WOOHOO SB 739 has passed the house- it is on its way to the Governor-

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For those of us following the science, the Legislature and the Governor have little to do with this. Instead, we are approaching a time when masks are not as necessary.


Approaching? Sure. But we're not there yet.


Do you decide when?


You certainly don’t.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


You know that kid or someone in their household could’ve medically fragile and therefore have strong reason for needing the mask, especially as your kid goes without, right?

This article nails it so well: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/weve-never-protected-the-vulnerable/619981/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR15DA6nTNIthIUjDAArj_7CuRgD6fdeg7PkIcptLEkjgr8EuoX6uTZr6Ow
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.


Honestly, my heart just sunk because I have to navigate my Kindergarten class through this. This is so sad because we try so hard to teach the kids in school respect for others rights etc and now here we are parents gathering “intel” on each other to see who is social or antisocial based on making preference. What you don’t get is that the “fake concern” about the law, is really an attempt to put the kids first so we aren’t in this place where parents and kids are making fun of each other at school.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ha- I'm the OP of this thread. I'm no operative if any sort. Just a frustrated FCC mom- who social distanced, masked and vaxxed with the best of them. I closely closely follow science, and numbers etc and have the ability to change my mind. What I've seen over the last 7 months has convinced me that 'science' has very little to do with this- this is about proving our liberalism. When FCCPS refused to follow the CDC, and insisted on quarantining elementary school children for 14 days with no possibility of testing out- keeping needy children out of school- I lost faith in them. FCC has an incredibly high vaccination rate. The community obsessively masks. We have had 4 people total hospitalized for COVID in the last 90 days. Our case count has been astronomical for a long time. So where do I come down- let it go. The risk to a vaccinated person is so so minor. Why are we doing this to our kids? For the first 1.5 years of the pandemic I was willing to employ any mitigation measure that might make a difference. At this point, given the vaccines, any mitigation measure should be run through a solid cost benefit analysis. There is very little evidence that a universal mask mandate makes ANY difference for case transmission- and case transmission shouldn't really be our benchmark in any event. I'm done. My kids need normalcy and they need it now.


+1000.


Same. I'm in Arlington and am just baffled at how we're treating kids right now. Both sides often sound completely bonkers and self-righteous, so it feels impossible to move forward.

We are going to suffer a Republican congress and Trump 2.0 if we keep ignoring all of the frustrated, alienated, and overworked parents.


OP I'm with you on a lot of what you say but you completely loose me (and a lot of other people) when you forget the vaccine is NOT yet available for kids under 5. Many kids and teachers in schools have siblings and children under 5. Pre-K classes in Arlington are comprised of 4 year olds. Also, I really don't know what people are looking at that leads them to believe masks don't work. Maybe you're wearing loose bandanas or something cute off of Etsy, but there are a lot of solid mask choices that do prevent transmission. Masks are a big part (maybe the main reason) omicron has NOT spread like wild fire in early ES classrooms where kids sit inches from eachother, face to face, sharing materials all day. I mean, my kids haven't had a single cold ALL YEAR, which has NEVER happened before. Masks are stopping the spread of disease here.

PP I agree people are frustrated, alienated (especially families with children under 5 who have chronic health issues), and overworked, and while that may explain why some vote for a candidate who tells them what they want to hear even if that isn't based in reality, it is a pathetic excuse. Reality is tough right now. It has been for the past 2 years. There are a lot of groups in this country who faced ugly realities even before COVID.


So you can keep your kids in a mask if you want. We are fine with that. Please keep in mind that not a single person under the age of 40 has died of Covid in Arlington during the entirety of the pandemic. This virus simply does not justify the extreme measures taken but you should feel free to mask you kids. Just don't ask us to. Our cost-benefit analysis came out differently than yours.


All I hear from you is you got your vaccine so who cares about the under 5 kids with chronic health conditions.


