The CDC Director has made the decision on boosters.
not sure if the picture is showing or why I’m having trouble linking
@tybin and community, when I think about the CDC making policy decisions, I know that they are juggling many priorities and uncertainties. Then we have to weigh our own knowledge and all the data thrown at us before we can decide what we will do.
I got the third shot as soon as I was eligible. I am glad I did. I've always been cautious about pharmaceuticals but I knew I needed this shot.
We live in an Information Age, and we have more information on Covid and the vaccine than we've ever had about any drug, except for long term impacts. But we still can't be absolutely certain about anything. My Public Health studies taught me that it's all about risk factors, i.e., likelihood of risk; never absolutes. At the end of the day, we find some sources we trust, and then we decide our own level of risk, and we choose.
I see so many people confused, especially in red states or those watching Fox News or reading right wing Facebook feeds. It's like trying to study data while someone is throwing tons of mud on the page.
Even with good sources, i.e., media I can trust, there is still confusion. I am actually more comfortable reading a thorough analysis by the New York Times than asking most doctors. Why? Because good reporters have to be thorough and consult with a range of experts. However, even the NYTimes and so many other mainstream newspapers have missed the boat some times, because of bias in the corporate news, and often done so intentionally, because of their loyalties.
So in the end, I have to finally go to my body, the great well of wisdom, and ask it to help me know.
Did I say anything just now? I needed to post something to be sure the site was working because I've been doing a bunch of site maintenance without my developer. And you do not want me doing site maintenance without a developer. Ha Ha. Hoping it works and hoping I said something here worth reading. @lovendures @deetoo @bluebelle
@jeanne-mayell, my husband and I will be getting the booster. Right now we have a couple of medical tests scheduled, but plan on receiving the shots soon afterwards.
@jeanne-mayell Thanks for tagging me, Jeanne. I’ve been watching this whole Covid booster decision play out over the past month, and I must say the CDC is really terrible at their messaging. At first I blamed the former guy and his inept administration for all the CDC foul ups. Let’s face it, the former guy was trying to control everything the CDC presented to the public, but now that we have a new administration, the CDC is still bumbling their way through the pandemic. First they were going to approve everyone for a booster eight months after the second dose starting the week of September 20. Then there were a flurry of reports that the time frame would be changed to six months after the second dose. Then we had the FDA meeting last week and the CDC meeting this week and all the guidelines change again. Now all people over 65, health care workers and people working in certain fields can get the third dose. The pharmacies still don’t have their online scheduling set up for these appointments, but supposedly, if you fit into these criteria, you can get a shot today. The CDC is gradually getting the message out, but FFS, my late mother could have organized this much better. Thank you for listening to my rant.
Nevertheless, we are getting our Pfizer boosters next weekend.
@jeanne-mayell whew I am not sure if I have a coherent or helpful thought about truth, though I did find this article in Psychology Today of all places and find it a starting point for me to ponder. And the quote in the last paragraph: Finally, truth is constructive and adaptive, while lies are destructive and self-defeating.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201808/what-is-truth
Well, the whole back and forth is rather confusing between the FDA and CDC. Also, they used Israel as model but Israel had their booster population start at 60 and yet the U.S. chooses 65? If Israel is the go to...why not 60? Did I miss something there??
I would like to get a 3rd shot after my 6 month time frame which isn't until later October. I THINK I am eligible under "health conditions"...but my condition has been included and excluded many times through this process. Would love to know what proof I will need to provide for the third shot and if it is an individual state regulated process on requiring proof you are eligible.
I absolutely agree that those who work closely with people, especially in "no mask mandated" states should be able to get a 3rd booster. We are already loosing people in the work force who are health care workers and teachers who are vaccinated but still afraid for their health. They are totally stressed. We need to allow them to choose what they wish to do when data shows that Pfizer is not as long lasting as Moderna. If J& J also shows a safe boost that is also important.
@jeanne-mayell It's interesting you bring this up. The most recent issue of MIT's Technology Review is dedicated to exploring the science of the brain and the mind. One article concerns the way our brains use what our senses perceive in order to create our sense of reality. One quote from a scientist really stuck with me. He basically says that our perception is really a series of hallucinations constructed by our brain and that when enough of us all agree on the hallucination then that is what we call truth.
I find that fascinating because it so closely describes what's going on in society today with everyone constantly fighting over what is true. Subgroups of society are basically creating their own truth/reality based on what information they allow themselves to receive.
It also calls to mind the spiritual concept of manifestation or that we can change our own reality by changing what we focus on.
I get the paper version of the magazine but I found a link to the online article (behind a paywall) here:
https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/25/1032121/brains-controlled-hallucination/
@jeanne-mayell I have to say it’s intriguing that you posed this question today bc I’ve been grappling about the subject of truth in regard to the CDCs latest back and forth and all the vaccines (in addition to other truths) I’m getting this yr into next. While I understand the volatility of science and experimentation etc., I also empathize w the frustration and angst that these mixed messages create. Frustrating and frightening are understatements.
My husband Paul saw his oncologist recently and she had little info about the Covid booster and believes they’re nowhere near having one ready. We didn’t ask for further info. I don’t remember if she said anything about a third vaccine for him so I’ll assume it wasn’t discussed. He has a check up w his primary soon and plans on discussing it then.
I’m waiting bc we both just got our first shingles vaccine last week, will get our flu shots in Oct and then the second shingles vaccine in early December. Paul wants to wait til January but I told him I feel strongly that we may have to get our third vaccine in January. I hope our bodies adapt! Ugh
Back to truth—I usually rely on my sister, phd virologist at Nci/nih. She’s reported to dr fauci in the past. She explains things as good scientists do—pragmatically and factually. If she doesn’t know or it’s not an area of expertise, she says so. She’s not embarrassed to say she doesn’t know bc as with all new vaccines, they’re still discovering and uncovering. I haven’t spoken to her about the boosters and third vaccine option. Bc Paul and I are able to stay away from the fray, we don’t have urgency at this time.
Honestly, I’ve been tuning into my inner consciousness and asking my guides for help in navigating the uncertainty. Thus far, I feel calm and reassured about waiting. This doesn’t help Lovendures’ daughter and others who are in harm’s way. I’ll reach out to Rosemarie and ask her for her input and report back to the Forum.
Stay well, Everyone. Keep your angels close ??
@jeanne-mayell Part of the difficulty in getting people to accept "truth" as far as COVID, etc. goes is that scientific truth is always evolving. We work, we sort the good data from the bad, always trying to refine our knowledge to become more purely "true". Science is all about "models"--- representations of the ultimate divine Truth. Some are better representations than others (eg Bohr atom vs. the quantum atom). But pure Truth--- something Not a model or an approximation-- is not something that can be put into words and communicated, human to human, or at least so it seems to me. And humans can probably cannot comprehend ultimate Truth in our current form and dimension.
A lot of people don't get this. If the models and hypotheses don't turn out to be the Law of the Universe, these people decide that the whole scientific process is a bunch of untrustworthy BS. They'll say, "the CDC is flip-flopping!!" Well yeah!. If the CDC gets more and better information they will alter their recommendations, just like a detective will change his strategy if he finds new clues.
Maybe it's just that deep down, a lot of people don't like to think and just want someone to tell them what to believe once and for all so their minds can happily vegetate. Not-knowing is a condition too scary for some to accept. Others find it a challenge.