Maggie's Farm

I am now a proud "anti-vaxxer."  Actually, I'm not.  But Merriam-Webster does define me as one.  The funny thing is, I've gotten vaccinated.  For polio, smallpox, MMR, tetanus, and even recently I received my second shingles vaccine.  I got the shingles vaccine on the day I turned down the coronavirus vaccine.  I have my own personal reasons for turning down the new vaccine.  After all, I've had covid, and it was a bit tough, but nothing I couldn't handle.  I have other reasons, too, which I won't share since the information on all of this is convoluted and tends to spark arguments (not discussions).  It is not hard science by any stretch.  Even my doctor, when I gave my reasons for rejecting it, tried to convince me to get it by saying "we know so little about it, the vaccine is a good idea."  I replied that if you know so little, it seems odd that you're convinced that the vaccine will help me.  I hardly see that as a reassuring argument.  She agreed (which surprised me) and said "just realize you may get it again."  I told her I've gotten the flu many times, too.  Even after I was vaccinated.  My reasons are mine alone and I'll get the answers and make my determinations as I go along.  I have that right (in the old United States I did...).

I'm not opposed to the coronavirus vaccine, either.  I suggested my father (85, with heart issues) get it when he asked me if he should.  He is a retired doctor, I laughed when he asked me, but I was honest.  He agrees with my reasons for not getting it.  It could be he's not seeking to have a discussion, but I know he has his own questions.  Mrs. Bulldog got it (and, as I suspected, had no side effects, as she has been exposed to covid several times and never gotten it.  Long exposures, both from me and friends.  She really is a Viking.) and I supported her decision to get it.  My mother (85 and frail) got it.  Other members of my family have gotten it. I just have my own questions about this particular vaccine.  I have a right to question it, and be skeptical.  

Even today, it's not uncommon to see or hear about fully-vaccinated people testing positive.  I doubt this means they have covid.  In fact, I'm willing to bet heavily the tests are incorrect (as so many are).  I'm also not afraid of getting covid again.  I dealt with it once, and it wasn't bad.  I'm in better shape now than I was then (lost about 5 lbs, lifting more, using the elliptical for longer stretches - I made it a goal to get in better shape), and know how to deal with it (low sugar, lots of water, Vitamin D and lots of sun and fresh air).  There are also improved treatments if I'm wrong. 

All that said, I'm not an anti-vaxxer.  Not even a little.  Not even a tiny bit.  I'll get the vaccine IF my questions are resolved by my doctor AND if I reach a point that I feel it is useful and necessary.  In the meantime, I'm not a threat.  At least not health-wise.  That said, I do oppose mandates and forcing people to do things they don't necessarily want to do.  And if opposing mandatory vaccine programs makes me an anti-vaxxer, then I am a political problem to some people.

What annoys me is that I'm defined by Biden and Merriam-Webster as an anti-vaxxer.  That's wrong.  The dictionary has extended its definition far too broadly.  It's also wrong to have a President tell me that I have to choose between a mask and a vaccine.  He, of all people, is unqualified to make this determination.  He's just a power-mad elderly man with dementia (at least I think he's got dementia, he certainly behaves that way).  I've gone without a mask pretty much everywhere (mostly outdoors, though I keep one in my pocket).  Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Block Island, New Orleans, North Carolina - I've done quite a bit of traveling.  I wear the mask if I'm asked to, but not otherwise.  As time goes by, people will see I'm not a risk.  But for now, politically, I am.  I am a massive risk politically.  And I'm loving it.  I won't make people do things they oppose.  I appreciate others who realize this is the essential reason for the creation of our great nation.

I contracted Covid back in March.  2 weeks of coughing and headaches, no fever, and a general haziness for about 2 months afterward.  I'm fine now, no long-term issues to speak of.  I am heading in for some medical checkups since my insurance is ending soon.  If you're over 50 and understand the prep process, you know what I'm talking about.  At any rate, the doctors had me take a Covid test last week as a precautionary measure.  It's a smart move, and of course I came up negative.

Thing is, I was visiting friends last night, and a few other people stopped in.  We wound up spending a few hours together.  This morning, one sent us a text telling us he'd awakened with a fever.  Later he texted that he'd been tested and came up positive.

Most of the people there last night already had Covid, so we're fairly confident we should be in good shape.  We'd all been tested and had the antibodies.  There are no guarantees, but I'm fairly confident most of us will be fine.  There wasn't a ton of interaction, touching and no coughing.  But we were indoors, and Mrs. Bulldog has not had Covid yet.  So she will go get tested in a few days.  Meanwhile, we will quarantine for a few days...

Except I have that procedure on Tuesday morning.  So I shot them a note to let them know, and will follow whatever measures they ask me to engage.

This is how things should be handled.  Rather than locking down, we can take steps to manage ourselves properly.  Lockdowns haven't stopped the spread, they've merely created a false impression that viral outbreaks can be 'stopped' or 'prevented' with policy.  Except the policies haven't stopped anything, and often have only led to worse overall situations.

Friends of mine have barraged me with commentary on the "disaster" that Florida is, particularly with regard to Covid.  Anecdotally, I was told urban (and this seems to confirm) ICUs typically range from 55-80% full at any given time, depending on seasonality.  The current occupancy rates, in some places, are in the 90s, so while that is very high, it's worth noting ICUs are usually very full.  The real concern is the ability to expand, as needed.  I believe, based on the response in April, this is something our system can handle fairly effectively.  I'm not being too relaxed or naive.  I'm not diminishing or putting down the efforts of our medical personnel.  I am applauding them for their efforts, their hours, their professionalism, and creativity as they have found many solutions and treatments along the way to help mitigate and ease many of these issues.  That is the beauty of not only our medical system, but our overall economic system.  Flexibility and ingenuity.

Our friend the Manhattan Contrarian has presented his excellent piece on why Florida has made New York look silly and misguided in the midst of all this.

I doubt the media will present the story as MC has.  I applaud our friend MC for presenting the facts.  After all, he lives near the center of the echo chamber.

I'll toss in one more point of comparison - New Jersey, which like NY has similar governance, though a much smaller population (8.9mm) than Florida (21.5mm) and New York (19.5mm).  Covid cases have reached 440k in NJ, about in line with where Florida is as a percentage, but it has almost 19k deaths - similar to Florida (older and with a larger population).  Comparatively speaking, New York City alone has roughly the same population as New Jersey, but has had roughly the same number of cases as New Jersday (390k) and more deaths (24k).

"Follow the science" is a real thing, but not the way Progressives present it.  For them, it's really "Follow the politics, which pretends to be science."

If you'd like some good investigative work on Covid, these are easy to read and understand posts from a Swedish physician.