How has the Pandemic affected you as a cancer patient/survivor
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The stupidity is just stunning.
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The WHO (and, alas, Dr. Hotez whose scientific expertise I respect) are still laying the blame for vaccine inequity at the feet of Americans getting booster shots. I'm sorry, but it's NOT our boosters that are preventing shots getting into arms in the Third World. (Just as my eating three meals a day is not responsible for famine and world hunger). My booster shot is not responsible for people in the hinterlands halfway across the world being unable to afford the time or the transportation to travel to vaccine clinics. The U.S. has donated more doses to the Third World than has the entire continent of Europe (and we will have donated a billion and a half by summer).
Whom shall we blame? Well, certainly the vaccine manufacturers (Moderna & Pfizer) who refuse to open-source the technology to the Third World, much less train scientists there in how to make the vaccines. (They'll still make hefty profits selling doses to First World governments). Petty bureaucracies unable & unwilling to set up the infrastructure for getting doses out of storage and distributing them throughout their countries, much less marshalling personnel to administer them. Syringe manufacturers who are not shipping enough of the specialized syringes necessary to administer doses--as well as those nations responsible for holding back cargo container ships so they can't get to ports & airports. Social media for facilitating the spread of disinformation, especially in countries where people's only source of news is "the grapevine" and their cellphones, with that "news" coming from social media platforms and websites.
The fact remains that most of Africa, while under-vaccinated and most likely under-supplied, is NOT where cases are spiking, much less variants appearing. Their citizens by and large do not engage in nor encounter international travel. But South Africa--where Omicron was first identified after a sudden spike--has a surplus of vaccines, enough personnel & equipment to administer them, yet massive vaccine hesitancy & COVID-denialism to rival the worst areas of our "red" states. I forget which African nation actually sent back the vaccines donated to them because they wouldn't be able to be administered before spoiling due to lack of proper storage facilities. Still more in southern Africa (including Malawi) have discarded doses because they could not store them properly, not enough people were willing to get them, and so they did spoil. We donated AstraZeneca doses because the FDA has yet to authorize them (though they're used throughout the UK and much of the rest of Europe) and they needed to go into arms rather than languish in storage--we did not deliberately "dump" expired doses on the Third World.
And no, AFAIK nobody is getting fourth shots yet. Back late last summer some immunologists suggested that the severely immunocompromised be vaccinated every month, but that was shot down (pun intended) pretty quickly. Still, though, it might be that the COVID vaccines are, like those against childhood diseases, ideally a multi-dose regimen--in which case giving incomplete treatment could prove disastrous. The last cohort of N. American kids who got polio were those who had not yet gotten their second Salk shot or Sabin sugarcube before being exposed. (The husband of my BFF is one, and Joni Mitchell is another).
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Maybe we should stop blaming Africa?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/omicron-variant-covid-in-europe-netherlands-before-alert-raised/
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I was hoping to wait until January for a third dose, but my charge nurse suggested I get it soon because of rising cases here. I'll see MO next week and ask about taking a longer break from Ibrance to lower risk of rash. I still have a couple small rough patches from the first dose. Which vaccine should I get after 2 doses of Moderna 15 weeks apart? It's been 4 months since the second dose.
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i mixed mine - Pfizer + Pfizer & then Moderna for my 3rd on the advice of public health here but that was before omicron so I don't know what they're recommending now
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moth - For the Moderna shot, did you get the full or half dose? Thanks!
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Serenity- full dose for my moderna
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moth - Thanks! I just got an email from the nurse that she would give the full dose for me. I made an appointment with her, but the timing with Ibrance isn’t ideal. If I go to a mass vax site with better availability, they would give me Pfizer. I’m leaning towards Pfizer to mix it up, avoid thefull dose of Moderna (rash PTSD), and have better timing with Ibrance. I need to ask about getting the shot in my thigh though.
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Earlier this week I had a dermatology appointment. I stopped at oncology to see the charge nurse who has taken a personal interest in my rash experience. The maskless clerk was there. Apparently he thinks having COVID and one vaccine dose exempts him from properly wearing a mask. Weirdly I accidentally deleted the emails with the ombudsman. Instead I DM’d someone on Twitter who will try to escalate it on their end. I said I’m willing to make a scene if it would help.
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So the U.S finally found a bunch omicron cases, but the administration's "solution" is to have people pay for at home rapid test, then get reimbursed by insurance companies? why? why do we make things so complicated, from vaccine appointments to covid tests, after 2 years into the pandemic? Also this doesn't kick in until Jan 2022. WTH. isn't now the most crucial time to use at home test coz of the holiday? I just don't get it.
Also, I went the supermarket yesterday and saw at least 5 senior citizens with masks on their chins or under their nose at the checkout counter.
