Coronavirus prep

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  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    My question is...does anyone foresee international travel being any less of a risk in the coming years? Of course, we don't know for sure, but based on how the virus has behaved, this is not going away anytime soon. I personally think it will always be around in some form.

    Are we always going to say, "Well, what if...?" At what point will it be an acceptable risk...like the risk that the weather will be bad, or your flight will be cancelled, or your car breaks down, or you get hurt, or you get sick with any illness?

    Traveling is full of risks; it always has been. Travel insurance is a must on an expensive trip. I just, personally, am sick of staying close to home. I can only do so many Wisconsin road trips. I've eaten too much cheese and bratwurst.

    I live in Rome, Italy and we are chock full of American tourists, and just tourists in general. The idea here is that people who are fragile should continue to get vaxxed and mask up and the rest are free to do what they want. In a country that relies on tourism for a good part of the economy it really can't go any other way.

    I think we will continue on this route unless a virulent new strain shows up. Also think that the virus will spike every winter and calm down during the warmer months.People are just tired of the whole thing. Most people don't even get tested for COVID anymore. If you're sick you just stay home. You still need a test for most flights and I'd mask up on a crowded flight. I'd still wash hands frequently and avoid heavily crowed indoor areas while traveling. As for quarantining, definitely get travel insurance.

    I have friends coming to stay with us and flying in from Milwaukee. He's a doctor and has had a heart replacement. I was a little surprised that they decided to travel in full COVID. Spring would be safer. However, I'll get their take on the whole thing when they get here and then report back. They arrive Nov 9th.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,261 Member
    Our of curiosity, what are the current isolation requirements in everyone's part of the world at the moment? Here in Victoria, Australia (and I think the rest of the country but I won't swear up to it), they've done away with mandatory isolation and the only restrictions on what you can do if positive is not visit aged and disability care facilities and hospitals, unless seeking immediate medical care. Lot's of workplaces are still requiring you not come in if covid positive, or showing symptoms, however.


    Not sure if it is national or not - but here in South Australia mandatory isolation has ceased and mask wearing only applies in tier 1 health settings - ie nursing homes and hospitals.

    tier 2 health settings (GP surgeries, optomitrists, pharmacies etc) no longer need masks

    However tier 2 health settings have been given option to continue enforcing this if they wish - so if a GP surgery, wants to have everyone masked they can still require this

    Likewise individual organisations like nursing homes can make flu and covid vaccines mandatory for visitors, although this is no longer a national requirement

    (mandatory requirement for staff has not changed)
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    edited October 2022
    The only thing that kept me from travelling was the restrictions and testing requirements, I'm not super worried about getting Covid (I've had Covid at least once, plus 4 shots.) As long as things are open and I don't have to worry about getting stuck somewhere I would go - we took our first vacation in two years in May and will be going away again either over Christmas or in January. Canada is completely open with no travel/vaccine/testing restrictions, and I'm not aware of any restrictions anywhere I would care to travel to either.

    My only concern at this point is all the doom and gloom reporting about new variants hitting us over the winter. If things get really bad I imagine some restrictions could be re-introduced - but I think it would have to be really bad for that to happen. (When Covid first hit I had to cancel two planned vacations, I ended up getting 90%+ of my money back on those.)
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    Over six and a half million people have died from Covid. People are still dying. We aren’t world travelers anyway, but I do think that common sense should be used. Mask up in enclosed areas, hand washing etc, wherever you travel. Regular flu seems to be on the rise this season. We’re scheduled for our 3rd Covid booster and our annual flu shot on Monday. We mask up still when we go anywhere. Neither of us has had so much as a sniffle all during Covid. I think masking helps.

    When I got a Covid booster recently they told me to wait two weeks before getting a flu (or any other) vaccine.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Over six and a half million people have died from Covid. People are still dying. We aren’t world travelers anyway, but I do think that common sense should be used. Mask up in enclosed areas, hand washing etc, wherever you travel. Regular flu seems to be on the rise this season. We’re scheduled for our 3rd Covid booster and our annual flu shot on Monday. We mask up still when we go anywhere. Neither of us has had so much as a sniffle all during Covid. I think masking helps.

    When I got a Covid booster recently they told me to wait two weeks before getting a flu (or any other) vaccine.

    Interesting…here they are pushing both at the same time. I got mine a week apart, but my husband and my parents got both together.

  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Over six and a half million people have died from Covid. People are still dying. We aren’t world travelers anyway, but I do think that common sense should be used. Mask up in enclosed areas, hand washing etc, wherever you travel. Regular flu seems to be on the rise this season. We’re scheduled for our 3rd Covid booster and our annual flu shot on Monday. We mask up still when we go anywhere. Neither of us has had so much as a sniffle all during Covid. I think masking helps.

    When I got a Covid booster recently they told me to wait two weeks before getting a flu (or any other) vaccine.

