25 Replies to "PANDEMIC UPDATES: Local check-in #22, 12/12/2021"

• Jeepney December 13, 2021 (6:47 am)

  Thank you for providing the information regarding the booster shots given by Neighborhood House in High Point.  Got mine yesterday, was in and out in 5 minutes.  Staff is very friendly and efficient.

  • James Murphy December 13, 2021 (11:50 am)

    Me too, and ditto!  The woman that gave me my booster was great, didn’t even feel it and no sore arm afterwards.

• K December 13, 2021 (8:34 am)

  Do we know any specifics as to why the city dropped Pliable?  They were fantastic. 

• Friend O'Dinghus December 13, 2021 (8:42 am)

  Let’s do what it takes to fight this Omicron surge now, before the numbers even begin their almost inevitable climb. Vaccinate/booster/double down on established healthful protocols/temporarily return to full pod-member only activities. It sucks, but the alternative sucks even worse. But hey, this is Seattle and it’s all about the isolation anyway, ne c’est pas?

  • Jethro Marx December 13, 2021 (9:16 am)

    Let’s do what it takes to stop spreading misinformation.  There are a handful of cases of the omicron variant in our state; the vast majority of cases are other variants, and if we are drawing conclusions from the very limited information available so far, omicron does not appear to be leading to many deaths or hospitalizations.  We can be measured and practical in our response to the pandemic without being wackos about it in either direction.

    • Friend O'Dinghus December 13, 2021 (12:50 pm)

      I don’t believe that encouraging vaccinations/boosters/best protocols to minimize spread/and maintaining a pod as best as possible during the time of year when we are all indoors, pining to be social for the holidays, and have an emerging variant (which clearly spreads far more easily) is anything other than “measured and practical”. Nor is anything I stated “misinformation”. I never stated it was currently widely prevalent here in our state. I am hoping to help prevent that near certain eventuality though. What are you doing? Perhaps someone other than me is being the whacko here.

      • Jethro Marx December 13, 2021 (2:54 pm)

        1. Commenting on a story about local covid cases, you referred to “this omicron surge.”

        2. You recommend measures to “fight” the surge, without any rationale to suggest that they will be effective.

        3. You refer to a nefarious “alternative” which we ought to fear as a consequence of not reverting to “pod-member only” activities.  Presumably you mean reinstating various forms of what we have taken to calling “lockdowns” but the reason those were instituted was a fear of widespread death and overwhelmed hospitals.  There are no indications that the omicron variant presents a risk of widespread death and hospitalization; the limited data we have suggests that it does not.

        So, commenting without any particular claimed expertise, you implied there was a new danger present, suggested new countermeasures, and warned of negative consequences.  All are unfounded, so far as we know. 

        As for encouraging boosters, vaccines have been fairly effective, and we are fortunate to have them.  But we are not going to cure coronavirus with a vaccine, and if we ask for more and more and more, we will get them, because our country has lots of money and power.  How is it going for the less rich and powerful countries?  Are they able to get a first and second dose for their people? 

        If your ferry were sinking, would you ask for a second life jacket before you knew if there were enough for everyone?  Would you object to someone suggesting that they go first to those who couldn’t swim?  I wouldn’t; I’m wacky like that, I guess.

        • foop December 13, 2021 (4:05 pm)

          https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/12/13/world/covid-omicron-vaccines#testing-indicates-that-the-omicron-variant-is-surging-in-washington-state

        • Friend O'Dinghus December 13, 2021 (4:48 pm)

          #1. You conveniently left out the words following Omicron surge. Those words are “before the numbers even begin their almost inevitable climb.” This is based on geometric growth observed in other nations. It out competes Delta, and previous infections will not protect against it; Omicron therefore will be the dominate variant soon in our area too. #2. The rational behind my encouragements comports fully with CDC guidance, Washington State Department of Health guidance, and King County Department of Health guidance to minimize socializing in indoor spaces with people whos vaccination status is unknown to you. If you do so, strategies such as masking and Covid lateral testing is suggested as alternatives for safely gathering. #3. If you have to “presume” what I am saying then you are certainly jumping to conclusions without basis. #4. Laudable that you would worry of others less fortunate than ourselves, however I am also worried about people like myself awaiting non-elective surgery. I am worried about those of us who have followed the recommendations for nearly two years yet may still have their non-elective surgery postponed due to lack of hospital staff. This because some ideologically driven individuals simply do not wish to follow guidance. Worse still, they attack those of us who ARE encouraging others to follow best practices, as outlined by the medical professionals who are offering their best advice. Suggesting folks hesitate in getting their boosters because “vaccines have been fairly effective” and “we are not going to cure coronavirus with a vaccine” is irresponsible, no matter what your rationale. #5. Tragically, the low vaccination numbers in many poor countries, is a product of low vaccine uptake, not lack of availability. Suggesting we not undertake a third dose here in our country does zero to solve the low vaccine uptake in poor countries.

