COVID-19 - On the Ground

[Deleted User 863]

My highly educated, successful, kind, and suddenly anti vaxx trumper uncle is about to die in the hospital of covid. If he makes it to Saturday my aunt will get to see him 1 more time (she also has/had covid so can't visit until Saturday). Mid 60s. In great shape, works out 4-5 times a week. No underlying conditions as far as I know. Waited to go to the hospital too long. And the day he went the hospital had a rush of patients and he sat in the ER for 2 days waiting for an ICU bed.

Unfortunately this part of my family doesn't talk to my mom/dad anymore because of how "serious they were taking covid". My mom is heartbroken that her brother is going to die after they've been mad at each other for 2 years not talking over differences in opinion over covid/politics in general.

His highly intelligent/educated daughter (my cousin), also suddnely anti vaxx, is still in denial that it is covid killing him despite what doctors say.

Very sad situation that was probably 99.5% avoidable if he didn't have his daughter and other brothers reinforcing their antivaxx anti reality views to each other.

I feel bad for my mom. I am struggling to feel bad for my uncle.

[jhawks99]

That sucks Illy, I'm sorry you and your mom are going through this.

[jfish26]

Much less serious, but: my older kids’ schools are closed today and tomorrow. Not distance learning or anything like that. Just shut down. Because 50% of the district staff is out with Covid.

Get the damn shots, people.

[shindig]

My highly educated, successful, kind, and suddenly anti vaxx trumper uncle is about to die in the hospital of covid. If he makes it to Saturday my aunt will get to see him 1 more time (she also has/had covid so can't visit until Saturday). Mid 60s. In great shape, works out 4-5 times a week. No underlying conditions as far as I know. Waited to go to the hospital too long. And the day he went the hospital had a rush of patients and he sat in the ER for 2 days waiting for an ICU bed.

Unfortunately this part of my family doesn't talk to my mom/dad anymore because of how "serious they were taking covid". My mom is heartbroken that her brother is going to die after they've been mad at each other for 2 years not talking over differences in opinion over covid/politics in general.

His highly intelligent/educated daughter (my cousin), also suddnely anti vaxx, is still in denial that it is covid killing him despite what doctors say.

Very sad situation that was probably 99.5% avoidable if he didn't have his daughter and other brothers reinforcing their antivaxx anti reality views to each other.

I feel bad for my mom. I am struggling to feel bad for my uncle.

Just a sad situation all around that was avoidable most likely if he had gotten the shots. I just don't understand it, but there are members of my family that are the same. My parents took/take covid very seriously, but I have cousins/2nd cousins in SE Kansas that have had covid several times (one who is 40 and still has lingering breathing problems now after a year) and still refuses to get vaxxed. I don't get it. My parents don't really talk to them much since they are of course all trumpers and believe it is all a gov't conspiracy or something the Dems created to bring down Trump.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

My highly educated, successful, kind, and suddenly anti vaxx trumper uncle is about to die in the hospital of covid. If he makes it to Saturday my aunt will get to see him 1 more time (she also has/had covid so can't visit until Saturday). Mid 60s. In great shape, works out 4-5 times a week. No underlying conditions as far as I know. Waited to go to the hospital too long. And the day he went the hospital had a rush of patients and he sat in the ER for 2 days waiting for an ICU bed.

Unfortunately this part of my family doesn't talk to my mom/dad anymore because of how "serious they were taking covid". My mom is heartbroken that her brother is going to die after they've been mad at each other for 2 years not talking over differences in opinion over covid/politics in general.

His highly intelligent/educated daughter (my cousin), also suddnely anti vaxx, is still in denial that it is covid killing him despite what doctors say.

Very sad situation that was probably 99.5% avoidable if he didn't have his daughter and other brothers reinforcing their antivaxx anti reality views to each other.

I feel bad for my mom. I am struggling to feel bad for my uncle.

Sorry to read this!
Pretty much what I alluded to in my last post on this thread - it sucks how divided we are as a country in regards to a virus that in different ways has affected ALL of us.
Heck, forgetting about differences we may have with Mary Smith (common name who could be anyone we don't know personally in this country), as we are seeing with your family, people are allowing this shit to ruin their relationships with their loved ones.
Very sad.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

Much less serious, but: my older kids’ schools are closed today and tomorrow. Not distance learning or anything like that. Just shut down. Because 50% of the district staff is out with Covid.

