So you've had your Covid jab - what can you safely do now? And what should you still be doing ...

[PMRpro]

theguardian.com/world/2021/...

A good summary of what's fine and what's not ...

[HeronNS]

It would be interesting to know how many of us on here are actually going to change our behaviour much if at all until all their near and dear ones we would mingle with are also safely vaccinated. Because some covidiots arrived from Ontario and met with covidiot Nova Scotian friends/family here instead of sitting out their mandated 2-week quarantine (no one knows who they are, lucky for them) we now have the worst outbreak by far of the entire pandemic. Which means semi-vaccinated hubby and I will not even be able to hold our new grandson when we drop by to say hello today but only observe him from six feet away, and I as chief food shopper am now doublemasking (because no single mask I've found fits me properly) and feeling just as vulnerable as I did last year at this time. I think it very incautious of the US to give permission for people to gather unmasked "if fully vaccinated" because unless the vaccine was going to dye every recipient green or something, how would you be able to trust anyone? I think we are entering very tricky times and I don't see us being out of this mess for at least another year.

[Koalajane in reply to HeronNS]

I am in no hurry at all to change my mask wearing and social distancing.

[JGBH in reply to Koalajane]

I agree. Only had my 1st vaccine on 15th April so will definitely carry on with all precautions but it will be ages before anyone from my family, living quite a distance away, can come up and visit me. I hardly go out because I am losing my mobility but have foodstuffs delivered and as I can’t carry bags from the front door to the kitchen, the person delivering has to come in. He wears a mask and with definitely insist on that. I dread another spread of the virus and variants and an unavoidable lockdown... because already people are mixing too much and many people are still not vaccinated.

Enjoy meeting your grandson and family.

[123-go in reply to Koalajane]

Nor me.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Couldn't agree more - this time last year we were in a mess that had started with basically one person in each country. All it needs now is a mutant that escapes the vaccine fully and doesn't cause major symptoms in the young and you are back where we started. The only advantage will be they can make vaccines faster ...

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, as far as I know it's the B1.1.7 variant, hence why it's transmitted so rapidly. The case load at the moment is actually not known because the number of people showing up for tests has overwhelmed our capacity to process so likely when the numbers come out it will be even worse than we now know, at least so we were warned by a visibly worried chief health officer yesterday. And this is happening in a place which has observed pretty strict protocol even when opening up ever since last March. At least there's litle sign of vaccine hesitancy. Eligible age cohorts have shown amazing uptake, and targeted vulnerable populations are also doing well. When 10,000 doses of A-Z became available to ages 40+ yesterday the appointments were snapped up in next to no time.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Lucky NS. Your government reacts quickly and effectively. In Ontario, the politicians think about it for a couple of months before they act. We are locked down for the foreseeable future.

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

The reason there were suddenly 10,000 A-Z available was because new age cohort (55-59) opened up for Pfizer or Moderna and that many ppl in that age group cancelled and rebooked for the mRNA vaccine instead! I confess had I been younger and in that age group I probably would have done same, or more likely simply waited.

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

There are over 5000 people in self-isolation awaiting test results after possible exposure. There is a huge backlog of tests waiting to be processed as the system got overwhelmed in spite of a massive increase in capability since pandemic onset. Unfortunately they are already having to start doing what Ontario did, cancel some less critical surgeries. There are some benefits to living in a small province, depth of health care facilities is not one of them.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Wow.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Sad.

[Hidden in reply to HeronNS]

HeronNS, you're spot on too many idiots about and we are in this for some years yet. Lockdown is the only thing that works but we can't stay locked down for ever. I am sure that most sensible people will continue to maintain extreme caution, I know I and OH will do.

[123-go in reply to HeronNS]

I'm so sorry you won't be able to hold your new grandson on your next visit and all due to selfish, inconsiderate individuals: as you say, idiots.

[HeronNS in reply to 123-go]

At least I can see him and the current lockdown will end. Had yet another Skype session with the grandchild in Ontario, growing up before my eyes on a small screen. Of all pandemic-related issues I'd say this is the most bitter.

[MrsNails in reply to HeronNS]

Hugs Heron ❤️

[123-go in reply to HeronNS]

We do have to hang on to what will eventually come. It must be hard only seeing your Ontarian grandchild on Skype. We do have a lot to be thankful for with social media but it's a poor substitute for the real thing. ☹️

[Bcol]

Nothing much changing in this household for the foreseeable future.

[piglette]

My next door neighbours have both got Covid, neither seems to have heard of self isolation! I have not had both jabs yet, so am being very careful.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

One of our neighbours had it, identified by workplace testing, everyone there was positive. His wife never tested positive but was out and about and he was wandering around the building to go to their cellar in the garage. Then got very defeneive at the condominium AGM last week when it was mentioned. But I or OH could well have bumped into him on the stairs.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

People are amazing. The husband is currently out in the garden with some pal of his at the moment. The wife has been taking her new twins and three year old for walks. Great when you are young.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Not sure amazing is the word I'd use!!!!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

🤪🤪🤪

[Constance13 in reply to piglette]

Don't 'want' to hear!! Such people are so selfish. I have other words for them ..........!

[piglette in reply to Constance13]

To top it all, the husband was outside cutting bushes back with a radio on at full volume. Totally thoughtless!!

[123-go]

Wow, that's quite a read! It does explain quite a lot but I wonder how many patients give up half way through and just carry on regardless.

[Coffeebeans]

I live in Kirklees' top three in the country for infection rates. Not changing my behaviour just yet..

[artfingers]

I had hoped for some protection with the vaccine (both doses of Pfizer) but then discovered a friend who got his when I did then got Covid (teacher). So with the variants rampant here in Michigan, my hubby and I are back to the beginning of being super cautious as before. Sigh. I just wish we could convince more to get vaccinated. Neighbor and wife just got Covid and they were scoffers who didn't wear masks and didn't get vaccines. Sadly, they should have with their medical issues. Just hope they make it thru okay.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to artfingers]

How long after the shots did he develop Covid? But all along it has been clear that the vaccine is not 100% protection for even young healthy patients - no vaccine is 100% guarantee again infection, although under perfect clinical trial conditions it seems to be 100% protection against serious infection with Covid. It is clear though that even mild infection in children can result in Long Covid developing - and that could be the case even post-vaccination.