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The line for that omicron convention wrapped and looped outside my building. All the young semi-responsible vaxxed people who are willing to wear makes indoors for the event were outside maskless in a tight line that doubled back on itself. No distancing, no masks, for hours. I just hope this doesn't affect "elective " surgery again. I can't keep gearing up for this. Its been an f'd up almost 2 years and selfish people need to take responsibility. Im tired of giving up everything because I wanted to move forward, while everyone else travels and parties and spreads new variants.
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Chowdog - We don't have easy access to home tests here. Do you think those seniors are relying on their third shots to protect them? It's not hard to wear a mask correctly!
Dancemom - I saw videos of some of the attendees. Even indoor ones had maskless people.
wrenn - I'm sorry your family had to go through that. Hope they're ok.
We are back to being the hotspot in Canada thanks to our provincial idiots in charge. Most of the new cases are in the unvaccinated young and likely their parents. But they don't want to mandate vaccination. 🤬
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Oh, Wrenn, how awful she had to go through that!
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You know the game with the paper triangle football? I’m tempted to make a bunch of them to flick over the stupid plexiglass onto the maskless clerk. Each one would have an image of the virus captioned with “Gotcha!”.
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If my family saw me making them, they might not let me go to the hospital unaccompanied.
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Serenity, that graph tells it all: we Boomers are being responsible and in return have the lowest incidence of COVID; but teens, Gen-Z, millennials and younger Gen-Xers are reaping the whirlwind.
The emerging etiology of Omicron shows once again that it did not start in areas with low availability of vaccines, but rather in countries with good supply and low demand--Europe and then the parts of southern Africa similarly situated, to which Europeans (especially apparently the Dutch) had traveled and "left a little something" for South Africa & Botswana "to remember them by" (reverse souvenirs). The fact remains that the Third World countries with the least vaccine equity have paradoxically turned out to be those with low COVID transmission--again, perhaps their very insularity (caused in large part by poverty) may be protecting them despite logistical fusterclucks. It shoots to hell the self-righteous contention that First Worlders getting boosters are depriving the Third World of first shots, causing death and despair among the poorest. It's mostly the First Worlders refusing to both vaccinate themselves and mask up who are sowing and reaping death & despair, largely among and within their own countries--and then likely spreading it beyond their borders. It's tempting to buy into the WHO's trope of wealthy nations hogging vaccines resulting in inequity in the Third World, because on the surface it seems so logical (and quite frankly, righteousness and sanctimony can feel so selt-satisfying). But as we're seeing, that argument fails to take into account the unforeseen variables that complicate the picture and seem to defy logic.
The saving grace (thus far) is that the earliest identified Omicron cases have been mild & fleeting. Both of the first two identified American Omicron cases were mild and fleeting--they've already recovered. (The San Franciscan had visited South Africa, the Minnesotan had attended the NYC anime convention from which 5 NY cases were identified yesterday). And even if the currently available vaccines are less effective against Omicron, they're not ineffective. Even if the variant can elude antibodies produced by vaccination & previous infection, it can't elude T-cells, which antibodies recruit. The more antibodies, the more T-cells (except in those with myeloid & lymphatic cancers whose bone marrow can't produce T-cells and white cells).
I had three Modernas: Jan., Feb., and then Aug. All were the full 100mcg. doses. So not only was my antibody titer multiplied almost 100-fold, those antibodies will recruit plenty of T-cells. But that doesn't mean I'll ditch my mask and hang out in crowds. In fact, I'm shelving my surgical-style and cloth masks for the better-fitting and better-filtering KN95s & KF94s. (They're more comfortable too, don't need to be layered or laundered, and can be rotated and used until they get soiled, wet or their straps fail). I have a few duckbill N95s, but their head straps are uncomfortable; I'll save them for airplane travel and (heaven forbid) surgeries.
Will I stop dining at restaurants and traveling? No--but I will alter where & how I do both. Not going to travel to, get personal care services, nor eat in places where mask-wearing is the exception rather than the norm. (For instance, we're blowing off a nurses' Christmas party tomorrow night at a banquet hall in the right-wing SW suburbs--generic drinks and mediocre family-style platters of banquet food aren't worth the risk, despite the $80 we paid in advance. The nurses throwing the party are required by their hospital to be fully-vaccinated or tested weekly; but, knowing the locale and their politics--they're all white South Siders--I don't trust them to be partying safely).
Get vaccinated (be current on all your vaccines--flu, pneumonia & TDaP included). Get boostered when eligible (and if you feel guilty about that, donate to an organization that actively works towards vaccine equity). Wash your hands. Avoid crowds. Wear a good mask & wear it properly whenever in an indoor public space or can't social-distance when outdoors. Use curbside pickup whenever it's offered. Get tested if you have symptoms (even if you think it might just be a cold) &/or think you've been exposed--and RSVP "no" to any family or friends' gatherings till you test negative.