Get the damn shots, people.

I am 100% "pro vaxx" and want people to get the damn shots too but......
While probably highly doubtful, it's possible the person who brought Covid in to their school was vaccinated and all those who contracted Covid and spread it to each other were vaccinated too.

Yesterday I was standing in line at the Nike Store and a couple of HS kids who are sneaker heads showed up. I asked them why they weren't in school. I didn't know when I asked them that many Chicago area schools were closed yesterday because "it was too cold". One kid goes to a private school and the other goes to a "magnet" school - and both schools had decided to close for the day.
I laughed - and it wasn't funny. I said to them, It's amazing to me how it's too cold for you to go to school (one kid's mother drives him to school pretty much every day) but not too cold for you to commute (via train and bus) and stand in line outside for 15 minutes to wait to get in to a store you in no way need to be going in to.
One kid responded, At least I'm not going to get Covid from my teachers or classmates today. I jokingly said, well - you're going to get it from me.
Point of my sharing that is - as I have said before, I am happy I don't have a kid in regards to the current state of Covid. I figure I would be damned if I sent my kid to school and I would be damed if I didn't - but yesterday helped put things in a better perspective to me. Kids can catch Covid anywhere and unless you are keeping them locked inside the house, if they are going to get Covid, it's probably better they catch it by being in school than by standing next to some asshole in line at a Nike store on a school day.

[jfish26]

Much less serious, but: my older kids’ schools are closed today and tomorrow. Not distance learning or anything like that. Just shut down. Because 50% of the district staff is out with Covid.

Get the damn shots, people.

I am 100% "pro vaxx" and want people to get the damn shots too but......
While probably highly doubtful, it's possible the person who brought Covid in to their school was vaccinated and all those who contracted Covid and spread it to each other were vaccinated too.

Yesterday I was standing in line at the Nike Store and a couple of HS kids who are sneaker heads showed up. I asked them why they weren't in school. I didn't know when I asked them that many Chicago area schools were closed yesterday because "it was too cold". One kid goes to a private school and the other goes to a "magnet" school - and both schools had decided to close for the day.
I laughed - and it wasn't funny. I said to them, It's amazing to me how it's too cold for you to go to school (one kid's mother drives him to school pretty much every day) but not too cold for you to commute (via train and bus) and stand in line outside for 15 minutes to wait to get in to a store you in no way need to be going in to.
One kid responded, At least I'm not going to get Covid from my teachers or classmates today. I jokingly said, well - you're going to get it from me.
Point of my sharing that is - as I have said before, I am happy I don't have a kid in regards to the current state of Covid. I figure I would be damned if I sent my kid to school and I would be damed if I didn't - but yesterday helped put things in a better perspective to me. Kids can catch Covid anywhere and unless you are keeping them locked inside the house, if they are going to get Covid, it's probably better they catch it by being in school than by standing next to some asshole in line at a Nike store on a school day.

But, the science is damn clear that vaccination significantly reduces severity of symptoms, and also has a negative (good) effect on transmission rates.

I don’t believe the schools would be closed were there mandates in place, for both kids and adults.

[Deleted User 863]

99- thanks. My mom is taking it hard. I accepted months ago that eventually 1 of my uncles would die from it. 3 of her 4 brothers are trump induced anti vaxxers when it comes to covid. Although 1 of the anti vaxxers took the vaxx because his youngest daughter works in a pharmacy and begged him to let her be the 1 to give him the shots. His older daughter is a nurse who is antivaxx oddly enough (although i think she took it, her HS and college kids haven't). Really strange to see that.

Shindig: really crazy to see families torn apart by this. It started before covid but to a lesser extent. My mom was always a republican until Trump and that really created a rift between her and 3 of her 4 brothers. I have aunts uncles and cousins i will never see or speak to again for really no good reason other than trump/covid.

Gutter: Thanks. Worst part is that he was fantatic and loving towards my kids and they love/loved him. He was a good man, but let politcs consume his life the last 5+ years. It likely cost him his life. They opted against putting him on a vent because it likely would just extend the inevitable and then his wife/kids would have to be the one to make the call to pull the plug. He is awake and knows what's going on. But his lungs are ruined and his heart is going to give out in a matter of hours/days the doctors think.

All he had to do was get a shot. Maybe even just 1 of the 3 recommended. Insanity.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

Much less serious, but: my older kids’ schools are closed today and tomorrow. Not distance learning or anything like that. Just shut down. Because 50% of the district staff is out with Covid.

