Topic: Corona Virus Panic/Discussion Thread

@Kidfried Yeah, true that nothing would have probably been accomplished without the lure of profitability. It makes me wonder how these other vaccines in development are going to fare. Apparently there are still a handful of other companies’ versions of it that aren’t finished with the studies and they will probably be quite late to the party. That can’t be good for stock prices.

In the U.S. I’ve been pleased to see that the vaccines appear to not cost anything upfront to the individual when they receive it. Health insurances cover it 100% and if a person doesn’t have insurance I think all they need to give is their Social Security number and I think the government fits the bill. If there was a charge, then we’d have no hope of ever getting sufficient vaccination rates to get to herd immunity. We might still not get there. Either way, it looks like we’ll know a lot more over the next 3 months.

@RogerRoger I felt pretty wretched all weekend but am now mostly just tired. I wasn't prepared for such an intense reaction! And yeah, this group of schoolgirls walked by me without a care in the world. Kids are one thing, but like @Kidfried says it's shocking how many adults don't seem to care. I think it's often that people are oblivious rather than going out of their way to be *****. I've had people pull their mask down to talk to me and quite a few wearing them below their nose, which drives me up the wall.

@Th3solution They're getting through them extremely swiftly here. The vaccines are free for everyone, but I balk at the cost per dose for the Pfizer and Moderna jabs. Reading how much these pharmaceutical companies will profit from the pandemic and all this human misery makes me sick.
@Kidfried It makes me wonder how many illnesses would have vaccines by now if they affected straight white men more. 🤔

That explains why I'm immune to almost all diseases!

This is admittedly trivial, so I haven't really complained, but since the numbers have dropped (much to my surprise) I don't feel like as much of a jerk for bringing this up.

So here goes. My county releases these infographics regarding the covid numbers. And there's this particular aspect of it that really bothers. Just wondering if I'm being too nitpicky.

@zupertramp You mean the fact that they include "probable" (so unconfirmed) cases in the main number?

Btw, my parents both got their 1st dose of vaccine today. I'm won't be getting mine until at least June or July, probably. Maybe even later.

@mookysam I got my second shot recently and only experienced moderate soreness in my arm. Hopefully that's not a bad sign.

I don’t see me getting my vaccine for a long time but I’m cool with it to be honest. It’s better they do more vulnerable people first.

Yeah was kinda wondering how everyone was getting on with the vaccines.

It's really way too much work to get vaccinated at the moment and similar to @nessisonett I don't want to make it harder for those more vulnerable to get one. Like my in-laws have only gotten theirs within the past few days and they're both over 65 with health issues. I guess everyone needs to get it but seems weird it's open to everyone now.

Have had people report just having a little soreness in the arm and others saying they felt as if they'd been hit by a truck afterward.

@Voltan nah it wasn't that. It jumps out at me but if I'm the only who sees it perhaps I'm making a mountain out of molehill, as they say. It's not really covid related anyway tbf.

I’ve been double Pfizer-ed; had a pretty sore arm for a few days after the first one and then pretty much nothing after the second.

My wife was knocked for six for about 24hrs after her second one and some colleagues had the same.

@RogerRoger no but good eye. I can barely even read that lol.

@zupertramp Is it the O having a mask on. Some Grade A junior marketing right there.

@nessisonett I actually like the little mask. Definitely corny but I'll take what I can get in regards to mask encouragement.

@zupertramp Hmmm... my guess — it’s the fact that “deaths” are represented by a crucifix? Perhaps it’s a little presumptive and insensitive for all the non-Christians who’ve succumbed to COVID.

@Th3solution exactly.

@Th3solution @zupertramp Oh wow, being the incredibly lapsed Catholic I am, I did not pick up on that. Crosses are always used for deaths because I assume it’s supposed to look like a Christian grave. Although it’s only a crucifix if the big man’s on there. The Vatican’s pretty cool though, other than the preserved bodies in glass caskets. Which I asked my RE teacher about back in high school and he had no idea what I was talking about. I’m pretty certain I didn’t make it up.

@zupertramp Ah, I'm from Poland so I'm too used to seeing crosses everywhere, I guess
You're right though

@nessisonett Ah, yeah, so it is - ‘crucifix’ does mean the cross has the image of Jesus on it; that’s simply a cross. Which is confusing because the [formerly blue, now monotone] X button on the PS controller is called the ‘cross’ button, so I wasn’t sure if other cultures called the Christian cross a ‘cross.’

@zupertramp I agree the image of the cross for a death marker is a bit narrow-minded in the multicultural and diverse world we live in, although I’m trying to think of another icon they could have used. Other images representing death would probably come across as even more insensitive. 🤔 Perhaps some flowers or the image of a setting sun...

I also find it weird how they have ‘net active cases’ as a minus (-) sign, and it took me a second glance to figure that out. And the ICU is represented by the image of a doctor, which is also a little strange given doctors are involved at all levels of the disease.

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As far as vaccines and COVID activity, it is encouraging how much more accessible the vaccines have become and that things really have calmed down. I suspect there will be a booster shot within the next year which will have to cover the new variants though. I wonder if we’ll ever have live as “normal” again. I’m willing to wear masks in public for the rest of my life, but I kind of want to have big sporting events and large public gatherings (concerts, conferences, parties) again at some point.

@Th3solution I think the need for a mask will lessen the more people get vaccinated. I certainly hope so and will be glad to see the back of them. Last I heard was 60% of the people have recieved their jab over here.

In the UK a series of test events have been planned, allowing a few thousand people into stadiums for certain sporting events. I can't see myself going to anywhere like a pub or anything like that for a good while yet. I just don't trust the people that operate these places or the general public to adhere to whatever rules are in place.

@Th3solution

Imagine that though