While we are hearing great, encouraging, positive news here in North America about loosening restrictions for businesses and relaxing masking for vaccinated people, there are places in the world where things are apocalyptic. In fact, things are worse just about everywhere but some places are like scenes from a zombie movie.
The situation in India is absolutely horrific. Many thousands of people are dying daily. Some out in the street, outside hospital emergency rooms, which are overtaxed and woefully lacking in basic supplies such as oxygen. Imagine bringing a loved one to the hospital, only to have them tell you that there is no room and you should go home to die? That IS what is going on right now. To many, many families. A black market industry has rapidly blossomed for oxygen. It’s mind blowing.
Although it might seem like a world away, it’s not all that far and the way we travel, whichever variant they are dealing with, will soon reach our shores as well.
In addition, if we do not continue to vaccinate as many people as possible, things could still get very ugly over here. Especially as those vaccinated start to reach a point in time when they may even need a booster!
We do need to get out, be with people, breathe fresh air and enjoy sunshine, but we can’t lose sight of what is going on elsewhere in the world. Not only as a cautionary tale for us, but also from a humanitarian standpoint.
It seems that , just like with many other aspects of life, industrialized countries are privileged and have the vast majority of the vaccine. 80% of the world’s supply is in the hands of only 10 countries.
For us NOT to get vaccinated is an insult to those who are unfortunate enough not to have it. You would think that after the restrictions we have lived through the last 18 months, as well as all the struggles people initially had to get vaccinated, that there would be some more common sense and compassion out there. But people are nuts.
We are nearing 50% of Americans either being fully vaccinated or partially vaccinated but the rates are slowing rapidly. Recent surveys still reveal that 1/3rd of people plan not to get the vaccine or continue to wait to “see what happens”. Well, we see what is happening in India, Brazil and other less fortunate countries. Even well off countries like Sweden, previously praised for how they have handled the pandemic, numbers are on a dramatic rise once again.
Not only is vaccination imperative for personal health reasons, it protects everyone else and shows support for all those other countries where vaccines are not yet available. The recent concerns about the J&J vaccine have had an unfortunate added chilling effect on vaccination in general. Again, let’s keep things in perspective. In total, 15 women have had the serious complication of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT). 2 died. It certainly is tragic. But that is out of 6.8 million doses. That’s just over 2 cases per million. As a comparison, here are some other statistics:
- General population occurrence of CVT, without vaccination, is 5/million, more than twice as common.
- Taking a birth control pill, which is the same demographic as the J&J associated clots, is up to 1000/million (500x more)
- Cigarette smoking – 1700 blood clots per million
- And MOST significantly, If you get significant Covid disease, chances of dying are 165,000/million
Now, most people who get Covid will not get a serious case of it and won’t die, but we are finding many, even asymptomatic people, young people, developing long-term diseases. The stats still clearly favor vaccination.
If you have the option of which vaccine to take (imagine the privilege) and are in the demographic of women affected by the J&J vaccine, pick Pfizer or Moderna, but if not, get whichever one you can.
You DO NOT want to get Covid.
As the authorities continue to loosen restrictions, we must remain vigilant and careful. Get outside and be with family, but safely. Get your vaccine. Continue to wear a mask and distance in situations where there is higher risk of transmission. Continue to work on getting healthy.
Going back to “business as usual” seems insane to me given what is going on in the rest of the world.
MASK UP.
DISTANCE.
WASH.
VENTILATE
VACCINATE
GET HEALTHY.
Stay safe and be well.
AC ✌️🌱❤🏃🏻🧘🏻♂️🌎 🐖