Yes, I do keep saying it. We are open. And we are a safe place to be. We do numerous things to keep everyone safe: all of our regular pre-Covid infection control protocol plus our current Covid respiratory protocol (an hour between patients in every room plus cold fogging and disinfecting, HEPA filters, HVE’s for aerosols, closing doors during treatment, limiting patients in the office, etc. See prior newsletters.) And all of the staff have received their Covid vaccinations. We are so excited about the extra level of safety that provides us and you.
That said, let’s talk vaccinations.* Out of my staff, I only had one person have a reaction to the first shot (Pfizer) and one had a reaction to the second (Moderna). Now J & J’s is available, which is only one dose for those shot phobic people. I am encouraging all of you to get queued up to get your vaccination ASAP, or at least as soon as they allow your group to get it. Why?? First, because it protects you from dying of Covid if you get it or one of the mutant strains, you won’t get as sick if you do catch it and you won’t be an unsuspecting carrier of the virus. Second, we have NO idea of the future problems, 10 years or more down the road, that may arise because of getting Covid now. We just don’t know (see post-polio syndrome**).
If you’ve been fully vaccinated (2 weeks after your 2nd dose, or J & J one dose)***
- You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
- You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
Even if vaccinated, still protect yourself and others by wearing your mask, social distancing, and hand washing. Avoid crowds, poorly ventilated spaces and optional travel.**** Continue to be safe and sane.
On a different note, I am reading the books on my daughter’s book club list because it can be a wonderful way to discover new authors. The first book, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, examines this rather charged and topical subject. Educating ourselves is the first step towards understanding systemic racism and how it impacts all of us. This book helped me see that I have multiple unrecognized and unacknowledged privileges that I receive just because I am a white, middle-class, able-bodied, college-educated, straight, cis-gender, healthy woman. I highly recommend this fabulous book. For those of you who prefer fiction, Jodi Picoult in her equally fantastic book, Small Great Things also addresses the unconscious biases we all have.
“Fear begets fear; and fear denies freedom. Any society that draws its strength from fear has one voice and no others.” The Chronicles of Krystonia by Beau Dix and Mark Scott
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.” Dune by Frank Herbert
*** https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
**** https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/fully-vaccinated-people.html