Get the damn shots, people.

I am 100% "pro vaxx" and want people to get the damn shots too but......
While probably highly doubtful, it's possible the person who brought Covid in to their school was vaccinated and all those who contracted Covid and spread it to each other were vaccinated too.

Yesterday I was standing in line at the Nike Store and a couple of HS kids who are sneaker heads showed up. I asked them why they weren't in school. I didn't know when I asked them that many Chicago area schools were closed yesterday because "it was too cold". One kid goes to a private school and the other goes to a "magnet" school - and both schools had decided to close for the day.
I laughed - and it wasn't funny. I said to them, It's amazing to me how it's too cold for you to go to school (one kid's mother drives him to school pretty much every day) but not too cold for you to commute (via train and bus) and stand in line outside for 15 minutes to wait to get in to a store you in no way need to be going in to.
One kid responded, At least I'm not going to get Covid from my teachers or classmates today. I jokingly said, well - you're going to get it from me.
Point of my sharing that is - as I have said before, I am happy I don't have a kid in regards to the current state of Covid. I figure I would be damned if I sent my kid to school and I would be damed if I didn't - but yesterday helped put things in a better perspective to me. Kids can catch Covid anywhere and unless you are keeping them locked inside the house, if they are going to get Covid, it's probably better they catch it by being in school than by standing next to some asshole in line at a Nike store on a school day.

But, the science is damn clear that vaccination significantly reduces severity of symptoms, and also has a negative (good) effect on transmission rates.

I don’t believe the schools would be closed were there mandates in place, for both kids and adults.

While 99.9% of the time I would feel reducing severity of symptoms is a good thing, the .1% is because I wonder how many kids and teachers are feeling just fine and assume they don't have Covid - and yet they DO have it and are spreading it to others - who then have serious complications.

I somewhat shamefully admit I am not knowledgable in regards to transmission rates for vaccinated vs. unvaccinated people.

As far as mandates being in place (or not), I'm someone who is completely torn. As a kid I had to get an annual checkup and doctor's report to give to my school to prove I was vaccinated and healthy. Most if not all of the things I was vaccinated for had vaccines that had been around for a long time and doctors and scientists had knowledge about the possible long term side effects/affects.
WE don't know about the long term side effects/affects of the Covid vaccine. I completely sympathize with/for those who are scared to get vaccinated but me personally, I'm more scared of the possible (probable?) complications I would get from having Covid - and/or having it and passing it on to my mother.

Again, as I said, I am completely torn. Two years later and this fucking virus is still raging.
I don't feel our government (federal, state, local) should be allowed to "mandate" people having to get a vaccine. If it was the cure all to end all - then I might feel differently - but it's proven not to be. I also feel it's wrong for the government (federal, state, local) to "ban" people from things such as eating in a restaurant because they are not vaccinated - even if they are 100% Covid free.

[PhDhawk]

Hey, that one guy who died out of 100s of millions of vaccinations, proves both sides are correct.

No. But saying not a single person has died from the vaccine doesn't appear to be an accurate statement. That's all.

Not sure why that would trigger anyone.

We are about to hit 10 BILLION shots administered globally. You literally had to go to the other side of the planet to New Zealand to try to find a "probable" example.

This is a case where the exception proves the rule.

Also, I didn't say, "not a single person has died from the vaccine". I said people aren't dying from the vaccine. Which is true now almost 10 billion times over.

[jfish26]

Hey, that one guy who died out of 100s of millions of vaccinations, proves both sides are correct.

No. But saying not a single person has died from the vaccine doesn't appear to be an accurate statement. That's all.

Not sure why that would trigger anyone.

We are about to hit 10 BILLION shots administered globally. You literally had to go to the other side of the planet to New Zealand to try to find a "probable" example.

This is a case where the exception proves the rule.

Also, I didn't say, "not a single person has died from the vaccine". I said people aren't dying from the vaccine. Which is true now almost 10 billion times over.

Not that this is new ground here, but: we’ve been FINE with vaccine mandates in schools (public and private) and the military (and elsewhere) for generations.

[Deleted User 863]

Hey, that one guy who died out of 100s of millions of vaccinations, proves both sides are correct.

No. But saying not a single person has died from the vaccine doesn't appear to be an accurate statement. That's all.