Kids under 5 with chronic health conditions have to be a tiny tiny percentage of the population, and presumably not all conditions are risk factors for COVID. It makes more sense for those kids to wear KN95s or similar if they are truly at risk.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ha- I'm the OP of this thread. I'm no operative if any sort. Just a frustrated FCC mom- who social distanced, masked and vaxxed with the best of them. I closely closely follow science, and numbers etc and have the ability to change my mind. What I've seen over the last 7 months has convinced me that 'science' has very little to do with this- this is about proving our liberalism. When FCCPS refused to follow the CDC, and insisted on quarantining elementary school children for 14 days with no possibility of testing out- keeping needy children out of school- I lost faith in them. FCC has an incredibly high vaccination rate. The community obsessively masks. We have had 4 people total hospitalized for COVID in the last 90 days. Our case count has been astronomical for a long time. So where do I come down- let it go. The risk to a vaccinated person is so so minor. Why are we doing this to our kids? For the first 1.5 years of the pandemic I was willing to employ any mitigation measure that might make a difference. At this point, given the vaccines, any mitigation measure should be run through a solid cost benefit analysis. There is very little evidence that a universal mask mandate makes ANY difference for case transmission- and case transmission shouldn't really be our benchmark in any event. I'm done. My kids need normalcy and they need it now.


+1000.


Same. I'm in Arlington and am just baffled at how we're treating kids right now. Both sides often sound completely bonkers and self-righteous, so it feels impossible to move forward.

We are going to suffer a Republican congress and Trump 2.0 if we keep ignoring all of the frustrated, alienated, and overworked parents.


OP I'm with you on a lot of what you say but you completely loose me (and a lot of other people) when you forget the vaccine is NOT yet available for kids under 5. Many kids and teachers in schools have siblings and children under 5. Pre-K classes in Arlington are comprised of 4 year olds. Also, I really don't know what people are looking at that leads them to believe masks don't work. Maybe you're wearing loose bandanas or something cute off of Etsy, but there are a lot of solid mask choices that do prevent transmission. Masks are a big part (maybe the main reason) omicron has NOT spread like wild fire in early ES classrooms where kids sit inches from eachother, face to face, sharing materials all day. I mean, my kids haven't had a single cold ALL YEAR, which has NEVER happened before. Masks are stopping the spread of disease here.

PP I agree people are frustrated, alienated (especially families with children under 5 who have chronic health issues), and overworked, and while that may explain why some vote for a candidate who tells them what they want to hear even if that isn't based in reality, it is a pathetic excuse. Reality is tough right now. It has been for the past 2 years. There are a lot of groups in this country who faced ugly realities even before COVID.


So you can keep your kids in a mask if you want. We are fine with that. Please keep in mind that not a single person under the age of 40 has died of Covid in Arlington during the entirety of the pandemic. This virus simply does not justify the extreme measures taken but you should feel free to mask you kids. Just don't ask us to. Our cost-benefit analysis came out differently than yours.


All I hear from you is you got your vaccine so who cares about the under 5 kids with chronic health conditions.


Kids under 5 with chronic health conditions have to be a tiny tiny percentage of the population, and presumably not all conditions are risk factors for COVID. It makes more sense for those kids to wear KN95s or similar if they are truly at risk.


Masks are even more important to mitigate the possibility that the person wearing the mask will spread the virus which is why everyone should still wear them and your so called freedom to have your child mask free impinges on my freedom to have my child in a setting which sufficiently safe for school.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.


Honestly, my heart just sunk because I have to navigate my Kindergarten class through this. This is so sad because we try so hard to teach the kids in school respect for others rights etc and now here we are parents gathering “intel” on each other to see who is social or antisocial based on making preference. What you don’t get is that the “fake concern” about the law, is really an attempt to put the kids first so we aren’t in this place where parents and kids are making fun of each other at school.


My heart sinks at the idea of parents having to decide whether to pull their kids out of in-person schooling because mom is going through chemo and this bill would mean their kid could be stuck sitting next to someone spewing an active covid infection all over because they aren’t wearing a mask.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


You know that kid or someone in their household could’ve medically fragile and therefore have strong reason for needing the mask, especially as your kid goes without, right?

This article nails it so well: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/weve-never-protected-the-vulnerable/619981/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR15DA6nTNIthIUjDAArj_7CuRgD6fdeg7PkIcptLEkjgr8EuoX6uTZr6Ow


From the article:

Now, as more and more people get vaccinated, much of the country is returning to normal. Some people point to decreased hospitalization and mortality rates among the immunized, or argue that COVID-19 is here to stay but manageable and that restrictions are unnecessary. Some further argue that most who aren’t vaccinated have chosen that path, and so if risk remains, it’s on them.

Such thinking ignores a third, not-insignificant group: those who would like to be immune but aren’t. Some people are still at risk because they can’t yet be vaccinated or because vaccines don’t work for them. They hope that their fellow Americans will take care of them. They hope that the rest of us will agree to sensible precautions or protections to keep them safe until they, too, can be immunized, or until the danger from exposure eventually subsides.