• Stay well December 13, 2021 (8:44 am)

  Would be curious to see a comparison of these numbers alongside numbers for the same week a year ago.

  Also would be interested to see just how many cases/hospitalizations/deaths are of unvaccinated vs vaccinated people.

  Thank you for all your covid reporting WSB.

  • neighbor December 13, 2021 (4:59 pm)

    Here you go:   https://public.tableau.com/views/COVID_Vaccination_Status/VaxBrk?:embed=y&:toolbar=n&:display_count=n&:showShareOptions=n&:showVizHome=n

    • Stay well December 14, 2021 (5:20 am)

      👍 Thank you

• SLJ December 13, 2021 (8:55 am)

  We went to Pliable on Sunday at Neighborhood House for our boosters and the efficiency was amazing. I really wish they could continue for pediatric doses. If SPS parents are still looking for appointments, check out the Neighborcare school-based clinics: https://neighborcare.org/clinics/

• Bandana December 13, 2021 (9:02 am)

  My elderly parent received her booster at Neighborhood House last Friday. Very efficient operation by SFD.

• Adam December 13, 2021 (9:03 am)

  Pliable did a great job with the Neighborhood House clinics, we got our shots there and our kids first dose too.  Too bad the city dumped them. 

• waikikigirl December 13, 2021 (3:03 pm)

  I got my booster at NHH with Pliable at 10:30am and I was in and out in less than 15 mins. Very organized. My 2nd vaccine of the Pfizer back in March I didn’t do well, with this booster I thought I skated thru with no ill effects went to bed a little tired from it and then 1:30am all heck broke loose! still feel terrible, this is it no more vaccines, no more boosters for me.

  • Jethro Marx December 13, 2021 (5:04 pm)

    You should consult a doctor rather than make a medical decision like “no more vaccines” by anecdote. It is also better to share your experience with the AVERS system that is in place for reporting such experiences, where it will be used responsibly, whereas here we may generalize your unfortunate experience into what we ought to expect for ourselves.

    • Sara December 13, 2021 (9:43 pm)

      I appreciate hearing everyone’s experience. That’s why I occasionally read the comments here. I don’t see them as a news source or medical advice, but in such tense times, it is helpful to hear how my neighbors are experiencing things. I also think it’s totally appropriate to make a decision for your body based on your own personal experience, because it is, after all, your body.

      • waikikigirl December 14, 2021 (5:17 am)

        Thank you Sara!

    • waikikigirl December 14, 2021 (5:26 am)

      Jethro, I’m 66 yrs old I think I know my body and YES  the misery I am going thru helped me write my comment. My 2nd dose/ vaccine kicked my a$$ and this one has done the same thing. I talked to my Dr about the 2nd dose’s reaction I had and all she said was “that shows it is working”, she just wants to get you in and out in her 15min time she scheduled with you…need to find a new doctor, know a good one, one that’ll do what they went to college/schooling for and just not want to give you an RX?

      • Pessoa December 15, 2021 (8:32 am)

        My partner developed pericardial effusion sometime after  receiving two doses of the vaccine.  Incidental and/or coincidental finding?  Perhaps, but the timing was very odd and particularly suspicious because she does not at all fit the profile of someone who should present with PE – even her doc was stumped.   She is asymptomatic and it is a mild case, but she has refused – for obvious reasons – any more shots which will likely put her job (she is a medical professional) in peril.   

  • Stay well December 14, 2021 (5:32 am)

    Thanks for sharing @waikikigirl. Sorry you’re not feeling well, and hope you feel better soon. Share again when you feel your past the booster symptoms?

    I also felt crummy after my second Phizer shot. Soreness and fatigue, a bit under the weather, for about 5 days. So I’m not looking forward to the next one, but also, I am looking forward to the next one. Because, it has significantly helped to prevent us from having covid illness, which would be much worse than just feeling tired and sore and cranky for a few days, after being vaccinated. It’s worth it, from my perspective. Not sure how severe your symptoms were, but thought to share mine for folks.

    • waikikigirl December 14, 2021 (11:37 am)

      @Staywell, feeling better today still some soreness in all my joints, lymph nodes in armpit area and still feeling sick to my stomach and can’t stand the smells of any foods which I guess could be a good thing!???  :) but at least I’m up and walking around.I don’t get sick very often except maybe the common cold once every 3 to 4 years apart so these vaccines  just threw me under the bus and made me cranky! ha haI hope your booster goes well and you don’t feel crummy like after your 2nd dose.

      • Stay well December 14, 2021 (11:11 pm)

        Ouch, I hope you feel much better tomorrow! And thanks again for sharing, and for wishing mine goes well, we are all in this together. Take good care.

• Jethro Marx December 14, 2021 (8:34 am)

  If we have enough to go around, (the world) then get your booster, by all means.  But let’s not justify our half-hearted support of COVAX and the like by saying those poor people don’t want vaccines anyway.

  https://theconversation.com/wealthy-nations-starved-the-developing-world-of-vaccines-omicron-shows-the-cost-of-this-greed-172763

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