CDC Notifies States, Large Cities To Prepare For Vaccine Distribution As Soon As Late October

[RamblingMad]

Yup. Age is definitely a factor in vaccine hesitancy.

Also, there is a LOT of "I already got covid, I don't need the vaccine" going around. I have heard this from at least 5 people this week, all around my age (40s).

On social media, we're making getting one a point of pride. My friends are posting pictures of themselves getting it. This is creating a good positive feedback loop. My friends got it, so maybe if I want to hang out with them, I should get it too. That's the other piece. The conversation becomes: if you want to hang with the cool people, you better get it, or stay home.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

None of the concerns you brought up are relevant here. EVERY bit of info about the virus and vaccines in Southern CA is largely disseminated in several languages. They have been doing outreach specifically in the heavily populated Hispanic, Asian, and black communities this whole time. Even radio PSAs are in Spanish, sometimes ONLY in Spanish.

There is absolutely an element of "macho" at play here. It is the same element that prevents the same groups of people from seeking preventative health care. There are free ans low cost clinics literally all over southern CA. The help is there, but there is very much a cultural element of "toughen up, you'll be fine" whenever Hispanics, especially, are sick. I come from and married into a hispanic family. Trust me, I know all about this. It is even worse in many Asian cultures. You are seen as weak if you get sick and it is considered a burden to need care.

And, it is not unusual at all for lawn care companies to be owned by hispanic people and have hispanic people working for them. Most appliance repair companies around me are the same way, same thing with auto repair places.

I was talking to the other poster and wasn't attempting to read the minds of everyone.

Your experience is valid, so is what I brought up. And I asked the questions because none of that was in there. It's awesome your area has multi-languages, mine does too (at least in spanish) but let's be real not every place does. As far as you being married to a hispanic family that doesn't mean you can speak for everyone and not every hispanic person has the same exact culture not to mention different areas of the U.S. have their own pockets of cultures.

As far as lawn care companies of course it's not unusual but it when someone words it the way they did that's why I responded the way I did. They didn't say my lawn care guy who is hispanic whose workers are also hispanic, they said their lawncare guy who has two hispanic guys working for them. Hopefully you can understand how I got to my assumption which by no means meant no lawncare companies out there are minority owned.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Also, need more of the younger people to get vaccines not just for sheer numbers but because they’re the most likely to be going around and spreading it.

With not as much uptake on vaccines, different variants can become dominant and reduce the effectiveness of existing vaccines, and maybe more reliance on boosters.

Really puzzling to try and understand the mindset of people who may be against both masks and vaccines.

I know someone like that. She believes that God protects those who refuse to wear a mask. She also believes that the vaccine changes your DNA.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

And, it is not unusual at all for lawn care companies to be owned by hispanic people and have hispanic people working for them. Most appliance repair companies around me are the same way, same thing with auto repair places.

I know this seems off topic for the thread but I don't think she meant that companies wouldn't be owned by someone who is Hispanic or any other minority. I did honestly read it that way as well that the owner was at least non-Hispanic. Otherwise wouldn't you just say a Hispanic owned company? That might lead to more discussion into why the owner was more than willing to get a vaccine but his workers weren't.

Maybe she was thinking that if he was white his experience with covid may not be the same as his workers. But it also could really be more that he was an owner. I can kind of see that, the owner may not have the same anxiety about taking off work. Race and ethnicity have been a consistent problem since this whole mess started so I don't think that is a far off reasoning. I do think gender stereotypes can play a role in at least some decisions not to get a vaccine so I'm sure there are men out there who just don't think getting a vaccine is for them because of some stereotype but I'm not sure how much of that is really common right now when other things like occupation, living situation (like senior living places) and even just age when you start with older people and continue on down from that may be more a reason for why women over men get vaccines.

 

[Mango7100]

I know someone like that. She believes that God protects those who refuse to wear a mask. She also believes that the vaccine changes your DNA.

People with that opinion are a lost cause...there is nothing that will ever change their mind.

