I have a very close family friend who lives in this exact part of MA. She is in her 70's and can not be vaccinated due to a major but rare genetic health disorder she has been battling for a number of years. It is felt by her doctors that if she were vaccinated, she could actually die.
This is obviously a major concern for her right now.
I really feel for those who are unable for whatever reason to receive a vaccination.
I am feeling more of the collective angst out there right now over this new and unexpected wave of Covid victims.
May our leaders look inward and truly make the correct and best choices for the people and may the people make the best choices for the collective and for their own individual health.
Hi everyone. Our school district announced plans for back to school today. I have two children 13 and 16 who have both been vaccinated. The mask policy is
- Masks are recommended for all individuals, but are not required in any school buildings.
- Masks are required on school buses and school transportation, per Gov’t Mandate.
They are taking away all Plexiglas in classrooms. There will be assigned seats in the cafeteria which will be back in full service. And field trips are back.
I am curious what you all think about it? I myself feel that the district may be deluding itself into a sense of more normal. The Delta variant is very contagious. Are all these non-vaccinated kids being put at a higher risk? It doesn't sit well with me. I have heard other parents talk about how grateful they are that those poor kids don't have to wear masks. I get it - its not fun, nor easy, nor comfortable but if we could just hang in there until vaccines are available for the 12 and under I would be more comfortable with the policy. Its like they are willing it to be safe. Ugh...
@journeywithme2 and everyone else: More information:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/29/politics/cdc-masks-covid-19-infections/index.html
And a thread about the level of infectiousness from someone I highly respect:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1421204571138019331.html
I am wondering if anyone has any predictions about Covid status in January and February? We have a trip planned to South Padre Island and the condo we have rented requires pre-paid reservations. I am just curious what visions any of you have about us going.
@kksali My children’s school district has similar rules in place. My oldest is vaccinated but my 14 year old has had an anaphylactic reaction to vaccines in the past. I am very nervous and believe a mask mandate could save a lot of grief. People think if they pretend it is over, it will be and it isn’t. I am considering taking my 14 year old to an allergist to determine if he is allergic to vaccine to see if he can get it. Of course this is because the people who can vaccinate aren’t all doing so.
I’m getting as much heightened anxiety from my fellow teacher friends as I myself am feeling in my support role for this oncoming school year. I thankfully planned for this by making most of my “in person” supports begin in January of 22, but even in January of 22 we might not be where I need to be and I may have to rethink delivery.
Everyone I know in education has been vaccinated (I know there are teachers who have forgone it for whatever reason, I’m speaking personally here - every I know and work with on the regular is counted in our fully vaccinated population). The anxiety is less in some ways than it was last August given that we have a vaccine that is currently effective in stemming off the worst of it, and keeps the vast majority from getting it to begin with. The anxiety is more about what happens if/when the virus mutates and the vaccines we’ve received are no longer effective enough to stop things from progressing.
Michigan is a blue state being squeezed by a gerrymandered,red legislature that has stripped our governor of all her available pandemic powers, and are currently employing the same archaic tactic that was successful there to go after the department of helath’s power to do the same. In short - no matter what happens, no mandates and shutdowns are happening. Up where I’m at, superintendents have decided unless there’s a mandate, they’re going back to the “before times” with no masks, no distancing, etc. We’re seeing this year, which, for the longest time was supposed to be a return to something resembling normal with less risk as being a year we’re all going to be constantly waiting for the shoe to drop.
Couple that with my social studies colleagues all recognizing that at some point they’re going to be accused of teaching critical race theory - well - I have 11 years left before I’m eligible to retire and right now I have a pull down calendar of months remaining to that glorious date (131 months and counting!) but 9 of those months are going to be more of the same from the last two years, with some exciting new energy vampires to contend with.
Here’s hoping some of those federal mandates which are already spilling over into the business world get taken up by the education field, but outside of higher ed (MSU and UofM have already announced requiring vaccines for fall admission) I’m not holding my breath.