Not sure why that would trigger anyone.

We are about to hit 10 BILLION shots administered globally. You literally had to go to the other side of the planet to New Zealand to try to find a "probable" example.

This is a case where the exception proves the rule.

Also, I didn't say, "not a single person has died from the vaccine". I said people aren't dying from the vaccine. Which is true now almost 10 billion times over.

Hey, I am with you....get your shots people.

[kubowler99]

Illi - sorry to hear. That sucks. My Brother/Sister in law (wife's Brother) are anti vax and both got covid right before Christmas. BiL was in the hospital for over a week, and for a couple days we really weren't sure. Luckily he pulled through. The day after he got out, she went in. Again, lucky she also made it back home. Both are still dealing with low oxygen levels and other issues.

He owns his own Vet Practice in Tulsa, and is pretty successful. He's the only vet at the clinic, so while he was in the hospital, no procedures were performed. They do also board pets, so there was that income, but essentially the clinic was shuttered for almost 2 weeks. But still paying employees. And on top of that was what I assume an incredibly large medical bill ($10s of $1000s). All because of not wanting to get a shot. Just maddening.

[jhawks99]

Mrs 99 had her 1st night back at work since her surgery a month ago.
She does not work on a covid floor, but it does take overflow. Almost 100% of patients are covid, the vast majority are unvaccinated.

[Deleted User 863]

Mrs 99 had her 1st night back at work since her surgery a month ago.
She does not work on a covid floor, but it does take overflow. Almost 100% of patients are covid, the vast majority are unvaccinated.

We're at about 20% vaccinated around here (in the hospital)....but they aren't the ones in really bad shape.

[twocoach]

Much less serious, but: my older kids’ schools are closed today and tomorrow. Not distance learning or anything like that. Just shut down. Because 50% of the district staff is out with Covid.

Get the damn shots, people.

I am 100% "pro vaxx" and want people to get the damn shots too but......
While probably highly doubtful, it's possible the person who brought Covid in to their school was vaccinated and all those who contracted Covid and spread it to each other were vaccinated too.

Yesterday I was standing in line at the Nike Store and a couple of HS kids who are sneaker heads showed up. I asked them why they weren't in school. I didn't know when I asked them that many Chicago area schools were closed yesterday because "it was too cold". One kid goes to a private school and the other goes to a "magnet" school - and both schools had decided to close for the day.
I laughed - and it wasn't funny. I said to them, It's amazing to me how it's too cold for you to go to school (one kid's mother drives him to school pretty much every day) but not too cold for you to commute (via train and bus) and stand in line outside for 15 minutes to wait to get in to a store you in no way need to be going in to.
One kid responded, At least I'm not going to get Covid from my teachers or classmates today. I jokingly said, well - you're going to get it from me.
Point of my sharing that is - as I have said before, I am happy I don't have a kid in regards to the current state of Covid. I figure I would be damned if I sent my kid to school and I would be damed if I didn't - but yesterday helped put things in a better perspective to me. Kids can catch Covid anywhere and unless you are keeping them locked inside the house, if they are going to get Covid, it's probably better they catch it by being in school than by standing next to some asshole in line at a Nike store on a school day.

School is the only place that I send my kid where they spend 7+ hours in the same space with the same people.

[PhDhawk]

Mrs 99 had her 1st night back at work since her surgery a month ago.
She does not work on a covid floor, but it does take overflow. Almost 100% of patients are covid, the vast majority are unvaccinated.

We're also at a very low % vaccinated around here (in the hospital)....and they aren't the ones in really bad shape.

I'm sure it's lower than that when you account for people in the hospital with covid vs. for covid.

Your stats are misleading. fyp.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Mrs 99 had her 1st night back at work since her surgery a month ago.
She does not work on a covid floor, but it does take overflow. Almost 100% of patients are covid, the vast majority are unvaccinated.

We're also at a very low % vaccinated around here (in the hospital)....and they aren't the ones in really bad shape.

I'm sure it's lower than that when you account for people in the hospital with covid vs. for covid.

Your stats are misleading. fyp.

Love it.

"People don't die from drinking water."

"Correction, most people don't die from drinking water."

Just no. That doesn't make you a fair thorough centrist that wants everyone to see both sides. That makes you an insufferable contrarian jerk that is now helping the spread of disinformation. Dangerous disinformation.

Maybe some people are just that dumb. That's more excusable.

