Covid And The Rest of Us

[fab1976]

I'm sorry for your loss. COVID-19 definitely does stink. I think most of my family in Canada are also not attending. I did go get tested this evening, so the possibility is still there to go, but seems very unlikely. Luckily, my cousin has her wife and our other aunt and my dad has his wife, so though I cannot be there to support them, I know that they have support.

I’m so sorry for your loss as well. Being a literal ocean away has got to be even harder.

 

[NAB]

I’m sorry for those who have suffered losses. It makes it so much harder as ronandannette has well stated in these times, never mind being so far away.

Here in Quebec it was announced today the plan for general vaccinations:

• April 30, 2021: 50 years of age and older,
• May 3, 2021: 45 years of age and older,
• May 5, 2021: 40 years of age and older,
• May 7, 2021: 35 years of age and older,
• May 10, 2021: 30 years of age and older,
• May 12, 2021: 25 years of age and older,
• May 14, 2021: 18 years of age and older;

it did already go live to book today for the first group, and it does seem to be quite popular, so that’s a plus. Haven’t heard a word on anything opening up. We have no outdoor / indoor dining, only drive thru and pick up. Monday our curfew will be extended until 9:30pm. Our stores are open and we are able to purchase anything, our numbers are holding steady during this third wave. India makes me cry, and my PTSD go crazy. I will be doing my last week at the vaccination centre this upcoming week. Back to regular working hours,

This is our schedule here in Ontario too. I wish now I would have waited for the other vaccines . Got Az at the pharmacy. Last week and I’m 58. Thought we would be more like 2 months before they would get to us. Of course this is to make an appointment who knows when you would get the shot.

It’s good news others are getting shots.

 

[elphaba91]

Is anybody else grappling with the idea of vaccine distribution ethics in general, both at home and internationally? While I myself have thankfully taken an AZ shot, the truth is it likely came from the US stockpile and should those doses have more rightly gone to relieve India or one of the many third-world countries that have basically no access at all? With our supply contracts having been so badly botched, Canada has actually taken doses out of the Covax bank - an idea that strikes me as somewhat shameful. And then there’s the issue of distribution/eligibility priorities here at home, all side of which have various valid arguments.

When Australia was first having difficulties getting AZ doses from Europe, even our PM implied that it would really be unethical to insist upon delivery FROM a country going through a third wave TO a country with no cases. Our solution was to say that those vaccines would instead by sent to Papua New Guinea.

I've also grappled with it personally. I am classified as 1b because I have received a cancer diagnosis in the last 5 years. However, I didn't receive treatment that would compromise my immune system and if my cancer were to recur (the odds of which have now reduced a lot), it wouldn't be detected for another 5 months. When we had plenty of AZ vaccine to go around I was quite happy to get my vaccine when I could, but now that they have said they prefer Pfizer for under 50s (and I don't think I'm comfortable with having the AZ - after having a cancer that was 1 in 12.5 million, the 1 in 350,000 odds for clots don't sound so good to me!), I feel as though I'd be taking a spot away from someone more 'worthy' if I were able to get my hands on it.

 

[Karin1984]

A while ago I mentioned that in NL we are having test events at theme parks, zoos, museums etc. to see how this would go if a negative test was a requirement to get entry (and then have no measures during the visit). The biggest theme park pulled out, as I mentioned. Now the test weekends are over and the opinions are divided. The company who executed the tests were happy, most things ran smoothly. The establishments themselves were less thrilled. Many of them did not sell out all the tickets they had available and especially families with children didn't come. As this is their target audience for many, this is probably not the way to go. Also certain museums saw testing as an objection. A theme park is a place where you can spend all day, while most people only spend a few hours at a museum. The investment of getting tested is not worth the experience.

We were supposed to reopen this line of business on May 11th, but we already know it's not going to happen. The figures in the hospitals/IC are still too high. Next press conference is on Tuesday, we will hear more then, but I assume it will be delayed at least 2 weeks, but more likely 3 weeks. Outdoor dining reopened on the 28th of April, with some fuss, with the figures as they are now, they don''t want to take more risks.

I am a little sad this time, because my birthday is coming up in a few weeks as well and I had originally planned to be at Disneyland Paris, which was cancelled a few days ago, and now not being able to do something in my own country... I will find something else to do, but just a little sad.

 

[NFLDERS]

One of the 20 Canadian government sanctioned quarantine hotels being investigated amid a Covid breakout.

https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/toronto/2021/5/1/1_5410598.html

 

[ronandannette]

One of the 20 Canadian government sanctioned quarantine hotels being investigated amid a Covid breakout.

https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/toronto/2021/5/1/1_5410598.html

Nothing negative surprises me about these Covid hotels - what a stupid slap-dash idea in the first place.