Much of the public is refusing. That’s not new, though. In America, it’s always been like this.



Part of my job, both as a writer and as a chief health officer, is to explain how much less-risky most activities are now compared with last year. Many of the people I talk with, though, have others in their life who aren’t yet safe, and they are horrified that we can’t create exceptions or come up with policies to protect their vulnerable loved ones. I share their frustration, but I’m puzzled by their surprise. America has never cared enough. People just didn’t notice before.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ha- I'm the OP of this thread. I'm no operative if any sort. Just a frustrated FCC mom- who social distanced, masked and vaxxed with the best of them. I closely closely follow science, and numbers etc and have the ability to change my mind. What I've seen over the last 7 months has convinced me that 'science' has very little to do with this- this is about proving our liberalism. When FCCPS refused to follow the CDC, and insisted on quarantining elementary school children for 14 days with no possibility of testing out- keeping needy children out of school- I lost faith in them. FCC has an incredibly high vaccination rate. The community obsessively masks. We have had 4 people total hospitalized for COVID in the last 90 days. Our case count has been astronomical for a long time. So where do I come down- let it go. The risk to a vaccinated person is so so minor. Why are we doing this to our kids? For the first 1.5 years of the pandemic I was willing to employ any mitigation measure that might make a difference. At this point, given the vaccines, any mitigation measure should be run through a solid cost benefit analysis. There is very little evidence that a universal mask mandate makes ANY difference for case transmission- and case transmission shouldn't really be our benchmark in any event. I'm done. My kids need normalcy and they need it now.


+1000.


Same. I'm in Arlington and am just baffled at how we're treating kids right now. Both sides often sound completely bonkers and self-righteous, so it feels impossible to move forward.

We are going to suffer a Republican congress and Trump 2.0 if we keep ignoring all of the frustrated, alienated, and overworked parents.


OP I'm with you on a lot of what you say but you completely loose me (and a lot of other people) when you forget the vaccine is NOT yet available for kids under 5. Many kids and teachers in schools have siblings and children under 5. Pre-K classes in Arlington are comprised of 4 year olds. Also, I really don't know what people are looking at that leads them to believe masks don't work. Maybe you're wearing loose bandanas or something cute off of Etsy, but there are a lot of solid mask choices that do prevent transmission. Masks are a big part (maybe the main reason) omicron has NOT spread like wild fire in early ES classrooms where kids sit inches from eachother, face to face, sharing materials all day. I mean, my kids haven't had a single cold ALL YEAR, which has NEVER happened before. Masks are stopping the spread of disease here.

PP I agree people are frustrated, alienated (especially families with children under 5 who have chronic health issues), and overworked, and while that may explain why some vote for a candidate who tells them what they want to hear even if that isn't based in reality, it is a pathetic excuse. Reality is tough right now. It has been for the past 2 years. There are a lot of groups in this country who faced ugly realities even before COVID.


So you can keep your kids in a mask if you want. We are fine with that. Please keep in mind that not a single person under the age of 40 has died of Covid in Arlington during the entirety of the pandemic. This virus simply does not justify the extreme measures taken but you should feel free to mask you kids. Just don't ask us to. Our cost-benefit analysis came out differently than yours.


All I hear from you is you got your vaccine so who cares about the under 5 kids with chronic health conditions.


Kids under 5 with chronic health conditions have to be a tiny tiny percentage of the population, and presumably not all conditions are risk factors for COVID. It makes more sense for those kids to wear KN95s or similar if they are truly at risk.


Masks are even more important to mitigate the possibility that the person wearing the mask will spread the virus which is why everyone should still wear them and your so called freedom to have your child mask free impinges on my freedom to have my child in a setting which sufficiently safe for school.


Your anxiety is impinging on my breathing.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


You know that kid or someone in their household could’ve medically fragile and therefore have strong reason for needing the mask, especially as your kid goes without, right?

This article nails it so well: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/weve-never-protected-the-vulnerable/619981/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR15DA6nTNIthIUjDAArj_7CuRgD6fdeg7PkIcptLEkjgr8EuoX6uTZr6Ow


From the article:

Now, as more and more people get vaccinated, much of the country is returning to normal. Some people point to decreased hospitalization and mortality rates among the immunized, or argue that COVID-19 is here to stay but manageable and that restrictions are unnecessary. Some further argue that most who aren’t vaccinated have chosen that path, and so if risk remains, it’s on them.

