Viruses / Vaccines

static111

brianlux said:

Gern Blansten said:

I recently found out that my ex business partner has been on a ventilator with Covid....going on about three weeks now I think

His wife had it at the same time but only required oxygen. She was released last Friday to home care with oxygen, etc.

He's 57....likely unvaxxed as he is a tRumpster

That's a bummer and I feel sorry for anyone who has to deal with that because even of they both survive, they will probably have to suffer long-term difficult conditions.
That said, pretty much everyone has heard stories like this, and yet a certain percentage of the population insists on being anti-vacc even though the evidence is so strong that the vaccination will help prevent or at least lessen the affects of infection.  Why so many people want to play that kind of Russian Roulette is beyond me.

Misinformation and the culture wars is why.  Some really believe they have nothing whatsoever to worry about.

brianlux

AND... yet another reason why my wife and I and several of our friends boycott Amazon           

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/15/amazonsmile-donations-anti-vaccine-groups

AmazonSmile donated more than $40,000 to anti-vaccine groups in 2020

Donations through the online retailer’s charitable program come as it faces criticism for its role in health misinformation

Amazon’s charitable program is paying tens of thousands of dollars to anti-vaccine groups in a move experts say is “shocking” as millions of Americans remain unvaccinated in the face of another Covid-19 wave.

More at link.

HughFreakingDillon

By European standards, hand-wringing about masks in schools is as silly and absurdly risk-averse as the American medical establishment’s insistence that pregnant women not drink coffee or wine.

pardon? in europe it's laughed at not to consume alcohol during pregnancy?

static111

brianlux said:

AND... yet another reason why my wife and I and several of our friends boycott Amazon           

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/15/amazonsmile-donations-anti-vaccine-groups

AmazonSmile donated more than $40,000 to anti-vaccine groups in 2020

Donations through the online retailer’s charitable program come as it faces criticism for its role in health misinformation

Amazon’s charitable program is paying tens of thousands of dollars to anti-vaccine groups in a move experts say is “shocking” as millions of Americans remain unvaccinated in the face of another Covid-19 wave.

More at link.

I also boycott Amazon.  I think this story is slightly misleading though.  The way I understand is that SMile works in such a way that the end purchaser may purchase amazon products through their smile program and a percentage of proceeds get donated to charities.  So I don't see Amazon as being directly at fault here.  Who is amazon to decide what the consumer declares charitable?  The smile platform could limit what institutions are seen as charitable etc, but perhaps the best thing would be to not allow the option, because even though you are perhaps getting funding to the charity of your choice, Amazon is also getting a huge tax write off.

tempo_n_groove

HughFreakingDillon said:

By European standards, hand-wringing about masks in schools is as silly and absurdly risk-averse as the American medical establishment’s insistence that pregnant women not drink coffee or wine.

pardon? in europe it's laughed at not to consume alcohol during pregnancy?

You're allowed a glass I believe.

HughFreakingDillon

JB16057 said:

So should we all put our lives on hold and just stay home? I see many people here complaining about how others act and how Republican governors should be doing more. I live in Washington state which is one of the most strict states when it comes to COVID. There are plenty of rules in place but guess what? They aren't being enforced! I went to Seattle to see The Eagles last month. Washington state requires everyone wear a mask indoors. Seattle(King County) requires proof of vaccination for indoor gatherings. There were between 16,000-17,000 people inside the Climate Pledge Arena. I was surprised when I didn't have to show proof of vaccination when I entered the building. When I entered I was asked to show my ticket to get into the concert. I had my vaccination card out and was ready to show it. I asked if I needed to show that and they told me that someone was supposed to check that outside(there was no one outside doing so). I was also surprised to see that 75% of people inside the arena were not wearing masks during the concert. I've watched plenty of Seattle sporting events on TV. They are outdoors but everyone is required to be wearing masks but the TV clearly shows that they aren't wearing them. Does the Governor, state, or city fine the Seattle Seahawks for not requiring masks? How about Climate Pledge Arena? Nope. How about the small ma and pa business? Yep. Washington goes after small businesses daily for breaking COVID rules but never the big companies or entities where it should matter the most!

At some point, society is going to have to make a decision to either stay locked up in their house or live their life. How does everyone feel about Eddie going on tour in smaller indoor venues? No doubt that some spread of COVID will happen at every one of his shows. Is it worth it? Where do you guys draw the line? From reading most of these comments, it sounds like you all want people to stay locked up in their houses but I don't see the outrage for events that have the potential of spreading this disease. I also don't see the outrage when Democratic Governors and states don't enforce their own rules.