 

[Pyotr]

Sometimes you have to bow to the absurd.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1374777986965209100

 

[jlwhitney]

The information about children and COVID continues to change as we learn more. Here's the latest:

what is the summary of it?

 

[Colleen27]

So I'm just going to vent here because I can't put this out there on non-anonymous social media since even with names removed, our community is small enough that many would know who and what I'm talking about.

My 12yo's school just closed until after Easter break (which starts the middle of next week) because of a confirmed case. Not in a student, but in a teacher - specifically, one of our contracted teachers. All of our own teachers are vaccinated, as are our direct-hire support staff; I was shocked, in a good way, when I learned we'd gotten that kind of compliance. But this particular teacher, who we contract for through a larger school in our area for one of our "specials", has opted not to get the vaccine. Great, right? We can't mandate at this point, so it is what it is... But the irresponsible choices apparently don't stop there. She taught yesterday and got her positive results today, early enough that our administration was informed and relayed the information, including the modified spring break schedule, to parents in the middle of the school day. I suppose there is a slim possibility that she woke up feeling ill today and immediately sought out one of the few places in our area doing rapid tests and reported that result before getting the PCR confirmation. But more likely is that she was tested yesterday or the day before and still chose to teach yesterday. And the icing on the cake is that the kids say she wasn't feeling good yesterday. So while her story is that she had no symptoms until today, the kids felt like something was off with her and knew as soon as the announcement was made about going virtual who must have tested positive. Since she's a specials teacher, she teaches every student in the school over the course of the day - all grades - so her stupidity managed to expose almost the entire school. On the bright side, it was also DD's second near-miss; first she missed being in class with our first student positive because we were in Florida, and now she missed this one because band kids skip most specials in favor of band. But it is really frustrating that we've been able to successfully stay open and teach the kids how to practice covid-safe habits and then end up closing because of this careless, virus-downplaying teacher.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I know someone like that. She believes that God protects those who refuse to wear a mask. She also believes that the vaccine changes your DNA.

My bio dad is this way. He doesn’t believe that God will protect him as he’s close to atheist, but doesn’t believe masks help at all, does believe the entire virus is overblown and that the vaccine is changing our DNA.

I haven’t really talked to him years and not all for the last year, so have only seen comments on social media, so I don’t know how he’s come to his conclusions.

 

[Colleen27]

I agree with you. There are a lot of people who can’t afford to take the time off to get the vaccine and/or deal with side affects. Along with outreach to minority communities being dismal, I’m not surprised. I know my county is starting mobile vaccines to these communities- well when we get J&J again - for this exact reason.

That's a problem here and will continue to be as long as supplies are so tight that you cannot hope to choose your vaccine time. Some employers are offering PTO specific for getting vaccinated - my son's employer, which is otherwise absurdly tight with PTO is giving all employees 16 paid hours (one day for each dose) as long as they show their vaccine card after the fact. The lucky ones, like my son who was able to schedule his shot so he's only leaving a couple hours early for it, get to keep the extra hours to use as they see fit. I was talking with a Best Buy employee in line at the vaccination center today and he said they're doing the same thing. But for people who have to think about using their already-earned PTO or who don't have PTO to use, this system of "take what you can get" appointments is a real obstacle.

On social media, we're making getting one a point of pride. My friends are posting pictures of themselves getting it. This is creating a good positive feedback loop. My friends got it, so maybe if I want to hang out with them, I should get it too. That's the other piece. The conversation becomes: if you want to hang with the cool people, you better get it, or stay home.

In my circle, it is very much the same. Lots of people "bragging" about getting the vaccine and talking up the parts of normal they're most looking forward to getting back to. I think that must be pretty common. The two guys I was chatting with in line today were both motivated primarily by a desire to travel. One is planning a cruise this winter for his 25th wedding anniversary, and the other wants to go visit relatives overseas. So all three of us were talking about our post-vaccine travel plans while we waited.

