Guess what?? Guess what??!!! I just booked my appointment for the vaccine - AND I will be getting either Moderna or Pfizer (see me do the happy dance?!) April 13th is my personal freedom from worry day !
So - we're going to be locked down again - the whole province. Are we surprised? nope not at all. The numbers have been climbing again... the hospitals are packed... so yeah ... lock down time again.
It doesn't really change our lives very much at all.... We have been isolating.. only doing essential shopping once a week... wearing our masks.. washing our hands... staying home and avoiding crowds...AND of course home schooling. The only thing I can't do is get my hair cut...... but ya know after a year..... I've come to realize the world doesn't end when my hair doesn't get cut...... oh it looks bloody awful - all sticky up and limp and shapeless.... but the world doesn't end.
Lots of complainers out there though........ they're probably the ones who don't isolate and don't want to wear masks and bitch loudly about it... they're the ones who throw parties / and caution to the wind.. and even claim (well some of them) that this whole pandemic is a hoax... le sigh.
I think I'm more discouraged/concerned by the vaccine roll out. and all the controversy surrounding the vaccines. I had such high hopes over getting my vaccination... now?? from thinking it might be mid to late summer before I even get my first shot... to the worry over severe side effects (it's a bit of a crap shoot ya know?) I'm feeling down.. discouraged.
So -- check in time. What's happening in your wee corner of the world?
UK-based here. Both myself and my husband have had our first jabs (Oxford), second ones are 12 weeks or so off. Our govt decided it wanted to get more people partly vaccinated than fewer fully vaccinated. It seems to be working. We (the country) have been in lockdown since just before January began. That's now slowly lifting. The govt seems to be sensible (finally!) in taking slow moves to opening up the country, with good periods in between - I think it's six weeks? - to assess the impact of each 'opening' move on the figures. Our infection rates are currently around 5k a day, with deaths below 100 a day, which is a great improvement on what it was. We were allowed to meet someone outside our household for coffee in early march, and schools went back. Last monday, we had further moves - outdoor sports are restarting, meeting outside in groups of six are allowed. They've developed a roadmap towards allowing the entire country to be reopened by summer, but we'll see. there's a lot that could happen to derail that.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal level, we're okay. Like I said, we had our shots. I had little to no side effects - I just slept for 12 hours after. My husband has had more - fever, headache, dizziness, sore arm. He's past the worst of it now thankfully (3 days on). Otherwise, we keep on, keeping on. The improving weather does a lot to lift spirits too, although we're currently in a bit of a cold snap. several days ago we had a hotter spell - wall to wall sunshine and temps of 20-22 degrees centigrade, it was lovely to get out and experience sunshine. For myself, careerwise, I'm at the point where I'm having a break, and need to figure out where next, so there's a whole lot of thinking going on. Hope things improve in Canada and that you're able to get vaccinated soon. Interesting times. :)
I'm always so pleased to see you comment keth - I remember you from way back when :) used to read your blog all the time :) :)
DeleteMy concern over the vaccinations is not so much the immediate side effects - sore arm - achy muscles etc - but more the blood clots they are warning about in the AstraZeneca vaccines...... now that's worrisome - apparently they can happen any time for 21 days after the shot.
Oh, I'm still here - I read you every day!! :D I wouldn't worry too much about the blood clots - it's not common - just 22 cases from 18.1m (according to an article from the Guardian UK newspaper). That's not to say it's impossible, more that it is amongst the rarest of complications so it is unlikely to affect you. Still better odds than 'rona itself! Hope you get it soon. xx
Delete(BIG grin) now every day I log on to The Journey - I will wave to you keth :) so good to know all is well with you.
DeleteHere (the UK) we have just started the first stage of coming out of lockdown, yesterday was the first day that I was allowed out, I'm classed as high risk because of having recently undergone chemotherapy so on government advise I was going out once a day for exercise only.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm wary, like you said there are lots of the anti-believers, the conspiracy theorists as I call them who refuse to be dictated too, I call them selfish because its not just about ourselves it's about protecting those around us as well.