Meanwhile, here in the heart of Covid country, vaccinations are rapidly taking place (1.3 million Albertans now have at least 1 dose of something on-board; 25% of the total population) but aren’t keeping pace with the baffling spread we are seeing. 2,000+ cases yesterday, 63% of which are now variants and they are coming from all direction based on the contact tracing. There’s been no one “risky” sector identified and very little pointing to widespread disobedience to guidelines - nothing that can be easily targeted for shut-down that would make a decisive improvement. (This is not to say there has been no defiance of the rules, there have been several well-publicized incidents but no specific word of linked transmissions.)

Blessedly our fatality rates are much lower than they could be due to the fact that it’s younger people being diagnosed. Hospital capacity is also still holding - for now. We will now run short of medical staff before we run out of beds and/or equipment they are saying.

 

[prairie_girl]

This is our schedule here in Ontario too. I wish now I would have waited for the other vaccines . Got Az at the pharmacy. Last week and I’m 58. Thought we would be more like 2 months before they would get to us. Of course this is to make an appointment who knows when you would get the shot.

It’s good news others are getting shots.

I’m glad you got what vaccine was available to you. It leaves the Pfizer and Moderna doses for those of us who can’t get the AZ for whatever reason.

Here in Manitoba, Pallister (who is going to lose in a landslide next election, it’s just a unwritten fact at this point) has decided to send truckers snd teachers to North Dakota for vaccines. On their own dime and time. They won’t have to quarantine when they come back and they’ve been told not to do any shopping, so, of course, everyone will abide by the rules

It’s getting worse and worse here.

 

[ronandannette]

I’m glad you got what vaccine was available to you. It leaves the Pfizer and Moderna doses for those of us who can’t get the AZ for whatever reason.

Here in Manitoba, Pallister (who is going to lose in a landslide next election, it’s just a unwritten fact at this point) has decided to send truckers snd teachers to North Dakota for vaccines. On their own dime and time. They won’t have to quarantine when they come back and they’ve been told not to do any shopping, so, of course, everyone will abide by the rules

It’s getting worse and worse here.

Pretty sure that's the case coast-to-coast, maybe with the exception of Quebec. Like them or lump them, I feel very sorry for each Provincial leader; nothing they could have done would have pleased everyone and with so, so much at stake on all sides, it has really been an impossible task. It's easier to arm-chair quarterback them in hindsight but I find no fault with the sincerity and best-judgement used by all of them, and the Provincial Officers of Heath as well. I shall forever remain rather bitter about federal vaccine procurement - who knows what our current position would be if we had received and deployed our promised doses before this hideous 3rd wave had a chance to take hold?

 

[prairie_girl]

Pretty sure that's the case coast-to-coast, maybe with the exception of Quebec. Like them or lump them, I feel very sorry for each Provincial leader; nothing they could have done would have pleased everyone and with so, so much at stake on all sides, it has really been an impossible task. It's easier to arm-chair quarterback them in hindsight but I find no fault with the sincerity and best-judgement used by all of them, and the Provincial Officers of Heath as well. I shall forever remain rather bitter about federal vaccine procurement - who knows what our current position would be if we had received and deployed our promised doses before this hideous 3rd wave had a chance to take hold?

I do agree for the most part with what you said but ours is just bad all around. He’s underfunded schools and said he has no problem with teachers paying out of pocket for supplies for their classrooms. He also dragged his feet on preparing for our second wave.

I will disagree with the federal government part because I will always be grateful for the way they stepped up to make sure Canadians were financially supported, and still are. Yes, we will have to pay for it for years to come, but we could have been left to fend for ourselves. This political talk makes me nervous sooo…


it’s been announced that anyone who identifies as indigenous including Métis, First Nations, and Inuit, and they are 18+ now qualify for a vaccine. The age limit for the rest of us should be lowered this week too.

As a non visible minority, I have to selfishly wonder when it’s my turn. I can’t have AZ, so I have to twiddle my thumbs and continue to isolate. I’m a homebody at the best of times, but we’re all itching to be able to safely gather in someone’s backyard (when it’s allowed here). We don’t because everyone knows how dangerous it could be for me and they don’t want to exclude me.

 

[nursejackie]

I was working in a pharmacy in 2009 during the swine flu pandemic.

I worked at Sydney Children's hospital during the swine flu pandemic, and for the first time ever we had to return any spare Tamiflu to the pharmacy after the child's course had been completed. Usually patient-specific prescriptions were discarded after use, but in times of crisis usual protocols go out the window.

 

[nursejackie]

My mom being told 12 weeks instead of 3 weeks

As a vaccinating nurse in Lancashire, we also had instructions from the Government to extend the time between vaccinations. This was because the clinical data showed excellent coverage from just having the first vaccination, so rather than have a smaller number of people with two vaccines administered, extending the time between meant more people could get their first dose and have that extra protection. The data for AZ states it must be within 12 weeks so everyone's appointments were changed to 11 weeks apart, giving a week's grace for issues with vaccine supplies or the patient.

