From PBS News Hour Science Desk, Sat. July 24, 2021
" Moderna is evaluating the efficacy of potential booster shots designed to further protect recipients against new variants of the coronavirus. Earlier this month, Johnson & Johnson announced that its vaccines so far appear to offer strong protection against the more-transmissible delta variant.
"Ongoing trials at the National Institutes of Health are examining the safety and efficacy of mixing different COVID-19 vaccines by giving participants booster shots manufactured by a different company than the one that developed their initial shot, or shots. Someone who was first vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer's vaccine, for example, might receive Johnson & Johnson's as a third shot.
"Federal officials are also evaluating whether to greenlight booster shots for those who are immunocompromised, but have not yet made a decision on that possibility.
And...
"Moderna is evaluating the efficacy of potential booster shots designed to further protect recipients against new variants of the coronavirus. Earlier this month, Johnson & Johnson announced that its vaccines so far appear to offer strong protection against the more-transmissible delta variant.
"Ongoing trials at the National Institutes of Health are examining the safety and efficacy of mixing different COVID-19 vaccines by giving participants booster shots manufactured by a different company than the one that developed their initial shot, or shots. Someone who was first vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer's vaccine, for example, might receive Johnson & Johnson's as a third shot.
"Federal officials are also evaluating whether to greenlight booster shots for those who are immunocompromised, but have not yet made a decision on that possibility.
I am so disgusted that people are risking not only their lives, but that of so many others, children included, by not getting vaccinated.
For instance...
"In Arkansas, where only about a third of residents have been fully vaccinated, health care providers there are grappling with trauma and burnout as they once again face a deluge of severely ill, unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Nationally, about half of all Americans are vaccinated; the state’s vaccination rate ranks as third-lowest in the country.
We saw the results of the pandemic on health care providers early on, many doctors and nurses dying from the virus. The states where few people are vaccinated are still doing this to their health care workers.
And as these quotes show, national efforts are just "wait and see" about the Delta virus...and getting booster shots. This article doesn't even mention the newer variant, Lambda.
------------------------------------
So we (myself and friends) are back wearing masks here in Black Mountain. One friend was working at the Tailgate Market and said she pulls hers up just when people get close to her. For me, I had mine up to avoid the smoke particles in the air...another trigger to immunocompromised people.
But do we just hide inside our houses? Do we listen to all the other topics of the news and cower?
Not I. I'm needing my friends, and one of the best ways we meet is over a casual meal at a local restaurant. Most of the time we eat outside, I'm not wanting to be around unmasked individuals, especially if I'm unmasked for eating.
And I am pushing myself to do some bodily movement these days. Just at planning stages, but I want to return to chair yoga at the Lakeview Senior Center next month!