My bio dad is this way. He doesn’t believe that God will protect him as he close to atheist, but doesn’t believe masks help at all, does believe the entire virus is overblown and that the vaccine is changing our DNA.

The teacher who managed to expose most of our school is one of those too. Of the "God will protect us", "we have an immune system for a reason" variety. Mask compliant at school but probably not outside of it, and not interested in the vaccine at all.

 

[RamblingMad]

My bio dad is this way. He doesn’t believe that God will protect him as he close to atheist, but doesn’t believe masks help at all, does believe the entire virus is overblown and that the vaccine is changing our DNA.

I haven’t really talked to him years and not all for the last year, so have only seen comments on social media, so I don’t know how he’s come to his conclusions.

My dad tends to follow the crazy conspiracy theories too. But I told him that I won't visit if he doesn't get a vaccination. Now, both him and my mom had both shots.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So I'm just going to vent here because I can't put this out there on non-anonymous social media since even with names removed, our community is small enough that many would know who and what I'm talking about.

My 12yo's school just closed until after Easter break (which starts the middle of next week) because of a confirmed case. Not in a student, but in a teacher - specifically, one of our contracted teachers. All of our own teachers are vaccinated, as are our direct-hire support staff; I was shocked, in a good way, when I learned we'd gotten that kind of compliance. But this particular teacher, who we contract for through a larger school in our area for one of our "specials", has opted not to get the vaccine. Great, right? We can't mandate at this point, so it is what it is... But the irresponsible choices apparently don't stop there. She taught yesterday and got her positive results today, early enough that our administration was informed and relayed the information, including the modified spring break schedule, to parents in the middle of the school day. I suppose there is a slim possibility that she woke up feeling ill today and immediately sought out one of the few places in our area doing rapid tests and reported that result before getting the PCR confirmation. But more likely is that she was tested yesterday or the day before and still chose to teach yesterday. And the icing on the cake is that the kids say she wasn't feeling good yesterday. So while her story is that she had no symptoms until today, the kids felt like something was off with her and knew as soon as the announcement was made about going virtual who must have tested positive. Since she's a specials teacher, she teaches every student in the school over the course of the day - all grades - so her stupidity managed to expose almost the entire school. On the bright side, it was also DD's second near-miss; first she missed being in class with our first student positive because we were in Florida, and now she missed this one because band kids skip most specials in favor of band. But it is really frustrating that we've been able to successfully stay open and teach the kids how to practice covid-safe habits and then end up closing because of this careless, virus-downplaying teacher.

My line in the sand for us going to this Vegas trip we went on a few weeks ago (just before spring break crowds hit; side note Vegas had an excellent mask compliancy) was that we will get tested before, isolate before we leave, test after we get back while isolating prior to testing and isolate while we wait for the results (both test results came back quick enough and were both negative). It was a no ifs ands or buts about it. It wasn't that we were exposed to anyone but I was not about to compromise on that part, going to the Lake 3 hours away and going much farther away and flying was different risk factors to me.

The discussion over can you realistically take time off or not while waiting results is one I've def. mentioned before but I don't think any of us ever ignored that the consequences could be just like what happened with that contract teacher. I wonder if the contracted employees have a clause in there about isolating while waiting for test results.

Question that isn't related to the actual situation but are the teachers who got vaccinated at your school considered fully vaccinated as in it was what something like 2 weeks after their second dose (assuming they got Pfizer or Moderna). I've been wondering how many places have gotten to that point?

 

[dvcgirl67]

I know someone like that. She believes that God protects those who refuse to wear a mask. She also believes that the vaccine changes your DNA.

Hooo boy. I have an acquaintance like this. She was conspiracy-theory minded before all of this started, but I always thought it was more in a kind of "prepper" way....which can come in handy in a pandemic. But she's gone off the rails to the point that we really can't talk anymore.

 

[godisney14]

So I'm just going to vent here because I can't put this out there on non-anonymous social media since even with names removed, our community is small enough that many would know who and what I'm talking about.

