Margazine

An post vaccination udpate to my Reflecting on the second COVID wave piece.

Yes I am vaccinated

I finally took the COVID vaccine after reaslitically think about it My worst fear turned out to be false . I did not get a severe allergic reaction just soreness and fever. The fever itself felt no worse than a hot flash. To be safe, I waited an extra 15 minutes just in case As much as I wanted to know about the possiblity of getting a severe reaction before, my mom was right.I wouldn’t have known which would effect me until I took it , even if tests doucmented them beforehand . These vaccines are so new, there is no allergy test for them.

This hesitancy requires a varied response.

I will continue to support a nuanced approach to the hesitancy because the demonization of the unvaccinated is creul and unfair. These aren’t the conspiratorial anti-vaxxers of old. They have legitimate and varied reasons for hesitancy. The government and others most make an effort to understand those to effectively address it For someone with memories of forced experiments, a strategy that deals those memories is necessary. For those like me, information to help realistically assess the trade-offs is useful. And that is the problem there is no consistent information especially from the government. When you have an intense fear he unknown, inconsistency is an enemy. However, that same government is looking for quick answers. the Biden administration looked foolish although it only missed its mid-year vaccination goal of 70% by 3%.

Let’s be realistic about the COVID vaccine limitations

People are also are using the unvaccinated as scapegoats because the lack of vaccination is the most natural assumption for the US Delta surges. However, t won’t end even if we reach 100% vaccination because they don’t prevent infection. The illness can still spread because the virus is still present in the body even if there are no or mild symptoms .

COVID variants can evade the body’s natural or acquired immune response. The P-1 Gamma variant wreaked havoc in Brazil for that reason. The concern about Gamma in the US is growing. Recently WHO upgraded it to a variant of concern. A variant of concern is highly infectious and difficult to contain. Since its discovery in the US, it became the dominant variant in Florida . University of Missouri found it in St. Louis area wastewater This left health officials baffled about the possible implications. This mean that it will be back to the drawing in terms of vaccines.

Gamma Chameleon

That does not bode well for overall containment efforts since the current US vaccine compliment is not highly effective against it. If Gamma becomes dominant the FDA will have to look into other vaccines, including the promising one used in Brazilian elderly patients Fully vaccinated people have gotten breakthrough infections in other places where Gamma is present. The CDC released a study assesing breakthrough infections a group of fully vaccinated French Guyana miners Gamma’s offshoot Lambda contains previously unknown amino acid in its protein, making it more contiguous. Unlike Gamma though, US Doctors have managed to contain US Lambda cases. If it becomes endemic as some predict we may need yearly vaccines to deal with the constant mutations just like with the seasonal flu. Immunocomprised people will already need an additional dose .

COVID Vaccine Mandates Are Tricky

In places that traditionally are venerable to communicable diseases such schools and meat packing plants , I support them. I am glad that places are offering testing as an alternative to those who don’t want or cannot get the vaccine . Regular esting however could be burdensome if a person has to go to doctor’s office to get it.

In other places such as regular offices, I think they should do risk assessment. People who showed symptoms at the temporary Census facility I worked at only showed symptoms there. However management did take the necessary precautions such extra sanitization and quarantining the exposed. Keep in mind this was a former warehouse facility that US Census Bureau used as traditional office space too. As I said before everything has changed, so more information could change my mind The final result of the miner study could shed light on whether the COVID vaccination is necessary in mines too.

In light of all of this I will not be harsh on the unvaccinated. It is not as clear cut as the opponents of the unvaccinated want you to believe. . Shame and negative peer pressure is bad reason to do anything, especially for getting vaccinated .

Additional Information

Very Well Summary of Gamma COVID variant

Brazil COVID-19 Gamma Variant: Risk and Vaccine Efficacy (verywellhealth.com)

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