Such thinking ignores a third, not-insignificant group: those who would like to be immune but aren’t. Some people are still at risk because they can’t yet be vaccinated or because vaccines don’t work for them. They hope that their fellow Americans will take care of them. They hope that the rest of us will agree to sensible precautions or protections to keep them safe until they, too, can be immunized, or until the danger from exposure eventually subsides.

Much of the public is refusing. That’s not new, though. In America, it’s always been like this.



Part of my job, both as a writer and as a chief health officer, is to explain how much less-risky most activities are now compared with last year. Many of the people I talk with, though, have others in their life who aren’t yet safe, and they are horrified that we can’t create exceptions or come up with policies to protect their vulnerable loved ones. I share their frustration, but I’m puzzled by their surprise. America has never cared enough. People just didn’t notice before.


At some point - something has to give and we have to give those who want it - school with no masks. Those who don’t want that are going to have to do something like apply for Virtual VA for school next year.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.


Honestly, my heart just sunk because I have to navigate my Kindergarten class through this. This is so sad because we try so hard to teach the kids in school respect for others rights etc and now here we are parents gathering “intel” on each other to see who is social or antisocial based on making preference. What you don’t get is that the “fake concern” about the law, is really an attempt to put the kids first so we aren’t in this place where parents and kids are making fun of each other at school.


My heart sinks at the idea of parents having to decide whether to pull their kids out of in-person schooling because mom is going through chemo and this bill would mean their kid could be stuck sitting next to someone spewing an active covid infection all over because they aren’t wearing a mask.



Yes because a cloth mask will certainly prevent spread between two kids sitting next to each other for 8 hours…
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ha- I'm the OP of this thread. I'm no operative if any sort. Just a frustrated FCC mom- who social distanced, masked and vaxxed with the best of them. I closely closely follow science, and numbers etc and have the ability to change my mind. What I've seen over the last 7 months has convinced me that 'science' has very little to do with this- this is about proving our liberalism. When FCCPS refused to follow the CDC, and insisted on quarantining elementary school children for 14 days with no possibility of testing out- keeping needy children out of school- I lost faith in them. FCC has an incredibly high vaccination rate. The community obsessively masks. We have had 4 people total hospitalized for COVID in the last 90 days. Our case count has been astronomical for a long time. So where do I come down- let it go. The risk to a vaccinated person is so so minor. Why are we doing this to our kids? For the first 1.5 years of the pandemic I was willing to employ any mitigation measure that might make a difference. At this point, given the vaccines, any mitigation measure should be run through a solid cost benefit analysis. There is very little evidence that a universal mask mandate makes ANY difference for case transmission- and case transmission shouldn't really be our benchmark in any event. I'm done. My kids need normalcy and they need it now.


+1000.


Same. I'm in Arlington and am just baffled at how we're treating kids right now. Both sides often sound completely bonkers and self-righteous, so it feels impossible to move forward.

We are going to suffer a Republican congress and Trump 2.0 if we keep ignoring all of the frustrated, alienated, and overworked parents.


OP I'm with you on a lot of what you say but you completely loose me (and a lot of other people) when you forget the vaccine is NOT yet available for kids under 5. Many kids and teachers in schools have siblings and children under 5. Pre-K classes in Arlington are comprised of 4 year olds. Also, I really don't know what people are looking at that leads them to believe masks don't work. Maybe you're wearing loose bandanas or something cute off of Etsy, but there are a lot of solid mask choices that do prevent transmission. Masks are a big part (maybe the main reason) omicron has NOT spread like wild fire in early ES classrooms where kids sit inches from eachother, face to face, sharing materials all day. I mean, my kids haven't had a single cold ALL YEAR, which has NEVER happened before. Masks are stopping the spread of disease here.

PP I agree people are frustrated, alienated (especially families with children under 5 who have chronic health issues), and overworked, and while that may explain why some vote for a candidate who tells them what they want to hear even if that isn't based in reality, it is a pathetic excuse. Reality is tough right now. It has been for the past 2 years. There are a lot of groups in this country who faced ugly realities even before COVID.


So you can keep your kids in a mask if you want. We are fine with that. Please keep in mind that not a single person under the age of 40 has died of Covid in Arlington during the entirety of the pandemic. This virus simply does not justify the extreme measures taken but you should feel free to mask you kids. Just don't ask us to. Our cost-benefit analysis came out differently than yours.


All I hear from you is you got your vaccine so who cares about the under 5 kids with chronic health conditions.


Kids under 5 with chronic health conditions have to be a tiny tiny percentage of the population, and presumably not all conditions are risk factors for COVID. It makes more sense for those kids to wear KN95s or similar if they are truly at risk.