Above all, don't do anything stupid. Weigh your risks, and ask yourself--as the old WWII-era gas-rationing slogan goes--"Is this trip really necessary?" (We have decided that vacations are not, but our son's destination wedding this spring is).
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ChiSandy - It's weird to see the same graph, but come to different conclusions. But you're looking at it without context.Gotta dig deeper. The outbreaks are occurring in schools (with no ventilation improvements, little distancing, weak exposure rules) with the kids (just recently eligible) bringing it home to parents (with no boosters). Last month the province lifted mask requirements in secondary schools because that age group wasn't getting hospitalized. Now they are. Are Boomers really more responsible when policies benefit them the most? You can't expect kids to be more careful than they're required. I could do more with the rest of your post, but it's late.
ETA: The group responsible for the stupid policies leading to this mess happen to be Boomers and the older Gen-Xers.
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Insomnia…
Here in QC, only 70+ or limited immunocompromised are eligible for the booster or third dose. Under 12 just became eligible for dose 1. It's the provincial leadership that's responsible for all the sick kids/parents. They wanted to make sure the parents are working in person, but they didn't implement NPIs to protect kids in daycare or schools. You can't assume from the chart that Boomers are more responsible. They're protected.
I'm going to switch to VOC, because numerous variants arise everywhere. It's only the VOC that matter. VOC have occurred in areas with low vax rates. Stating that omicron developed in an area with low demand really means low vax rate.
Boosters vs vaccines everywhere - Why do you think that both can't happen at the same time? The scientists are pushing for both. Maybe they know more than you. I even heard a clip of Biden saying vaccinating the world was a moral imperative.
"Self-righteous"? "Sanctimonious"? That's horrific. You should let that go.
I don't want to use "First World" or "Third World". All areas with low vax rates are susceptible to the pandemic even if they're isolated. COVID data from many countries are inaccurate. If the country has few resources, you can assume the data are missing cases/deaths. The whole world will be exposed eventually. Why are you against minimizing the damage? Dr. Hotez and many scientists disagreewith you.
The African continent stands out on maps of vax rates by country because they are so low compared to the rest of the world. We shouldn't lump all the countries together. They won't all need or accept the same support, but dismissing the effort is not conducive to ending the pandemic. Plus, we need Africa to do well. We're in a global economy. They grow the best vanilla.
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Ah, the chin mask wearing. That happens in my oncologist's waiting room. Nobody says anything. That happens with the patients/staff in the clinic where I work. Nobody says anything.
I think literally no one cares about anyone else.
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In my experience, there is no one generation or obvious group of people choosing to not vax or mask. The kids I know (all ages through young adults) cheer eachother on about getting vaxxed. It is a rite of passage to be eligible! The youngest cant wait. "What is the exact date you will be considered fully immunized?" is a hot topic in elementary schools here. It's the individuals who are selfish- by nature that includes a lot of highschool/early college aged boys. I see people of every type speaking all kinds of languages both unmasked, but mostly masked. I just wish the few selfish ones would understand that they are causing these huge problems for the entire world.
and yeah, I DID stop doing all those fun things BEFORE my diagnosis because I thought everyone would listen and do the same and we'd be done!!!!
The kids here GET IT. They KNOW what this disease does. They've seen the personal loss, the economic loss, the empty store fronts (aka parents' jobs), the homeless shooting up on every corner, wait that guy's pooping..., We've all suffered in many ways hugely here. The selfish people have ruined my beautiful city and taken away all my, and many other's, fun and family time.
But nobody cares.
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I realize that the odds of covid being eliminated and having vaccination rates worldwide high enough to stop it are both unlikely. I do hope that a variant comes along (maybe omicron) that dominates delta but is no more dangerous that the flu, so we can actually live with it.
But, I’m curious, if it becomes no more dangerous than the flu, what’s happens next? Will mandates be dropped, will restrictions be lifted or will all the precautions we’ve gotten used to remain, just in case? What’s the future you all envision?
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Flu rates dropped so much earlier this year that Quebec stopped its flu vaccination program early. Now that we know it can be slowed with some NPIs, it's disconcerting that people are ok with it coming back. I've never had the flu, but I started annual flu shots a few years ago.
I want clean air like we have clean water. That requires upgrading old ventilation and mandating minimum standards for new construction. Masks should be used to prevent spread of all communicable diseases. Feel sick? Stay home or wear a mask if you can't. The culture of going into work while sick needs to change. It shouldn't be acceptable. COVID vaccinations should be added to the existing vaccine mandates that have benefitted us for all our lives.This pandemic has been life changing. Life ending for millions. This isn't the last pandemic.