Oh yes my hair is in desperate need of a cut, but if thats all I have to worry about then I'm very lucky, the bigger picture is people have died, still are, jobs have been lost etc so I try not to gripe about silly things, yes I do at times but I think thats normal.
I have had the first vaccine, and I trust in the evidence and according to the UK scientific advisors they are safe, I had minor side effects, felt nauseous, arm was sore for a few days but other than that fine.
I do understand your concerns it's a worrying time, and something that is impacting the whole world, and when will it end?
I realized I should have been more specific about my concerns re the vaccines... in the beginning the powers that be said AstraZeneca should not be given to anyone over 70... then reports of a rare side effect - blood clots - hit the news and now the powers that be are saying no one under 55 should receive it - but that's safe for everyone else..... le sigh... doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence ya know?
DeleteUltimately my corner is the same as yours, so....though my hair is long and aside from being dead looking it'll manage lol.
ReplyDeleteI was at Loblaws yesterday and this sweet older gentleman struck up a conversation in line with me. He started by commenting on how he didn't think 'this' was going away anytime soon, the usual. Then he said, " I can't wait to get out the trailer and go camping.'..HELLO !
I'm looking forward, or trying to to warmer weather ( so grateful we didn't get the predicted snow dump yesterday ) my garden, our new 4-legged addition, and CAMPING!
This time last year I didn't know if we'd be allowed so at least that worry is off my mind! And warmer weather means I'll be able to see my Mom and maybe even my sisters again.
willie
funny I was talking to a neighbour from our campgrounds and they were talking about the opening on the 7th of May....... I was surprised that she thought it was a given they would open...Ford has said NO campgrounds opening unless folks live there 12 months of the year .......... so I am confused.. did you hear that the campgrounds will definitely be open this summer???
DeleteI haven't heard about private campgrounds, but I didn't research that either as I don't use them. All I've read is that during lockdown we cannot leave our area and recreational camping is not permitted. I cannot find anything talking about beyond May 1st however
DeleteHere in the southern US we're often thought of as being backward - and it's sometimes true. But we've done well. The vaccine push has been great. I was scheduled for my second vaccine this past Tuesday morning. I got a call Monday afternoon that they were going to have one vaccine left and didn't want to waste it, could I come? You bet I could! This second one caused more pain in my arm and my lymph nodes are swollen and a little painful under my arms - but that's a small price to pay! Our church (a small one) is going in person for the first time in over a year, but we're going to be outside and masked. The same with Nick's family. We used to all eat together every Sunday, but not lately. Sunday we will. Again outside and masked. It's supposed to be 72 degrees. Things are getting better here thank goodness. But I'm still being as careful as hell!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got your shots - and as I said before I'm a little jealous.... do you know which vaccine you received?? It is looking more and more like I will be getting the AstraZeneca one and I am concerned about the mixed messages we have received about it...
DeleteI think maybe we could/should add to this conversation for people outside of Canada- we no longer have the means ( though we will again apparently) to make this type of vaccine on our own soil, so we are at the mercy of foreign companies and the governments where these companies reside in. Our Jan/Feb shipments were cut in half because off this ( I mean arguments can certainly be made that our federal government has screwed up in the entire acquisition process). Everyone in Ontario at least who has been vaccinated due to the time schedule set forth has either had Pfizer or Moderna, and they will be 12 weeks apart due to the percentage big effectiveness. The Astro Zenica vaccine thus far has been only given to those over 60 who were willing to jump the cue because we were given a batch that was set to expire. ( I believe)- not saying we aren't going to be subjected to taking whatever is given when out time comes. I'm under 55 so *currently* it won't be me. But tomorrow who knows? Lol
DeleteI had Moderna and so did LJ and Colin. Nick and Mollie had Pfizer. So far collective the worst side effect is my sore arm pit. And it's feeling better as the day goes on.
