I mentioned to a group of swimmers this weekend that I was heading over to get the Covid vaccine on Monday morning. Everyone seemed indifferen to the idea and talked about acquired immunity or something. I mentioned that I'd gotten the previous shots but I HAVE NEVER HAD COVID. People were surprised that there are actually people who have NEVER HAD COVID. But the vaccines seem to work; at least for me, my spouse, my extended family and a lot of people who don't fly across the country at the drop of a hat. Or sing in a choir. Or go to packed blockbuster movie openings. Or hang out at crowded bars.
At this juncture I think 93% of people in the USA who have been tested have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies in their systems. That leaves 7% completely uninfected.
But my diligence in getting the vaccine, especially as a 69 year old, is not only to prevent initially catching the disease but to also have a shot at surviving it. People are now acting like it's no different than the common cold but according to the CDC 2,200,000 Americans have died of Covid19. That's a lot. And the vast majority of them are in the demographic that I think is most prevalent among VSL readers: Ages 55-90.
Keeping current on the vaccines is no guarantee that you'll never catch the virus but it is a statistically relevant way of preventing death or lasting infirmity if you do get the virus.
And for all you old, cheap bastards, the vaccines are widely available and, to just about everyone 65 and over, absolutely free. Takes ten minutes out of your day. May keep you from coughing to death. Seems like a smart trade off to me.
I got the latest 2025-2026 formulation of the Moderna vaccine which is said to do a good job against the newest strain of the virus. You could get one too.
I'm flying across country several times in late September and mid-October. Nearly every one I know caught their first bout of Covid right after flying somewhere for work or vacation. I'm not taking chances. It's the same reason I don't smoke cigarettes or snort cocaine -- I'd like to not flirt with an early death. And yes, I'll likely wear a mask while waiting at the crowded gate and in the airplane.
I mean, after all, we worked really hard to save up all this cash for retirement it just seems logical to make plans to stick around and enjoy it for a while. Right?
(have no fear, that illustration above is a radiation shielded injector made for injecting isotopes for radiology. The real vaccine needle is tiny and almost pain free in use).
Now....who is up for a nice flu shot?
12 comments:
Sometimes, people are just nuts. They've been buying various substances from drug cartels for decades, sharing them at parties, swallow antibiotics at the drop of a hat, take ivermectin I don't know why, many people are on psycho-active drugs because they're shy, but vaccines, NO WAY I'm putting that into my body, I don't know what's in there!!! We don't know what is in apples. Sometime around the age of 65 or 70 or so, I decided it was best not to try and figure people out, it's a waste of time.
Here in the Northeast, most doctors advise waiting until mid-or-late-October to get the annual COVID and flu shots, so that maximum protection extends through the colder, stay-indoors months. We’ve been doing that every year and plan to do so this year.
I'm booking both jabs for next week, as I also have travel coming up in October. Also, I want to get both before BobbyAlso decides to rescind my breathing privileges.
Neither my wife or I have ever had any covid symptoms or tested positive for covid- honored to be w/ such good company as you (we will get our jabs in a couple of weeks - jusy a bit before we go to sin city—travel safe
Two separate comments: first, I agree wholeheartedly about the COVID shots. My wife and I are both about 80 and hurried to get vaccinated when the vaccine first became available. However, because of the uncertainty generated by DC conspiracy theorists (looking at you, RFK) in AZ, you now need a prescription to get COVID shots, even at my age. Aggravating as hell.
Second, I took you at your word when you said that you'd be closing down VSL and deleted the link. Caroming from TOP to The Wandering Lensman, I discovered that you are back in business. Couldn't be more delighted-VSL was always on my must-read list.
I know the dangers of travel. I avoided the covid until last November. The doc asked if I had been exposed to sick people. Well, in airplanes with 300+ hacking humanoids, trams with 50+ squashed Turkish commuters, metro with 80+ Greeks, duh.....
Agreed. "Whom the Gods destroy, they first make mad."
So many don’t understand herd immunity… I still read about so many people avoiding them. It’s a numbers game isn’t it. Imagine what it would have been like at Covid if we didn’t have them.
I get the flu ones too, and also have a few others and the ones we were required to have as children here in Australia. It astounds me so many are so fearful of them.
I think that presence of anti-covid antibodies are not a sign of having had covid but if you were immunized then you will certainly have anti-spike antibodies. Not many people here in California have had the testing for the whole suite of anti-covid antibodies.
Ditto on the COVID risk during travel. I'm pretty sure I caught mine in a crowded train station waiting room.
Exactly my route back too, only yesterday!
How long has the current run been going and is there an easy way to scroll through older posts, other than get to the end of the page of headings and arrow to the next list? Any deviation from this takes you straight back to the current page and you have to start all over again.
Gary, if you are viewing on a computer, on the web, there is an index of all the posts by date on the right hand side of the page. Click on a date range and you'll see the titles of the posts in that range. Good fishing.
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