Since this is about vaccine reluctance, I think we have made an overwhelming case for vaccines. And why the medical personnel were first on the list.
I’m still curious why people are feeling reluctance to getting a vaccine. And this is showing me that there are many reasons but I also do hope that we can see that there is a path forward.
My bil and sil are already vaccinated as they are in the medical profession. My in laws are in the process. My husband had to tell his dad last night that although he is being vaccinated, my and husband and I will not be able to visit them. That my fil should get together with his other son. And that my husband and I will probably not be able to get a vaccine for quite a while.
That’s the facts for right now. It was a pretty heartbreaking conversation.
@deb922 I’m a little confused. Are you saying you had to tell your FIL that you would not be able to see him for awhile because you won’t be vaccinated for some time yet - or are you saying that even when vaccinated you won’t be able to see him??
I think what you are saying is that while HE is getting vaccinated, you two won’t be for awile so you won’t be able to visit. But since he and BIL/SIL WILL be vaccinated he should/could visit with them.
Sorry, I think typing things out, I get my stories confused.
My husband told my fil that until my husband (and myself although I am hoping my husband is farther up the queue than I am) Is vaccinated, that we should stay away from the in laws.
My in laws have not been that careful. My husband and I have had sporadic visits with them. But my husband was telling his dad that even after the in laws are vaccinated, that we shouldn’t visit. I think my husband’s thinking is that my in laws could pass the virus to him (and myself).
I suspect that the in laws will even be less careful than they already are once their vaccines are completed. And that they could carry the virus to us. Because we don’t know if a vaccinated person can carry the virus and infect other people.
I think my husband was heading off the insistent pleas from my mil that we visit (all the time, she is never satisfied lol). We have to be very careful as my husband has several autoimmune diseases that make him especially vulnerable.
Unfortunately it seems that my husband’s vulnerability and his work as an essential worker is not going to move him up much in the vaccine order. The states are prioritizing older residents and not younger essential workers. That’s the order and it’s not going to change.
So while our older relatives are being vaccinated, it still means that their children are going to have to distance for awhile longer. Until we have more information as to how this virus can be transmitted or how these new variants are moving through our communities.
I hope this long winded answer lol! Helps explain what my husband was telling his dad.
That all makes sense @deb922 . Let me tell you they cannot produce those vaccines fast enough so that so many more people outside of seniors and up can get them!
I thought about posting a thread for “When you have both vaccines, how will your pandemic routines change?” - to get a feel for what people are thinking or planning. I myself will proceed VERY slowly and actually probably not much new at all until more of the general public is vaccinated. (I don’t want to over saturate the COVID threads though or hurt anyone’s feelings for who the vaccine is months away) But it’s something we need to be thinking about.
My D is a PA in Northern California. She works in a clinic in a rural area. All of the 15 people who work there were offered the vaccine in December. Only 5 have taken it – the doctor, my D and 3 others. The doc and my D have been trying to convince the others (office staff and medical assistants) to get it without much success.
My wish right now is that everyone in our town becomes vaccine reluctant until my DH and I can get the vaccine. I am on lists. Hopefully, we will have it in the next few weeks. I just hope that the Governor doesn’t open up the eligibility list to more people until those who are eligible can get their vaccine. I know several people in their 80’s trying to get it.
My mother decided she will get the vaccine and has put herself on a list. I nudged her a bit by reminding her that her age group puts her at higher risk and she really wants to get back to her normal life. I think her friends helped to convince her as well.
One thing is for sure, if you willing to take the vaccine then you should be willing to eat GMO food; after all you are injecting a GMO vaccine directly into your body. I’m on the record as having no issue with GMO food.
I have no issue with GMO food either but not sure of your logic. It would be consistent to take the position that one should limit exposure to GMO substances as much as possible but say, well this is the one time it’s necessary but since I’ve done this I want to avoid any other exposure.
My mom got hers, but we were pointing out that nothing has changed. She still has to wear a mask, still has to stay 6’ away, still can’t have a party or go on vacation. The others in our house haven’t been vaccinated so same precautions apply.
I think how your life changes after the vaccine will vary quite a bit. For my husband who is getting his first shot this week (due to health condition), I don’t think it will change much. He will still wear a mask, go out only to the store, etc. Particularly, since I live with him and won’t be getting one any time soon (too young and healthy).
For my daughter who works in health care (but not patient contact), her life will change more. She will go back to riding mas transit, go back to the gym, and finally get a haircut (it has been a year). She won’t be able to socialize with her friends, since none of them will be getting a vaccine soon. She is the biggest worrier in the family, so I think it will also reduce stress (knowing that she and her father are both protected.) This along with getting back to the gym and being able to travel farther (right now she is walking instead of the subway) will be a huge mental health boost for her.
For my father in an assisted living facility, once everybody is vaccinated, his world will change dramatically. He will be able to leave his room again, they will serve food in the dining hall, they will begin social activities again, etc. His level of social interaction which is now zero will be back to normal.
My mom gets her second vaccine Saturday. She is hoping to get together with other vaccinated friends to play bridge.
She is also going to travel to my sisters (who is also vaccinated) because they want her to see a medical specialist in my sisters town. Besides the needed appointment, she will see my sister who she hasn’t seen since Christmas 2019
Once I get vaccinated the only immediate thing that will change is that I’ll return to church. I’ve been streaming church services for the last 9 months and miss the community. Our church has been open but our family chose not to risk things because of the way it might affect our jobs (we are self employed) and the risk to our parents. I also look forward to being able to see friends and leave the decision whether to get together with them. If people have celebrations I will attend again. Once things open up I will begin attending again. Only when the vaccine is available to all will I consider not masking up. It will be a consideration for those who have not had the opportunity to make the decision. At some point they are either going to choose to get vaccinated or choose to accept the risk that either they won’t get Covid or if they do the result will be relatively benign. For those who are unable to get the vaccine they will need to be extremely careful but it will be their responsibility to limit their exposure. I expect that even if we don’t have full herd immunity the disease will be much more limited.
From the Washington Post today: “For vaccine skeptics might dig in, creating reservoirs of infection in which new variants can arise — for example, by spreading to immunocompromised people whose infections could function as laboratories where the virus effectively experiments with ways to evade immune defenses.”