To put this into perspective, I am vaccinated. I wear a mask when I am supposed to and I don't give anyone a hard time about having to do so. COVID will never go away. I personally know more people that were vaccinated and have died from COVID than people that were not vaccinated and died. To add to that, I also know more people that have committed suicide during this pandemic that have died from COVID. This is just my personal experience. I do believe we need to be cautious but I realize that COVID will be a thing for the rest of our lives just as the flu and colds are. Imagine if everyone in the United States was vaccinated. How much of a difference do you think this would really make when we have a world full of unvaccinated? Should we close all our borders and not allow anyone through? There are new reports stating that 40% of COVID cases have no symptoms which means the death rate percentage is much lower than what we are being told.

Did you ever think there's a reason why we've seen so many Democratic leaders create rules that require us to wear masks yet we've see plenty of photos proving they don't believe in their own rules? We've caught the PUSA doing this! If Democratic leaders believed in masks and social distancing, they would set a good example by following their own rules. They would also ensure these rules are being enforced by everyone, all the time.

gavin newsom was dragged through the mud by both sides last year. nancy pelosi was also tarred and feathered for her salon gaffe. my personal opinion is that one incident with biden was just an honest mistake. 

I don't think any of us have ever said anything anywhere close to wanting to be locked up. we want people to get vaccinated and then live our lives. we know restrictions hurt businesses and the economy and mental health, etc. no one wants that. it was necessary prior to vaccines/treatments. now it's not. just get the shot or stay home. that's the message. 

I agree about the outdoor masking. whatever makes a person comfortable, fine. But from what I've read, outdoor transmission is incredibly low. hence the massive increase in cases in winter. if you are at a football game outside? I don't see the point in wearing a mask if you don't want to. at Bomber games (outside) it's not required. At Winnipeg Jets (inside) games, it is. They also got criticized recently about not enforcing that. and they addressed it and I think they fixed it. 

I have gone to restaurants and bars in the last few months and it's all over the map who enforces vax status or not. All the bars/restaurants I went to in Vancouver recently scanned our cards and verified our ID. at restaurants in winnipeg, it's about 50/50, and some of the ones who ask for your card, don't even scan it. they just make sure you have a card (people have tried to fake them, making that process useless). 

democratic leaders are probably all vaccinated, which potentially makes them less concerned about masking and distancing. if that's the standard, however, it should be followed. but you're always going to have leaders that don't follow their own rules. it's not just democrats. it's all over. 

brianlux

static111 said:

brianlux said:

AND... yet another reason why my wife and I and several of our friends boycott Amazon           

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/15/amazonsmile-donations-anti-vaccine-groups

AmazonSmile donated more than $40,000 to anti-vaccine groups in 2020

Donations through the online retailer’s charitable program come as it faces criticism for its role in health misinformation

Amazon’s charitable program is paying tens of thousands of dollars to anti-vaccine groups in a move experts say is “shocking” as millions of Americans remain unvaccinated in the face of another Covid-19 wave.

More at link.

I also boycott Amazon.  I think this story is slightly misleading though.  The way I understand is that SMile works in such a way that the end purchaser may purchase amazon products through their smile program and a percentage of proceeds get donated to charities.  So I don't see Amazon as being directly at fault here.  Who is amazon to decide what the consumer declares charitable?  The smile platform could limit what institutions are seen as charitable etc, but perhaps the best thing would be to not allow the option, because even though you are perhaps getting funding to the charity of your choice, Amazon is also getting a huge tax write off.

Amazon can chose who does not get funded.  For example, from the article:

"Hate groups and terrorism groups are banned from the program. But in the past, AmazonSmile also reportedly funded anti-LGBTQ groups."

I cut Amazon zero slack.

mrussel1

brianlux said:

static111 said:

brianlux said:

AND... yet another reason why my wife and I and several of our friends boycott Amazon           

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/15/amazonsmile-donations-anti-vaccine-groups

AmazonSmile donated more than $40,000 to anti-vaccine groups in 2020

Donations through the online retailer’s charitable program come as it faces criticism for its role in health misinformation

Amazon’s charitable program is paying tens of thousands of dollars to anti-vaccine groups in a move experts say is “shocking” as millions of Americans remain unvaccinated in the face of another Covid-19 wave.

More at link.