Deletei had my shots in jan and feb and didn't feel anything at all. we have the pfizer ones.
ReplyDeletemum did hers last week and she was fine after that, aside from a slight ache in her arm on day 2 which went away after 12-14 hours.
So far i haven't heard of any *major* side effects, but where I am we also have an observation area after a person gets a jab, where we all sit in a big hall for 30 mins to make sure there's no allergic reaction.
It's probably best to check with people in your area who have had it (when they have it) to get a better idea of the side effects if any, as it could differ from brand to brand.
Betty just told me her mum got hers today and she's wandering around perfectly normally. Life as usual.
Good luck.
I'm pretty sure we have the required wait time after you get your shot here too........ but my concerns are more about the AstraZeneca vaccine - in the beginning (here) they said it wouldn't be given to anyone over 70 years....... then there were reports of blood clots in folks under 55 so now it's ok to give the vaccine to those over 55 but not under... it doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence ya know??
ReplyDeleteYes I saw it on today's newspapers, in fact, that there are a total of 30 cases who developed the rare blood clots? but out of 18 million that's not a high-risk number, statistically. Altho to the 30 people it's a different thing altog, i mean, i geddit.
DeleteBut hurray for pfizer/ moderna - those are the two my government has approved for use in my country, so i think you'll be ok. (We're horribly conservative when it comes to this sort of thing, so I like to think as long as it passes our safety tests I think you're good.)
OH in case i haven't already mentioned this. TO ANYONE GETTING ANY JAB - the one minute following the injection please MOVE YOUR ARM around. don't be afraid to move your arm. the more you move it (gently of course) the less likely it is for the muscle to cramp up later.
DeleteBut ONCE it begins to ache, if it begins to ache, then don't exert that muscle. Instead, apply a cool ice pack (wrapped in a towel or paper napkin to protect the skin) for a few minutes every 30 mins or so. It helps with the swelling and should reduce the ache.
No change here. SO we're locked down again, but stores are still open so I go to the grocery and pharmacy, beer and liquor stores and that's it. I baked hot cross buns from Mary Berry's Baking Bible yesterday - yummy!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Hermione
Morningstar - Yah, joining you in a happy dance:)
ReplyDeleteWe had the Oxford job, second dose around mid May. On the night of the jab I was really cold, had loads of layers on and was more or less sitting on the radiator but couldn't get warm. Next day sore arm for both of us.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
Hi Morningstar,
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have your jab booked in. The pfizer jab is being rolled out here at the moment.
Sorry to hear you are going into lockdown again. I feel so much for everyone still dealing with restrictions. I can't imagine still dealing with this over a year later. We really are so lucky here. We have had a couple of small blips seeing a light level of restrictions imposed briefly but other than that it's life as normal. The only requirement is masking on public transport.
Hugs
Roz
I will try and make this comment without swearing but it will take a lot of willpower
ReplyDeleteBad numbers in Belgium - going mad
Extra restrictions introduced - lots
People - getting really stupid and making things worse
Vaccine role out - Makes a snail look like a Formula One car
You should have seen the news reports about the stupidity in Brussels yesterday
Prefectdt
where did you book it through?? Still can't book for D. or I here in Brockville.
ReplyDelete*****AMAZING***** so happy for you 💖
ReplyDeleteI just got my first (Pfizer) yesterday and am really happily surprised with how quickly that’s been going here in the states. I didn’t have any side effects aside from a sore arm, but I’ve heard it’s usually the 2nd one that tends to knock you out, so I guess I’ll see at the end of the month. My husband got the same one and could barely move his arm the next day, but for me it’s been no more sore than after a flu shot.
ReplyDeleteNot that I begrudge you your vaccine, but I am so JEALOUS! Working out there scares the tar out of me and I wish education workers were more of a priority.
ReplyDeleteI was researching it all and I don't really care as long as I can get one.
So until such a time, nothing is happening in our corner of the world. Sigh.
Hugs
Boo