Masks are even more important to mitigate the possibility that the person wearing the mask will spread the virus which is why everyone should still wear them and your so called freedom to have your child mask free impinges on my freedom to have my child in a setting which sufficiently safe for school.


Did you force your children to mask in prior years? You do know that the medically vulnerable are susceptible to viruses other than covid? We've jump from the right being the anti-science party rejecting vaccines and any masking to the left being the antis-science party by desperately holding onto masks, but only in specific settings (and even then, not all the time because everyone knows that covid is polite enough to not spread during lunch) despite no evidence that it makes a difference
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


You know that kid or someone in their household could’ve medically fragile and therefore have strong reason for needing the mask, especially as your kid goes without, right?

This article nails it so well: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/weve-never-protected-the-vulnerable/619981/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR15DA6nTNIthIUjDAArj_7CuRgD6fdeg7PkIcptLEkjgr8EuoX6uTZr6Ow


From the article:

Now, as more and more people get vaccinated, much of the country is returning to normal. Some people point to decreased hospitalization and mortality rates among the immunized, or argue that COVID-19 is here to stay but manageable and that restrictions are unnecessary. Some further argue that most who aren’t vaccinated have chosen that path, and so if risk remains, it’s on them.

Such thinking ignores a third, not-insignificant group: those who would like to be immune but aren’t. Some people are still at risk because they can’t yet be vaccinated or because vaccines don’t work for them. They hope that their fellow Americans will take care of them. They hope that the rest of us will agree to sensible precautions or protections to keep them safe until they, too, can be immunized, or until the danger from exposure eventually subsides.

Much of the public is refusing. That’s not new, though. In America, it’s always been like this.



Part of my job, both as a writer and as a chief health officer, is to explain how much less-risky most activities are now compared with last year. Many of the people I talk with, though, have others in their life who aren’t yet safe, and they are horrified that we can’t create exceptions or come up with policies to protect their vulnerable loved ones. I share their frustration, but I’m puzzled by their surprise. America has never cared enough. People just didn’t notice before.


At some point - something has to give and we have to give those who want it - school with no masks. Those who don’t want that are going to have to do something like apply for Virtual VA for school next year.


You’ve got it backward. Your maskless kids can apply for virtual. Makes more sense. Masks in public. None at home.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.


Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !


You know that kid or someone in their household could’ve medically fragile and therefore have strong reason for needing the mask, especially as your kid goes without, right?

This article nails it so well: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/weve-never-protected-the-vulnerable/619981/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR15DA6nTNIthIUjDAArj_7CuRgD6fdeg7PkIcptLEkjgr8EuoX6uTZr6Ow


From the article:

Now, as more and more people get vaccinated, much of the country is returning to normal. Some people point to decreased hospitalization and mortality rates among the immunized, or argue that COVID-19 is here to stay but manageable and that restrictions are unnecessary. Some further argue that most who aren’t vaccinated have chosen that path, and so if risk remains, it’s on them.

Such thinking ignores a third, not-insignificant group: those who would like to be immune but aren’t. Some people are still at risk because they can’t yet be vaccinated or because vaccines don’t work for them. They hope that their fellow Americans will take care of them. They hope that the rest of us will agree to sensible precautions or protections to keep them safe until they, too, can be immunized, or until the danger from exposure eventually subsides.

Much of the public is refusing. That’s not new, though. In America, it’s always been like this.



Part of my job, both as a writer and as a chief health officer, is to explain how much less-risky most activities are now compared with last year. Many of the people I talk with, though, have others in their life who aren’t yet safe, and they are horrified that we can’t create exceptions or come up with policies to protect their vulnerable loved ones. I share their frustration, but I’m puzzled by their surprise. America has never cared enough. People just didn’t notice before.


This is more an accusation levied against the unvaccinated. That's the only way to effectively protect those more vulnerable, right? Herd immunity, like what we have (for now, in most places) for measles, mumps, etc. If we can't move the needle much on vaccination numbers, then is the only option for protecting the vulnerable masking forever? As we have seen, that just isn't tenable. Would those on the side of "everyone needs to sacrifice indefinitely to protect the small % of the population with immunity concerns" be assuaged with the development of better therapeutics? That way even if Larlo gets COVID from unmasked Pierpont at school, Larlo's immune compromised grandma can quickly treat the infection and reduce the likelihood of a bad outcome. Or if that isn't enough, what is it you want from society???
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