Seriously thoughtful The NEW Covid Vaccination Poll

[haertig]

I would recommend caution in pointing out that the risk of blood clots is low.

[mlewis78]

I was reminded today at a doctor visit (for my knees) that I can still catch Covid-19 but won't get sick. This is why we still wear masks in public

[binaryhermit]

You even can still get very sick, it's just way less likely.

[OtinG]

And even if you only get a minor COVID-19 infection, you could infect other people. In other words, be a carrier. So I agree it is best to keep wearing the masks in public. I plan to keep wearing mine.

[haertig]

My plan is to keep wearing a mask until everyone who wants to be vaccinated has been given the opportunity and enough time for the vaccine to have taken affect. In my state, vaccines are now open to everybody. I don't know how easy it is to get a shot though (is there enough vaccine to go around for everyone who wants it?) But once there is enough vaccine and people can schedule next day appointments for a shot, then the countdown for me is 6 weeks. Four weeks between shots and then two weeks after the second shot to gain full immunity. At that point, I feel that everyone who is not protected by vaccination is that way by choice. So the masks can come off. I don't see much call to try and protect someone who has made the choice not to be protected.

[BetterRed]

Apart from a few weeks around Christmas masks have never been mandatory in the state of New South Wales. Before the mandate was imposed maybe 5% wore masks, when it was in place there was a high degree of compliance, and since it was lifted maybe 10% wear them.

Influenza A and B infections fell through the floor exactly a year ago, and they've remained there ever since. Yet I've lost count of the number of times I have heard and read o'seas reports (BBC, NPR, DW, NYT, Faz etc) from 'experts' making the claim that the reduction in the incidence of influenza is primarily due to the wearing of masks.

So why have the influenza viruses been suppressed to equally low (maybe even lower) levels in a jurisdiction where masks have not been widely worn?

Countries that have been using masks for decades are experiencing second, third and fourth waves of coronavirus infections - e.g. Japan and South Korea. Yet Japan has also had a sharp drop off in flu over the past 12 months, not sure about S. Korea.

My theory is that its not masks that have stopped the flu, it is the collapse of international travel. Australia introduced its 'draconian' (we can't leave, you can't arrive) at the end of March 2020, since then 'all' arrivals are detained under lock and key for fourteen days - bingo, no flu since mid April 2020.

BR

[cromag]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

...
Influenza A and B infections fell through the floor exactly a year ago, and they've remained there ever since. Yet I've lost count of the number of times I have heard and read o'seas reports (BBC, NPR, DW, NYT, Faz etc) from 'experts' making the claim that the reduction in the incidence of influenza is due to the wearing of masks.
...
BR

I don't follow all of those sources, but I am familiar with NPR, NYT, BBC, CDC, and several others. In every case I've heard they've attributed a reduction in the flu to masks and social distancing, restrictions on crowded events, use of hand sanitizer, etc.

And sometimes we just get a good year.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by cromag

I don't follow all of those sources, but I am familiar with NPR, NYT, BBC, CDC, and several others. In every case I've heard they've attributed a reduction in the flu to masks and social distancing, restrictions on crowded events, use of hand sanitizer, etc.

And sometimes we just get a good year.

I had 'primarily' in my mind, my excessive adverb deleter kicked in.

Yesterday the BBC World OS program had a Swiss expert talking about low flu rates he definitely only mentioned masks. Within the past week or so NPR spoke to a Canadian public health official (probably Morning Edition or ATC, they're relayed here) she may have mentioned other measures but masks were definitely front and centre. The 'in house' health expert on our local public radio said masks were the main reason - when challenged, he mumbled into his beard.

Methinks they listen to one another too much and then group think prevails.

But I stand by my suggestion that the reduction in international travel has been a significant factor in stamping out the flu.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by haertig

My plan is to keep wearing a mask until everyone who wants to be vaccinated has been given the opportunity and enough time for the vaccine to have taken affect. In my state, vaccines are now open to everybody. I don't know how easy it is to get a shot though (is there enough vaccine to go around for everyone who wants it?) But once there is enough vaccine and people can schedule next day appointments for a shot, then the countdown for me is 6 weeks. Four weeks between shots and then two weeks after the second shot to gain full immunity. At that point, I feel that everyone who is not protected by vaccination is that way by choice. So the masks can come off. I don't see much call to try and protect someone who has made the choice not to be protected.