I don't know how many of you remember when canine parvo hit the US ... my point being this deadly canine disease .. it still rampant in many parts of country today! We have had safe and effective vaccines for since the 1990's! Yet.... in the year before I retired.. we would see parvo cases every spring and fall - because many in this area.. still did not vaccinate! Parvo virus can live in the ground for 7 years!!!! 7..y-e-a-r-s. So, if you rented ... or sold your home and moved.. after having a parvo dog in your yard... anyone unknowing of that and not vaccinating... could face the death of their pet as well as expensive veterinary bills.. because it requires hospitalization to give the iv fluids and injections that are needed to help the pup survive.. and.. even then? not all make it! Some.. choose to treat at home ..because of the expense.. and we would "train" their owners how to give SQ fluids and injections and supportive care.... The thing is? There is an effective and readily available vaccine to prevent all this angst and suffering. When I think of the peoples around here and their lack of understanding and just thinking "oh my pup doesn't need that ..that vet is just trying to make money off of me" it makes me so sad... and it makes me even sadder to see these same people think that the covid-19 vaccines... are not safe, have drank the Kool-Aid and think that the virus is still a hoax.. or that it was a weaponized virus used by the Far Left (SMH it makes me weep) and they go blithely about spreading covid-19 everywhere they go. Our county's public schools open 8-4-21... this coming Wednesday.. and we are HIGH RISK and NO masks are mandated, only optional, they have removed the plastic shields, and social distancing is a joke in overcrowded classrooms, hallways, cafeterias and bus transportation. We have already had deaths in the under 12 age groups here... and.. I fear with the high risk level, the low number of vaccines, and 12 and unders going back to in person attendance - there will be a high price paid by these children here. So I ask for prayers for them for sure!!!! I am so thankful my children are grown and that they chose not to have children... I am just heartsick over the innocents paying the price for the adult ignorance and racism that is rampant here. ?
Good morning, mostly. Sigh. We live in Eastham which is the 1st town in the National Seashore on Outer Cape. Provincetown aka Ptown is at the tip, of course, and is all over the national news for the latest Delta variant Covid cluster f*^%. It’s very hard not to be depressed over this move backwards away from common sense existence and humane approaches for all.
Add to that the crazed trumpets riding around in a fake-machine-gun-propped-atop a camo Hummer, protesting a vaccine bus in Ptown, celebrating DTs birthday in Eastham on flag day (Aaaarrrrgh!), attempting to thwart progress w their lying candidates running for local school and select boards. Is it any wonder that people are sad and despairing?
I continually write 5 “Gratitude Beatitudes” and post them to fb to share the hope of each day. I ran unopposed/was elected to the regional school board and enthusiastically voice progressive policies. Alas, today I am despairing.
As Jeanne’s psychic ability zeroes in on climate and others are attuned to various segments of society and the world, I appear to be attuned to Covid cases. My sternum’s psychic dread rises and falls w Covid numbers, I’m realizing. It’s not an easy couple of weeks w Ptown’s recent dramatic slipup.
As a pragmatist, I know there’s nothing I can do but be grateful I haven’t caught the Delta variant and neither has my husband, whose cancer has advanced beyond his prostate. We are agreeable to more quarantining and I’m hiding my despair from him at home. Stiff upper lip! This morning I did my duty on one of the Cape’s overpasses w our Indivisible’s FOR THE PEOPLE ACT and CALL YOUR SENATORS signs. I should be feeling empowered but all I want to do is cry and SCRREEEAAM!
I absolutely abhor feelings of helplessness and limbo. Yet, I tell myself there HAS to be a reason for this madness. More lessons for the ignorant?!? More deaths and suffering to shake people out of their reverie?!? More missed visits w family and friends to force self-evaluation and self-love?!? I’m venting and still don’t feel better for it.
Angels, help me and us. ??
@earthangel You have a lot weighing on your heart. I send you white light and love ❤️
A hopeful tweet by a doctor about P-town bobbed up on my timeline https://twitter.com/ashishkjha/status/1421183212290813954
"I know I sound like a broken record
But here's the thing
The vaccines are largely working as expected
We had an outbreak in P-town with lots of vaccinated folks infected
No one died. Very few got sick
And things have returned to normal
This is how vaccines work folks"