Thank you for thinking of us, @lovendures. It is a little overwhelming but we will adapt. I too am grateful that I live in a state that does its best to contain Covid.
I hope our access to vaccines will improve soon, and I am thrilled that the US has achieved such a high vaccination rate. I hope that things are going well for your family too, and that things continue to improve. Much love to you and everyone on this forum.
States are using the lottery incentive to encourage people to get vaccinated. When Jeanne said that we could return to normal by fall, I think that many urban areas have reached herd immunity.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-vaccine-lottery-Vax-for-the-Win-cash-16208457.php
@enkasongwriter If a lottery prize helps get people vaxxed, well OK, IMO. We are at the point where we need to make getting vaccinated as easy and as attractive as possible. From some personal conversations I've had, I think there are a lot of people who aren't really opposed to getting the shot, but who don't think it's worth the time and trouble.
A regional grocery chain in our area always gives out free $5 gift cards as incentives to get flu shots at their pharmacy. I don't know why they aren't doing the same for COVID--- perhaps they will, eventually.
Even after COVID is gone, I feel that people would adapt to a new norm as seen in the 2/22 predictions. However, I feel that anti-vaxxers will ruin things for fully vaccinated people. There will be ugliness but not as exacerbated as before. My aunt, grandma, and cousins refused to get vaccinated and I refuse to approach them.
@enkasongwriter I want to congratulate you for letting your relatives know that you take the vaccine seriously. You are not alone with this. I do not want to hang out with anyone who is not vaccinated, unless they have a serious medical condition preventing it.
Some male friends at my sports club have played racquetball together twice a week for 30 years. Two years ago a woman asked to join their group and they weren't thrilled about it because she's way behind them in ability, but they're nice guys so they said okay. (I can't even imagine imposing myself upon a bunch of guys if I didn't have the ability to keep up.)
She turned out to be a major crazy Q-anon Trumper too, which didn't thrill them either. But these are really nice guys.
Well, they stopped playing for a year due to Covid, but recently resumed play since they were all vaccinated....except, fo course, for her. She doesn't believe in getting vaccinated because she says Covid is a hoax.
Well they refused to let her back in with them. She showed up anyway on game night. These are really nice guys, and they said okay, just this one time. But when they told their wives, the wives unanimously forbid it.
Sometimes Covid comes in handy.
@jeanne-mayell I plan on cutting them out of my life for good once we reach herd immunity.
I saw a friend of mine today who has been a Trump support in the past though I don't currently know where she stands and we did not discuss politics thankfully. We did however discuss vaccinations today.
She is not anti-vax and did receive her vaccination. One of the reasons she gave me for getting it was that she wanted to be able to go out into society and participate in life. She happens to be a real-estate agent and does interact a lot with the public. She is also very social. This was a great thing to hear and I was almost surprised. She happens to think it is crazy that some people she knows are waiting because the vaccination is only in "emergency approval mode". She feels that is a ridiculous reason to not get one. I happen to agree with her.
Well, that didn't take long. The first cruise of the Celebrity Millennium since the pandemic just took place and 2 asymptomatic passengers tested positive for Covid at the end of cruise their required covid test. All crew and passengers needed vaccination proof and passengers additionally needed a negative covid test to sail. Children just needed a negative test.
The cruise line is saying this is proof that their checks are working. Hmmm... maybe.
One huge hurdle? The fact that the Florida and Texas governors are not allowing a "vaccine passport" yet and the CDC requires 95% of the people to have a vaccination to be on a cruise. The cruise lines want vaccinations for the most part. The Celebrity cruise with the covid passengers did not sail to a US port, and I would think Florida and Texas might regret that demand as I am sure there are cruse lines will simply leave Florida and Texas out of the equation if needed.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/celebrity-cruise-two-covid-positive-guests/index.html.
Here is a issue headlining the news this morning. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html
@enkasongwriter A member of my extended family has a large group of friends who like to get together regularly for drinks and/or dinner, often at his house. They were happy when the vaccine became available because it meant they could resume their social life.
One person said "no way" they were getting vaccinated so the group said, "I guess you'll be pretty lonely then." And the person gave in and got vaxxed.