmacies around here didn’t do vaccines under age 12 but hopefully this is shifting because not being able to vaccinate at the pharmacy is a real PITA.

[turboteal]

seeyalater52
We got our flu shots this weekend at a CVS inside target, they gave my 4 yrs old her shot no issue. Hope you can find a pharmacy that will do 3+ close by. also wanted to say mixing covid shots wasn't an issue for us, the 4 year old got her primary series of moderna last summer, and got the bivalent booster this summer when my newly 6 month old got his first shots, only Pfizer was available so that's what they got. They got all their shots through a major children's hospital vaccine clinic, nobody said anything about not being allowed to mix her booster. I would just make whatever appt you can get for your kiddo and I bet they won't even ask what his primary series was (if they did and you thought it would prevent him getting this booster, I'd lie or say I can't remember 🤷‍♀️ bc that's a stupid reason to not give the booster).

[imimahoney]

3 of my students tested positive 1.5 weeks after school started. They are all besties so I'm not surprised they all got it. So far no one else who sits next them is positive.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 12, 2023 23:55:00 GMT -5 turboteal said:

seeyalater52
We got our flu shots this weekend at a CVS inside target, they gave my 4 yrs old her shot no issue. Hope you can find a pharmacy that will do 3+ close by. also wanted to say mixing covid shots wasn't an issue for us, the 4 year old got her primary series of moderna last summer, and got the bivalent booster this summer when my newly 6 month old got his first shots, only Pfizer was available so that's what they got. They got all their shots through a major children's hospital vaccine clinic, nobody said anything about not being allowed to mix her booster. I would just make whatever appt you can get for your kiddo and I bet they won't even ask what his primary series was (if they did and you thought it would prevent him getting this booster, I'd lie or say I can't remember 🤷‍♀️ bc that's a stupid reason to not give the booster).

I’ve always been asked for a vaccine card but for sure if we can’t figure out how to get a Moderna dose we will try for Pfizer. It’s crazy to me that a children’s hospital vaccine clinic gave a booster that wasn’t authorized but it’s definitely true that the ridiculous web of approvals (and some of them like no vaccine mixing for little kids are not based in anything) makes it a little easier to exploit those loopholes because it’s impossible for people to keep track of all that nuance.

I’m hoping pharmacy is an option though.

[notsopicky]

My kid tested positive yesterday (first time he's ever tested positive). Was sent home from school on Monday w/ a fever, chills (at school), and then threw up (at home). Said he felt better after that, tested neg on Monday, pos on Tuesday. He's isolating in the guest room on the lower level (I feel so bad, but H's office is down there--in a different room--so he's not ALONE alone). He's been talking to his friends, Facetime, videogames, working on the school work he's missing. He can go back on Monday of next week in a mask. To hear him carrying on with his buddies, you wouldn't even know he's sick, lol.

I am a little concerned that H and/or I are going to get it, because obvi we didn't know E was sick and we're all together all the time. H got it last November and E & I didn't, and then I got it in January, and H & E didn't. So we'll see I guess. Of course E tests positive on the day that the CDC approves the new shots, right? lol

[notsopicky]

I have 2 questions--do we need to take our shot cards with us for these new shots? Do we need them for when we make the appointment to get the updated shot?

[audette]

Sept 12, 2023 18:52:30 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Sept 12, 2023 18:00:03 GMT -5 starburst said:

CVS is already scheduling for the new booster as early as Monday.

Take any appts offered but I’d assume it comes with a major grain of salt as it isn’t clear that shipments will be in that early and the scheduling tool may not be updated to the newest booster. This has been an issue with a lot of the rollouts and I assume it will be a little rougher even this go around.

I will admit that our local county health department seemed to be much more on their game for the boosters.  It's where I've got for all but one of my boosters, I think.  I haven't yet seen their notice, but I assume they'll start doing walk ins (first come, first serve) in a week or two.  While first come, first serve sounds like it could be a shit-show, we're in a pretty red area.  They did the last booster the same way, and I had to wait all of about ten minutes for my shot, and most of that wait was because I had shown up a few minutes before they opened - the "line" was all of about 4 or 5 people long when I left.  That was on the first day they had the booster.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Sept 12, 2023 19:57:26 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Sept 12, 2023 18:00:03 GMT -5 starburst said:

CVS is already scheduling for the new booster as early as Monday.

Thanks! I made an appointment for next Friday just in case it kicks my ass for 24 hours like the others. So worth it though.

DH and I are clearly in two different places about this new booster. He scheduled his for Monday because he wants it ASAP.

I scheduled mine for a couple weeks out just in case there's a delay.

He's usually the pessimist and I'm usually the optimist so this is kind of a weird turn of events.

[waverly]

I just scheduled the whole family for Tuesday. The pharmacy gave themselves the extra time after the decision to allow for the shipments to come in, so fingers crossed we are OK.

I want to do the flu shot by early October, and I don't want them at the same time.  

[fortnightlily]

We're going to Great Wolf Lodge next weekend. I probably shouldn't bother trying to get the booster before then, and then should wait a week or so after to see if we've escaped getting Covid while there I know Your Local Epidemiologist is planning a post tomorrow addressing how long you should wait to get the booster if you've had a recent infection.

We plan to do flu shots in October. Last year I got them both at the same time, different arms.

[pixy0stix]

I am having a hard time finding appointments.

[noodleoo]

@@@
CVS in my area has appointments available for adults starting Saturday. But no appts for the kids yet. Is the dosage different for kids? DD1 is 8 and I assumed she'd be able to get it at the pharmacy like we did last year. For DD2 who won't be 5 for another few weeks, it says we have to schedule at a CVS Minute Clinic because she's under 5 but there aren't any near us. What a pain! I hope our pedi office will carry it.

[Susie]

DS (4) has gotten Moderna all the way through, which I had to drive to a Walgreens to get since his pedi only had Pfizer.  He was 3 then, so he was just old enough when it became available.  I hadn't considered that I might be creating a situation where we would struggle to find somewhere to give him Moderna at 4, and he might be ineligible to get anything else.  Man.

DD (7) had Pfizer monovalent and Moderna bivalent.  I'll have to figure out what that means for her eligibility.

I'm so so grateful to have vaccines, and updated ones, and I don't want to undercut that.  However, I am so exhausted at trying to figure out who can get what, when, where, and how near/far away.

[hermione]

Sept 13, 2023 10:08:28 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I am having a hard time finding appointments.

Me too.