[PhDhawk]

Some Americans are hesitant about Covid vaccines. But they’re all-in on unproven treatments

https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/27/som ... reatments/

The Florida controversy underscores a bizarre phenomenon: That while largely baseless vaccine hesitancy has hindered the U.S. pandemic response, Americans are tripping over themselves to take therapeutics that are experimental, expensive, and ineffective — precisely the characteristics that anti-vaccine advocates falsely ascribe to Covid immunizations, which are proven, free, and effective.

“It is confusing that people are willing to take what is really an experimental monoclonal antibody, but they aren’t willing to take a vaccine that millions of people have gotten, and has been shown to be safe and effective,” said Sonja Rasmussen, a physician, former CDC official, and professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of Florida.

It’s not a new phenomenon, either. Throughout the pandemic, right-wing advocates have argued that doctors should prescribe hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, and ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, to treat Covid-19. No data suggest either is an effective treatment.

...

Beyond their ineffectiveness against Omicron, Eli Lilly and Regeneron’s therapies are vastly more expensive to taxpayers. Eli Lilly’s treatment cost the federal government roughly $1,250 per dose; Regeneron’s cost $2,100.

The vaccines, by contrast, are far cheaper: The federal government has paid Moderna just over $15 per dose, on average, and paid Pfizer just under $20.

The cost disparity, too, highlights yet another inconsistency: Distrust of drug companies and their profit motives has driven substantial vaccine hesitancy, but people are far less skeptical when it comes to exorbitantly expensive, unproven treatments.

“If the reason you’re giving for not wanting the vaccine is that ‘Big Pharma’ made it and is profiting from it, certainly you can say the same thing — probably even more so — for monoclonals,” Rasmussen said. “People aren’t being consistent. They’re going with their politics more than with their thinking.”

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

Some Americans are hesitant about Covid vaccines. But they’re all-in on unproven treatments

https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/27/som ... reatments/

The Florida controversy underscores a bizarre phenomenon: That while largely baseless vaccine hesitancy has hindered the U.S. pandemic response, Americans are tripping over themselves to take therapeutics that are experimental, expensive, and ineffective — precisely the characteristics that anti-vaccine advocates falsely ascribe to Covid immunizations, which are proven, free, and effective.

“It is confusing that people are willing to take what is really an experimental monoclonal antibody, but they aren’t willing to take a vaccine that millions of people have gotten, and has been shown to be safe and effective,” said Sonja Rasmussen, a physician, former CDC official, and professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of Florida.

It’s not a new phenomenon, either. Throughout the pandemic, right-wing advocates have argued that doctors should prescribe hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, and ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, to treat Covid-19. No data suggest either is an effective treatment.

...

Beyond their ineffectiveness against Omicron, Eli Lilly and Regeneron’s therapies are vastly more expensive to taxpayers. Eli Lilly’s treatment cost the federal government roughly $1,250 per dose; Regeneron’s cost $2,100.

The vaccines, by contrast, are far cheaper: The federal government has paid Moderna just over $15 per dose, on average, and paid Pfizer just under $20.

The cost disparity, too, highlights yet another inconsistency: Distrust of drug companies and their profit motives has driven substantial vaccine hesitancy, but people are far less skeptical when it comes to exorbitantly expensive, unproven treatments.

“If the reason you’re giving for not wanting the vaccine is that ‘Big Pharma’ made it and is profiting from it, certainly you can say the same thing — probably even more so — for monoclonals,” Rasmussen said. “People aren’t being consistent. They’re going with their politics more than with their thinking.”

Coincidentally - My sister and I were discussing the same thing earlier today. I told her how it's been great getting info from what I consider to be a trusted source - you.
I said it's mind blowing to me how many people are confused and instead of going to their doctor/s, they chose to listen to someone who is NOT "relevant" (shout out to Mich!) for advice.

She has a couple that she is friends with and they both contracted Covid. My sister said he's a smart guy (Masters from Cornell) but has been very uneducated when it comes to Covid.
He believes some bizarre things that simply aren't true and doesn't believe/understand common sense things that are true.
Anyways, he had some complications and his doc prescribed a pill for him to take (Paxlovid?).
He was on a Statin drug and thankfully his doctor remembered (or looked at his medical history) and called him to tell him he can't take both at the same time. Imagine if he just got a hold of the pill on his own and "self medicated" himself. Could have been a really bad deal for him.