(08-12-2021 09:57 PM)chrisd11 Wrote: Stammers, the first part of your post is exactly why the CDC carefully worded “deaths involving COVID” and not deaths “from or because of” COVID. It’s an all inclusive catch all number.
It’s worded that way because of how Covid works. Like a lot of viruses it looks for weak access and impacts an essential life function. It doesn’t impact everyone in the same way but it does increase the chance of severe reactions and even death. Covid like a lot of virus’s mutates. It has done so several times. It’s how Delta came into being. A stronger, easier to transmit strain. There is a strain called Lambda that is dominate in South America working it’s way north.
Like the flu vaccine phizer and others are not cures. They are ways to improve resistance by building up specific antibodies. In some people it is successful in blocking transmission. In some you may still get infected but symptoms are greatly mitigated. But you still can be contagious. The person you inject if not vaccinated can still become very ill or worse.
Masks are not 100% effective. But they do provide significant protection as does safe distancing and sanitation.
Some of us were raised to believe that it is more important to act in ways that bring a greater good than potential personal inconvenience.
I made the choice to get vaccinated for my own protection, my families protection, my co-workers protection, the protection of my wife’s elderly and health challenged parents.
I don’t enjoy wearing a mask but ditto above.
Yesterday I took a Garabaldi’s pizza to a close friend and former hard core anti-vaxer. A Tiger OL alum by the way. What changed his mind? A very bad case of Covid, three weeks of suffering, needing oxygen treatments to breath. He lost 25 pounds and could barely walk when I saw him. 4 weeks ago he was a big, strong confident man. I have 10 stories similar to that with two ending in death.
Thank you for those who have chosen to do whatever it takes to keep others safe. Arnold Schwarzenegger today sent a message to Covid deniers and anti-maskers he called schmucks. Look it up it’s a pretty strong and obscene message to the anti crowd. I didn’t say it, he did.
I would one day like to get a definitive answer about how Covid became its deadly version rather than the note on the back of a Lysol can. But right now I’m more interested in how the world responds to a pandemic. And I’m not too proud to ask the Anti crowd to please help. I want normal again and my friends and family to be around when it’s over.