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Let's talk about COVID-19 vaccination. Have you and/or others close to you been vaccinated -- or had difficulty getting vaccinated? If so, talk about that experience.
My family and I have been fully vaccinated since April. Well, my immediate family. My family in Scandinavia don't have any clue when they'll be able to get vaccinated, I'm not sure what the status of vaccinations are there, but they're not anti-vaccers. My family in the Southern part of the US is not vaccinated. I think maybe one cousin and one uncle, maybe. But that's it. And the two of them are only vaccinated because they're nurses and had to. I think it's partially that they don't really support vaccinations and partially they don't think they're necessary. It's scary because I'll be seeing them later this month, and while I'll be fine...I dunno it just makes me nervous. Here in CT, it was easy breezy to get vaccinated. I went to a drive-through site twice, which was staffed by the state national guard (idk the proper terminology). It took a while, but it was convenient. I was able to join in over the phone on a work call. And the shot itself was totally fine. I read things like Kate Middleton just got her first dose a few days ago and it's bonkers to me. Like, I've been fully vaccinated for over a month! It's funny because I feel like America is always eons behind other countries, but somehow we're leading the world right now in vaccinations.
June 9, 2021
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I remember giving blood in the early 1980s, though I might have given a couple of times since then. For many years after beginning to take an autoimmune drug I assumed that I couldn't donate blood because of it. About a year ago I checked and it appeared that I was allowed to give blood. A couple of months ago my daughter mentioned that if I gave blood they would tell me if I had COVID antibodies. This would be useful information because being on a low dose of an autoimmune drug made me somewhat less likely for the COVID vaccine to work for me. I gave blood last week for the first time in decades. I actually had forgotten my wallet, with my driver's license, but I showed them my COVID vaccine card, and another card from a well-known national organization with my name on it and they let me give blood. I felt worse than I expected. I guess because I'll decades older than when I last gave blood it's harder for my body to rebound. After I gave blood, while having a snack on site I checked and the Red Cross stopped telling blood donors whether they have the antibodies as of late June. A friend who is a nurse said I can go to CVS and pay $10 for LabCorp to check if I have COVID antibodies, and the result may take only three days to receive. WE are going to an outdoor barbecue at a synagogue this afternoon. WE accidentally bought extra tickets. I asked a friend is she wanted to join us and she agreed. Today she let me know that a friend of hers is in the hospital so she needs to do a hospital visit instead of going to the event. Another friend might enjoy the event, but I won't invite her to come with us since she's unvaccinated. Yesterday I wore a mask with a clear mouthpiece to synagogue, since most of it is navy which matched my outfit. The mouth piece is plastic, which makes breathing with it harder. From now on I'll only where it when tutoring in person. WE will be traveling out of town to care for our grandson soon, when our daughter has another child iy'h. Our grandson is two and I've decided I'll where a mask whenever he is supposed to, to make him feel better.
August 17, 2021