I also boycott Amazon.  I think this story is slightly misleading though.  The way I understand is that SMile works in such a way that the end purchaser may purchase amazon products through their smile program and a percentage of proceeds get donated to charities.  So I don't see Amazon as being directly at fault here.  Who is amazon to decide what the consumer declares charitable?  The smile platform could limit what institutions are seen as charitable etc, but perhaps the best thing would be to not allow the option, because even though you are perhaps getting funding to the charity of your choice, Amazon is also getting a huge tax write off.

Amazon can chose who does not get funded.  For example, from the article:

"Hate groups and terrorism groups are banned from the program. But in the past, AmazonSmile also reportedly funded anti-LGBTQ groups."

I cut Amazon zero slack.

In the past? Ok
 
I think Amazon is amazing.  They are great for consumers.  Small business hates them,  and I get that. 

Meltdown99

https://www.cp24.com/news/feds-ask-canadians-to-avoid-travelling-internationally-1.5708657

Feds ask Canadians to avoid travelling internationally

Lol.   Yeah I’m sure people who got vacations booked south are giving them…nope.

Ledbetterman10

Meltdown99 said:

https://www.cp24.com/news/feds-ask-canadians-to-avoid-travelling-internationally-1.5708657

Feds ask Canadians to avoid travelling internationally

Lol.   Yeah I’m sure people who got vacations booked south are giving them…nope.

This reminds me of how when you download a new app on iPhone, it'll give you the option to "allow app to track," or "ask app not to track." In other words, the app is going to track you. 

Me: Hey app, can you please not track me?
App: Thanks for asking, but no, I'm going to track you. 

bbiggs

mfc2006 said:

So fucking sick of this shit. 

My company just required proof of vaccination starting on Monday. If you aren't vaxxed, you have to wear a mask. I have a feeling that some people will be fired by the end of the week.

It’s interesting that a company would go to those lengths, but then allow those that are vaxxed to go un-masked, especially knowing that the virus spreads easily amongst fully vaxxed and even boosted individuals. I’m surprised masking isn’t required for everyone. 

HughFreakingDillon

booster next week. 

mickeyrat

HughFreakingDillon said:

booster next week. 

same. you have choice?

sticking with Pfizer

Spunkie

^Good to hear.

 Zod (in BC) has to wait.
The Tuesday update said BC boosters would be done here by Jan or Feb for most. It sounds like AB is waiting for more doses.

I had no choice for 3rd dose, but was offered a third Pfizer, so I didn't choose to rebook. But that was before Omicron. At this point, I would take a mismatched mRNA.

Zod

The part I struggle with is overwhelming hospitals.  Maybe it's more of an issue here in Canada as our health are system was already struggling before covid.

Say Omicron is less lethal, but spreads faster.    For arguments say it's 1/2 as lethal.   But if it's 3x more contagious it would still put more pressure on hospitals that are already at capacity.   Lower percentage of people having complications, but more people overall due to big numbers getting infected.

I've already met people or seen them pass away because the system is full, and treatments (for things like cancer) were delayed.  

I'm not against the let it rip theory, but at the same time, you know it's going to overload hospitals, not because omicron is less mild, but because of how fast it can spread.

I really don't want to be the person that gets a bad case of it and the hospital has no room for me :(

Merkin Baller

Zod said:

The part I struggle with is overwhelming hospitals.  Maybe it's more of an issue here in Canada as our health are system was already struggling before covid.

Say Omicron is less lethal, but spreads faster.    For arguments say it's 1/2 as lethal.   But if it's 3x more contagious it would still put more pressure on hospitals that are already at capacity.   Lower percentage of people having complications, but more people overall due to big numbers getting infected.

I've already met people or seen them pass away because the system is full, and treatments (for things like cancer) were delayed.  

I'm not against the let it rip theory, but at the same time, you know it's going to overload hospitals, not because omicron is less mild, but because of how fast it can spread.

I really don't want to be the person that gets a bad case of it and the hospital has no room for me :(

Do the hospitals not know it's only a pandemic for the unvaccinated now?  /s

Spunkie

lastexitlondon said:

My eldest 2 tested positive  just now. And their  unvaxxed mum for a second time. They  are both vaxxed

I hope they have a swift recovery!

I had to go back and check it wasn't your young kids because omicron sent more young kids into the hospital.



https://www.discovery.co.za/corporate/news-room

Gern Blansten

I just got a notice that all of our county Emergency Rooms are operating on diversion.  Shit is not safe anymore thanks to the unvaccinated.

mfc2006

Hospitals are filling up here as well.

HughFreakingDillon

mickeyrat said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

booster next week. 

same. you have choice?

sticking with Pfizer

here it depends on what your other doses were. since I was AZ/Pfizer, my booster is automatically Pfizer.