The Lounge Covid Vaccination Discussion Thread

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by meeera

How does that work, legally? You require employees to disclose their medical conditions and medications they're taking?

We have a fully fleshed out HR policy for those who request medical or religious exemptions. No one in my office did, but we did have some in other offices statewide who did. If the exemption is granted, that person has to be tested weekly and must mask at all times.

[BetterRed]

@DiapDealer - the CDC guidelines regarding those who had J&J as their primary course needing mRNA boosters are similar to Australia's equivalent guidelines regarding boosters for Astra-Zeneca primary course recipients.

I had two shots of AZ as my primary course but 'had to have' Pfizer or Moderna for my third shot and and I assume my fourth shot, due late next month, will be the same.

The AZ and J&J products are viral vector vaccines - maybe it's a factor.

Novavax has been approved here, I wouldn't mind having a shot of that

BR

[cromag]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

We require whatever is available for whatever group folks are in. Because so all of our clients are below the poverty line with limited access to healthcare, we had to do it to keep everyone safe.

You have more pity about my in-law than I do. No one in the family could convince him to get a vaccine (and he would not allow his wife to). I'm sorry the consequences are deadly, but they are self-inflicted.

I'm still getting over the part where he didn't "allow" his wife to get a shot.

If I told my wife she wasn't allowed to get a shot she would have gotten it anyway. (But there would still have been a fatality in our family. )

[meeera]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

We have a fully fleshed out HR policy for those who request medical or religious exemptions. No one in my office did, but we did have some in other offices statewide who did. If the exemption is granted, that person has to be tested weekly and must mask at all times.

I'm not talking about medical exemptions. I'm talking about this part: "We require whatever is available for whatever group folks are in."

People who are immunocompromised or are on certain medical treatments have more shots available for them (and this is MUCH more common than genuine medical exemption), so you'd be requiring more shots for them than for others. How do you police that without getting into disability discrimination and medical confidentiality?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by cromag

I'm still getting over the part where he didn't "allow" his wife to get a shot.

If I told my wife she wasn't allowed to get a shot she would have gotten it anyway. (But there would still have been a fatality in our family. )

She gets a shot and you get shot?

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by meeera

I'm not talking about medical exemptions. I'm talking about this part: "We require whatever is available for whatever group folks are in."

People who are immunocompromised or are on certain medical treatments have more shots available for them (and this is MUCH more common than genuine medical exemption), so you'd be requiring more shots for them than for others. How do you police that without getting into disability discrimination and medical confidentiality?

Above my pay grade. I do know that because of the work we do, the people we work with, and the people we are in general, this was not really an issue. Everyone is clamoring to get whatever coverage they can. I think out of like 500 folks, we only had maybe 10 people request any kind of exemption.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by cromag

I'm still getting over the part where he didn't "allow" his wife to get a shot.

If I told my wife she wasn't allowed to get a shot she would have gotten it anyway. (But there would still have been a fatality in our family. )

Do not underestimate the stupidity of evangelical rednecks. At least not these ones.

[Deskisamess]

Unless something drastically changes, hubby and I won't get any boosters. We were both mildly ill for weeks after our move. If that didn't boost our immunity, so be it. Covid is barely being talked about here in Ohio. Seeings masks out in public is once again a rarity in most places. I do see some older folks masking at the small local produce shop, but it's fairly close there, pretty much impossible to "social distance."

I took my SIL to a podiatrist appointment last week, and it was the first medical office I'd been in for over 2 years that didn't require a mask. Granted, a podiatrist isn't a place you expect to see ill people, but I was a little surprised. Only one other patient was there, and they called him right back, so we weren't near anyone. I went to my podiatrist 3 weeks ago, and he had signs up stating you'd be asked to leave if you took your mask off at any time. This might have been a county issue, as they are in two different counties.

There are still a handful of folks at church who sit in the fellowship hall and watch the service via streaming to the big screen, but only maybe 8-10 at most. The pews are pretty much full. There is still extra cleaning going on, and no coffee service started back up, but those who want coffee seem to be bringing in their own. Kitchen services are normal again if there is a funeral etc.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I do see some older folks masking at the small local produce shop, but it's fairly close there, pretty much impossible to "social distance."

The 'social distancing' part is actually kind of pointless now that we know COVID is airborne rather than droplet-based.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

The 'social distancing' part is actually kind of pointless now that we know COVID is airborne rather than droplet-based.

So is the cleaning, imho. Now, getting a new air system, that would get me to attend church in person finally. Until then, I'm watching via the web, from home. And wearing masks in public.

[ownedbycats]

I remember one of the provincial CMOs (was it British Columbia?) suggesting that people worried about masking being relaxed carry around hand sanitizer.

Unless you're planning to put it in the ventilation system (which... seems like a bad idea), I don't think that's going to help much.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I remember one of the provincial CMOs (was it British Columbia?) suggesting that people worried about masking being relaxed carry around hand sanitizer.

Are you thinking of a comment by John Horgan who is the premier of BC?

“I would say to those who feel vulnerable, carry hand sanitizer with you. Even if you don’t, carry some in case you come upon someone else who has to randomly shake a hand and would prefer to have hand sanitizer.”

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Are you thinking of a comment by John Horgan who is the premier of BC?

That's exactly the comment I was thinking of, though I confused the premier with the CMO.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

I had a breast MRI scheduled for mid May, exactly 6 weeks away. I was told they want you to be 6 weeks post booster. Then I decided to reschedule the MRI for 10 days later yet, cuz I wanted the booster even more. Got the booster; MRI will be 6 weeks plus a hair after it.

Could have been 6 weeks; I might have misheard or other places are using a slightly different protocol. I decided to delay booster until after appointment. My Mom is considering getting the Moderna this time around. I had Moderna every time.

FWIW, both my brother and Uncle were in hospitals last week for a few days (FL and AZ respectively) due to medical emergencies. Their ability to be to be treated and even stay at the hospital was significantly different last week than it was during the COVID wave during the winter.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

So is the cleaning, imho. Now, getting a new air system, that would get me to attend church in person finally. Until then, I'm watching via the web, from home. And wearing masks in public.

I think the extra cleaning is more something tangible that can be done to generate a feeling of being "safe." I said something to one of the cleaning crews one day about Covid not living and transferring on surfaces, and one lady disagreed with me.

Like any large group, our church has all extremes of belief when it comes to Covid. Since the cleaning has to happen on a weekly basis anyway, it's better to let them do what they think is best.

Most masks do little to nothing as well, and when you add in how poorly they are worn by many, there is little point IMO. But if it makes the wearer feel better, then go for it.