My 12yo's school just closed until after Easter break (which starts the middle of next week) because of a confirmed case. Not in a student, but in a teacher - specifically, one of our contracted teachers. All of our own teachers are vaccinated, as are our direct-hire support staff; I was shocked, in a good way, when I learned we'd gotten that kind of compliance. But this particular teacher, who we contract for through a larger school in our area for one of our "specials", has opted not to get the vaccine. Great, right? We can't mandate at this point, so it is what it is... But the irresponsible choices apparently don't stop there. She taught yesterday and got her positive results today, early enough that our administration was informed and relayed the information, including the modified spring break schedule, to parents in the middle of the school day. I suppose there is a slim possibility that she woke up feeling ill today and immediately sought out one of the few places in our area doing rapid tests and reported that result before getting the PCR confirmation. But more likely is that she was tested yesterday or the day before and still chose to teach yesterday. And the icing on the cake is that the kids say she wasn't feeling good yesterday. So while her story is that she had no symptoms until today, the kids felt like something was off with her and knew as soon as the announcement was made about going virtual who must have tested positive. Since she's a specials teacher, she teaches every student in the school over the course of the day - all grades - so her stupidity managed to expose almost the entire school. On the bright side, it was also DD's second near-miss; first she missed being in class with our first student positive because we were in Florida, and now she missed this one because band kids skip most specials in favor of band. But it is really frustrating that we've been able to successfully stay open and teach the kids how to practice covid-safe habits and then end up closing because of this careless, virus-downplaying teacher.

That’s very unfortunate.

But, isn’t this the kind of situation that people are supposed to be fully aware can happen when signing their kids up for in-person curriculum these days? Whether it’s the kids or staff, it can happen. More likely to happen with a kid IMO. I can imagine some parents who will send their kids to school with minor symptoms, blowing it off as it’s something minor and not COVID.

 

[Colleen27]

Question that isn't related to the actual situation but are the teachers who got vaccinated at your school considered fully vaccinated as in it was what something like 2 weeks after their second dose (assuming they got Pfizer or Moderna). I've been wondering how many places have gotten to that point?

I am almost certain they are. I'm not the best at keeping tabs on the passing of time in covid-times so I would probably have to look back over my posts on this thread or the school thread to be sure because I do think I mentioned when they started vaccinating our teachers, but I think they got their first doses right around the time DD12 went back to school after our Disney trip. That was late January, so their second dose would have been a month ago already.

ETA: I checked the local paper and the area public schools started hosting teacher vaccination clinics on Jan. 28. Our teachers were ahead of the public schools by about a week. So they're 5-6 weeks past the second dose now.

That’s very unfortunate.

But, isn’t this the kind of situation that people are supposed to be fully aware can happen when signing their kids up for in-person curriculum these days? Whether it’s the kids or staff, it can happen. More likely to happen with a kid IMO. I can imagine some parents who will send their kids to school with minor symptoms, blowing it off as it’s something minor and not COVID.

Well, yeah. Of course the parents (myself included) know the risks. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating that we've managed to do the right things all year and get this far without any need to close or impose large-scale quarantines, only to have the irresponsible actions of someone who really ought to know better send us back into remote mode. A kid coming in with minor symptoms the parents assumed weren't covid wouldn't bother me nearly as much because 1) a child only exposes his/her own classroom and 2) kids can't be vaccinated so that case can't be seen as a consequence of anti-vaxx sentiment and 3) kids present with non-standard symptoms often enough that it is an easy innocent mistake to make. A teacher refusing vaccination, coming to school not feeling well, and possibly continuing to work while awaiting test results is a whole different ballgame.