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I want to address the "feel sick, stay home" comment. While this is the best practice, many companies, with hospitals included, penalize employees who call out sick. They earn sick days but when they try to use them can face undue pressure about using them especially if they use more than 3 in a row which then requires a physician note. Have you ever tried to get an appointment with your PCP for an acute illness? Most are booked months out and health insurance doesn't always cover a visit to a walk-in clinic. The nurses on the floor where I took my students for clinical experience were always griping about how they had time but were penalized for using it. The real kicker was that it had an expiration date so if they did not use their "sick" time they lost it by year's end. Vacation time was rolled over but not sick time and sick time was not accrued at the same rate so they never had much to begin with. Have surgery and need more time? You had to sign up for FMLA and hope it was granted.
As a college professor, I had sick time, which if used was deducted from accrued time. So yes, I was paid for the time but I was then told I would have to make up the time missed which was the real challenge. We were not permitted to extend class time unless 100% of the students agreed, getting a room to hold the make-up class was a challenge and if we posted online there was no way to monitor if the students actually used it. I can honestly say that I would not work if ill but can't say the same applied to my colleagues. I figured I needed to set an example for my students and as a healthcare worker. Sick students was another issue but most were good about finding someone to take notes for them if need be.
So again an example of the ideal. Take time off if you are sick but hard to do if your employer is going to penalize you or if you are not paid for "sick time".
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You cut off the “or wear a mask if you can't. “
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Betrayal - The rest of your post describes the existing culture that needs to change. Unlikely, but a good goal. People should be able to take sick time without punishment. They should have sick leave. I think this issue is one of the reasons some people are unvaccinated.
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What future do i envision... All these cold, flu, "covid" are corona viruses. They all mutate rapidly. We rely on past exposures of similar viruses mitigating the severity of common colds (all you moms, teachers, caregivers remember the first 2 years of your oldest/first classes and being sniffly the ENTIRE time), the flu vaccine is updated each year to include new variants the researchers believe will be in circulation. Yes, eventually hopefully that will be what happens with this new corona virus 19.
But that will take years. We need to all participate in the now.
Re sick days. Many of us don't get those including hourly employees, freelancers, and highschool and college students. And many industries can't afford to provide them (think small family businesses) In general, sniffles are normal, coughing should =stay home. I can't tell you the number of stories from my kids' extremely competitive highschools about kids running to the bathroom to throw up, then running back in to finish a test pre pandemic.
We are still in a pandemic, calling in sick is viewed very differently now than 2 years ago, even in school. There are currently 4 classes with quarentined students at my youngest's school- where 100% adults, 75% 12-18 are fully vaxxed and majority of 5-11 had first dose, and masks are mandatory. We have not had any community spread.
What do I envision? Hope? That the rest of the people step up and take responsibility for global health and do the bare minimum. And that eventually we will have another semi-preventable corona "flu" that only kills about 650,000 immunocompromised, elderly and babies a year (WHO estimate 2017) not millions.
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Serenity, regarding seniors and chin masks, for whatever reason, I have noticed the seniors in my area have largely checked out. I know some of my friends parents (I am a younger gen x) have been dining indoor, going to shows, you know, basically have returned to the almost pre covid, as soon as they got vaccinated initially. They also haven't been keeping up with covid news. I don't know how many seniors locally have gotten their boosters, but as of now 45%of seniors had their boosters in the whole country. The initial booster guideline was so confusing that a lot of seniors didn't know they were eligible. Now thatthe booster is open to all adults, the appointments are hard to get.
Edit to add, I am not trying to blame the seniors here. I just wish they know how to protect themselves.
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I've always said that when it comes to global vaccine equity and boosters, we can walk & chew gum at the same time. Boosters do not deprive people in poorer countries of their first shots--lousy logistics, disinformation (resulting in people refusing to mask & get vaccinated) and corruption do. I guess that QC's restrictions on who can get which shots (including boosters) are painting a picture very different from that of many "blue" US states (IL, NY, CA particularly) when it comes to case rates. Here in IL, anyone moderately-to-severely immunocompromised has been eligible for a third shot since Aug., and that was expanded to those >65 as well as those with risk-increasing comorbidities (e.g., obesity, asthma, diabetes) in Sept., and everyone >18 by early Nov. And it's teens, GenZ and younger millennials who account for most of the latest spike in US cases--the vast majority in those cohorts do NOT have children, much less those old enough to bring the virus home from school. Few of them are boostered, most are not fully-vaccinated, and many are completely unvaccinated and even non-masked (stupidly believing their youth will protect them).
And I will not retract my contention that those who blame booster shots for global vaccine inequity are being sanctimonious and, considering the unpredicted variables complicating poor-country low-vaccine uptake, simplistic--it's easier (and more satisfying) to binarily blame the "big bad wealthy countries" than it is to discern & acknowledge complicating factors that seemingly defy logic.
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No, it never seemed you were for global vaccine equity.
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