I am coming to the point where I agree with you

[issybird]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I'm not brave enough for that level of risk .... grocery shopping in person is enough for me ...

Well, at the restaurant, we could get a table inside immediately or wait an hour for one outside. We wavered a bit. My companions were two weeks past their first shot, so it was riskier for them. The tables were widely spaced and separated by plexiglass.

[OtinG]

Thankfully in my location most people are still wearing masks even though most businesses have been allowed to open back up. People seem to be genuinely cautious of and respectful of COVID-19 and what it can do to them and others. I'm not going to take any chances myself, either for my own sake, or the sake of others who I could pass COVID-19 along to if I got infected. Just because they say the vaccines are fairly reliable at preventing serious illness and death, they are not expected to be totally reliable at that. And since the vaccines cannot be expected to totally stop less potent infections, I don't want to inadvertently become a carrier. For one thing, children under 16 are largely unvaccinated still, as are those with certain medical conditions and histories. Plus we don't know whether a variant that is unaffected by the vaccines will pop up. I'm not going to drop my guard any time soon because there are just too many unknowns involved.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

I had my first post-vaccine indoor restaurant meal today! It felt simultaneously so odd and so normal.

I got stuck in a very long session of court last week and did the same because I was not prepared with a packed lunch. I ate outside and as far away from folks as I could get. It was surreal, and it is not something I plan to do again anytime soon. My wife hasn't had her second shot yet and I am still abjectly terrified to take it home to her.

[timebug]

Had dose two on Tuesday morning. First one gave me every side effect possible;
second one, not a sign of anything! Feel better now I know I have had both doses.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Thankfully in my location most people are still wearing masks even though most businesses have been allowed to open back up. People seem to be genuinely cautious of and respectful of COVID-19 and what it can do to them and others. I'm not going to take any chances myself, either for my own sake, or the sake of others who I could pass COVID-19 along to if I got infected. Just because they say the vaccines are fairly reliable at preventing serious illness and death, they are not expected to be totally reliable at that. And since the vaccines cannot be expected to totally stop less potent infections, I don't want to inadvertently become a carrier. For one thing, children under 16 are largely unvaccinated still, as are those with certain medical conditions and histories. Plus we don't know whether a variant that is unaffected by the vaccines will pop up. I'm not going to drop my guard any time soon because there are just too many unknowns involved.

I agree with this. Wearing a mask while outside my home isn't such a huge inconvenience. I'd hate to inadvertently be a carrier. I'm scheduled for my second shot next week but have no plans to give up the mask anytime soon.

[Deskisamess]

Hubby got his second moderna shot yesterday. His arm is pretty sore, not sure how he's feeling since he just got up and hasn't come downstairs yet.

We've been living a pretty normal life here, going to church, grocery shopping, have gone out to eat a few times. We don't typically go to restaurants all that much anyway, hardly ever go to chains. There are a couple of locally owned places we go every couple of months.

I do try to plan shopping so I don't have to go as often, but that's more because I'm tired of wearing a mask to do so. I struggle a lot with my glasses fogging up, nothing really helps alleviate it for me.

My mom, who is 90, and I go out usually twice a month for lunch, then thrift shopping. I can't live my life in fear, and my mom isn't afraid of anything. Of course we are careful, but I can't stay home all the time. She gets her 2nd shot next week, mine is a few days after.

Church is very normal, some wear masks, some those see thru chin masks, some don't, although the church leadership strongly suggests it. There are enough rooms set up in other parts of the building where the service is live streamed, so those who want to socially distance are able to do so.

My husband's family can now visit his mom in the nursing home by appointment. That's a huge relief for everyone. She has done remarkably well, the shut-down happened 2 weeks after she moved to the nursing home. She's been fully vacced for a while now.

We know people who basically haven't left their homes in 13 months. They are terrified. We can't live that way. Once numbers hit a pre-determined level, Ohio leadership will remove the mask mandate, although I'm sure most stores will continue it. But the push-back will happen by customers. We are already seeing it.