 

[RamblingMad]

Well, yeah. Of course the parents (myself included) know the risks. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating that we've managed to do the right things all year and get this far without any need to close or impose large-scale quarantines, only to have the irresponsible actions of someone who really ought to know better send us back into remote mode. A kid coming in with minor symptoms the parents assumed weren't covid wouldn't bother me nearly as much because 1) a child only exposes his/her own classroom and 2) kids can't be vaccinated so that case can't be seen as a consequence of anti-vaxx sentiment and 3) kids present with non-standard symptoms often enough that it is an easy innocent mistake to make. A teacher refusing vaccination, coming to school not feeling well, and possibly continuing to work while awaiting test results is a whole different ballgame.

This is the new normal until schools make it mandatory for their staff and students (when available).

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Hooo boy. I have an acquaintance like this. She was conspiracy-theory minded before all of this started, but I always thought it was more in a kind of "prepper" way....which can come in handy in a pandemic. But she's gone off the rails to the point that we really can't talk anymore.

This person is a close friend of my MIL. MIL finally told her she didn't want to hear it anymore, because they would never agree on the topic. This woman's DH got the vaccine the first day he could get an appt., so he obviously doesn't believe the same nonsense she does.

 

[DLgal]

That’s very unfortunate.

But, isn’t this the kind of situation that people are supposed to be fully aware can happen when signing their kids up for in-person curriculum these days? Whether it’s the kids or staff, it can happen. More likely to happen with a kid IMO. I can imagine some parents who will send their kids to school with minor symptoms, blowing it off as it’s something minor and not COVID.

Not really. I can't speak for other districts, but our has an extremely strict "no symptoms" policy for attendance. Parents are supposed to screen their kids every morning, to include temperature checks, before sending to school. Any child who presents with even minor symptoms is sent immediately to the nurse and parents called to pick up. Teachers, likewise, are forbidden from coming in with symptoms.

We have not had one outbreak in our schools. We have had scant isolated cases that never spread further because parents kept their kids home. Most positive cases in students didn't even require contact tracing because the kids were not in school while symptomatic or while awaiting test results.

Earlier in the year, I kept one kid home for 2 days due to a stuffy nose. Again, about a month later due to a minor sore throat. That was the rule and we followed it. I had one son exposed to a staff member who was asymptomatic, but tested positive after her husband did. Once her husband got tested, she stayed home, but she had been teaching the same day her husband took his test. He was exposed at work and tested the day he was informed. He and she both ended up positive. It was my son's math teacher. This happened right before the Christmas break. She got her positive result the last day before the break and we were informed the next day.

When sending my kid to in person school, my expectation is that the students and especially the staff abide by the rules and guidelines set forth for attendance. I don't send them assuming people are going to show up to teach when not feeling well. That teacher, honestly, should lose her job. She knowingly exposed probably hundreds of students to a potentially deadly virus. No mercy. In our district, I have no doubt she would be terminated. They are not messing around here. We are one of a very few school districts in So Cal actually open for instruction and they are proud of the safety protocols they have in place here.

 

[RamblingMad]

This person is a close friend of my MIL. MIL finally told her she didn't want to hear it anymore, because they would never agree on the topic. This woman's DH got the vaccine the first day he could get an appt., so he obviously doesn't believe the same nonsense she does.

It's going to take peer pressure to get the vaccination rates up. Gotta tell people that don't get it that they can't participate in stuff until they do. This is going to be tough, but it seems to be the approach my circle of friends are taking. Of course, we all have parents in their 70s and 80s right now.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That’s very unfortunate.

But, isn’t this the kind of situation that people are supposed to be fully aware can happen when signing their kids up for in-person curriculum these days? Whether it’s the kids or staff, it can happen. More likely to happen with a kid IMO. I can imagine some parents who will send their kids to school with minor symptoms, blowing it off as it’s something minor and not COVID.

You kinda make it sound like it was a "you got what you deserved" thing but I don't really think you meant it to come off that way. I know from past conversations your area seems to be very different than other people's areas with respects to in-person learning (as in it was a much smaller percentage of people who wanted it in your area) so that may just be playing into your opinion.

But there are various places where transmission within schools remained a minimum. I think the poster was just expressing frustration not saying in-person was the problem and shouldn't have been available to begin with.