 

[NAB]

As a vaccinating nurse in Lancashire, we also had instructions from the Government to extend the time between vaccinations. This was because the clinical data showed excellent coverage from just having the first vaccination, so rather than have a smaller number of people with two vaccines administered, extending the time between meant more people could get their first dose and have that extra protection. The data for AZ states it must be within 12 weeks so everyone's appointments were changed to 11 weeks apart, giving a week's grace for issues with vaccine supplies or the patient.

Our AZ is 14 weeks between shots in Canada. Now they tell us they don’t know when we will get more .

 

[ronandannette]

...I will disagree with the federal government part because I will always be grateful for the way they stepped up to make sure Canadians were financially supported, and still are...

A totally separate thing from the on-going vaccine debacle. Consider we wouldn't be having to ration them and prioritize eligibility at all if we had received the doses we were promised.

 

[ronandannette]

Our AZ is 14 weeks between shots in Canada. Now they tell us they don’t know when we will get more .

Yes - it feels rather precarious doesn't it. One thing I wonder about but haven't heard any mention of is whether or not there is any lasting immunity produced by one shot of the two-shot vaccines. Yes, at this point I'm imagining what happens when we just can't get our second shots...

 

[NAB]

Yes - it feels rather precarious doesn't it. One thing I wonder about but haven't heard any mention of is whether or not there is any lasting immunity produced by one shot of the two-shot vaccines. Yes, at this point I'm imagining what happens when we just can't get our second shots...

I heard they are doing trials in the UK . Getting one shot than a different type one for the second one.

Our news tonight are sending mixed messages telling people to wait if they can and not in a hot spot. Wait for Pfizer. That is not reassuring me at all. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since I got my Astra Zeneca one. I have been worrying ever since.

Doesn’t help that my sister had a stroke today. She didn’t have this shot though.

My Aunt and Uncle are in the hospital with COVID and their mentally disabled son died on Saturday who lived with them died on Saturday. His sisters were taking care of him when they went in and now one of them are also in the hospital. I’m not having a good week.

 

[ronandannette]

I heard they are doing trials in the UK . Getting one shot than a different type one for the second one.

Our news tonight are sending mixed messages telling people to wait if they can and not in a hot spot. Wait for Pfizer. That is not reassuring me at all. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since I got my Astra Zeneca one. I have been worrying ever since.

Doesn’t help that my sister had a stroke today. She didn’t have this shot though.

My Aunt and Uncle are in the hospital with COVID and their mentally disabled son died on Saturday who lived with them died on Saturday. His sisters were taking care of him when they went in and now one of them are also in the hospital. I’m not having a good week.

I'm so sorry - was it Covid that took your cousin? I myself was raised with a profoundly mentally disabled sibling and my sister and I cared for him until the end of his life 6 years ago. With both he and our parents already gone, I'm not ashamed to say I'm relieved none of them had to endure this Covid situation. I'm not really sure how we would have coped; what decisions we would have made and whether they would have been right or wrong.

 

[lovethesun12]

Pretty sure that's the case coast-to-coast, maybe with the exception of Quebec. Like them or lump them, I feel very sorry for each Provincial leader; nothing they could have done would have pleased everyone and with so, so much at stake on all sides, it has really been an impossible task. It's easier to arm-chair quarterback them in hindsight but I find no fault with the sincerity and best-judgement used by all of them, and the Provincial Officers of Heath as well. I shall forever remain rather bitter about federal vaccine procurement - who knows what our current position would be if we had received and deployed our promised doses before this hideous 3rd wave had a chance to take hold?

Highly doubt it's the case for any province on the east coast.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Updates from Ireland on the Covid Vaccine Registration

The Covid 19 vaccine registration portal is open to people aged between 50 and 59 on a phased basis from today.

People aged 59 can now register online or over the phone for their Covid-19 vaccine.

The portal will open up to a new age each day until 13 May. People aged 58 can register from tomorrow.

That means the portal is currently open to those aged between 59 and 69 who haven’t already registered.

 

[Corien]

In the Netherlands it was just announced that people under 60 with a medical indication (or is morbidity the right word here?) can expect to get their invitations for a vaccine starting Thursday. This is going to be a group of about 1.4 million people.

 

[NAB]

I'm so sorry - was it Covid that took your cousin? I myself was raised with a profoundly mentally disabled sibling and my sister and I cared for him until the end of his life 6 years ago. With both he and our parents already gone, I'm not ashamed to say I'm relieved none of them had to endure this Covid situation. I'm not really sure how we would have coped; what decisions we would have made and whether they would have been right or wrong.

Yes my cousin died of COVID. They were thinking that his care taker might have brought it into the house. They had someone a few times a week come help.He was 60 and his parents said they would never put him in a home. Sad it is hitting one whole family and they didn’t do anything wrong but take care of each other.

Hardest part is not being able to see anyone in the hospital. Or have normal funerals.