    When we got our first two boosters, they said to wait 3 weeks to get any other vaccine. This one is for the new strain. They’re scheduling them with the flu vaccine, and it’s being encouraged by doctors. One in each arm. https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-booster-flu-shot-same-time.amp.html
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Over six and a half million people have died from Covid. People are still dying. We aren’t world travelers anyway, but I do think that common sense should be used. Mask up in enclosed areas, hand washing etc, wherever you travel. Regular flu seems to be on the rise this season. We’re scheduled for our 3rd Covid booster and our annual flu shot on Monday. We mask up still when we go anywhere. Neither of us has had so much as a sniffle all during Covid. I think masking helps.

    When I got a Covid booster recently they told me to wait two weeks before getting a flu (or any other) vaccine.

    When we got our first two boosters, they said to wait 3 weeks to get any other vaccine. This one is for the new strain. They’re scheduling them with the flu vaccine, and it’s being encouraged by doctors. One in each arm. https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-booster-flu-shot-same-time.amp.html

    Same arm is better. Why have two sore arms instead of one?

    As we will probably be getting Covid shots on a yearly basis, it’s going to make sense to combine them with the flu shot.

  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    That’s what they’re recommending. I’ll ask the pharmacist on Monday. Neither of us have had much reaction with previous vaccines. A little tenderness maybe. We’ll see 🤷🏼‍♀️
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    That’s what they’re recommending. I’ll ask the pharmacist on Monday. Neither of us have had much reaction with previous vaccines. A little tenderness maybe. We’ll see 🤷🏼‍♀️

    Hmmm, yeah, my husband got both at Costco, and my parents got theirs at Walgreens. Both places said do the same arm to keep soreness localized. I don’t think it matters.
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    edited October 2022
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Over six and a half million people have died from Covid. People are still dying. We aren’t world travelers anyway, but I do think that common sense should be used. Mask up in enclosed areas, hand washing etc, wherever you travel. Regular flu seems to be on the rise this season. We’re scheduled for our 3rd Covid booster and our annual flu shot on Monday. We mask up still when we go anywhere. Neither of us has had so much as a sniffle all during Covid. I think masking helps.

    When I got a Covid booster recently they told me to wait two weeks before getting a flu (or any other) vaccine.

    When we got our first two boosters, they said to wait 3 weeks to get any other vaccine. This one is for the new strain. They’re scheduling them with the flu vaccine, and it’s being encouraged by doctors. One in each arm. https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-booster-flu-shot-same-time.amp.html

    Mine was the new bivalent one, and idk she told me to wait two weeks. It was at the beginning of October so early for a flu shot anyway, so it didn't matter to me.

    I probably wouldn't have taken both together anyway because I was a bit nervous about the side effects since it was the Moderna vaccine and my original series was Pfizer, plus I was sick when I got it.

    I have since heard ads on the radio here telling people they can get both at once - maybe this particular provider has their own opinion on the timing recommendations.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Speaking of sore arms post shots, I recently completed a 6 month course of Lupron, where I had one shot per month, preferably in different parts of the body. I had the first in my arm, the second in my thigh, and the rest in my glutes, because THERE WAS NO SORENESS WHATSOEVER IN MY GLUTE.

    When I got my latest COVID booster last month I requested it in the glute and she said she could not do that. This was not due to privacy concerns, as we were in a little room. Also, apparently when it comes to giving injections, the glutes are much higher than I thought. Probably I was thinking of Gluteus Maximus and they are injecting in the higher Gluteus Medius.

    So now I am going to try to get my flu shot at my doctor's office so I can get this in my glute.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,261 Member
    Flu and Covid vaccines have been given at same time in Australia for all of 2022.

    Originally, ie in 2021, they were to be 2 weeks apart then 1 week apart - this year can be same time

    This didnt have anything to do with which strain or brand of Covid (or flu) - but more to do with caution because it was a new vaccine.
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,096 Member
    My understanding is that vaccines are not usually given in the glutes because they are not as effective. I have to say based on one experience of being stung by a scorpion in the arm versus being stung by a scorpion in the but that it does seem to be more sensible. Just some light humor. But true
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    I'm in the U.S. and I got the bivalent COVID booster and the flu shot on the same day last month.

  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    edited October 2022
    quotes wrong post
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Speaking of sore arms post shots, I recently completed a 6 month course of Lupron, where I had one shot per month, preferably in different parts of the body. I had the first in my arm, the second in my thigh, and the rest in my glutes, because THERE WAS NO SORENESS WHATSOEVER IN MY GLUTE.

    When I got my latest COVID booster last month I requested it in the glute and she said she could not do that. This was not due to privacy concerns, as we were in a little room. Also, apparently when it comes to giving injections, the glutes are much higher than I thought. Probably I was thinking of Gluteus Maximus and they are injecting in the higher Gluteus Medius.

    So now I am going to try to get my flu shot at my doctor's office so I can get this in my glute.

    You definitely can't get a rabies vaccine in the glutes, the antibody response is lessened. I don't know about other vaccines but I imagine it would be similar.

    Does Lupron trigger an antibody response, or is it something different? If not maybe that is why the glute is an acceptable spot for it.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    33gail33 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Speaking of sore arms post shots, I recently completed a 6 month course of Lupron, where I had one shot per month, preferably in different parts of the body. I had the first in my arm, the second in my thigh, and the rest in my glutes, because THERE WAS NO SORENESS WHATSOEVER IN MY GLUTE.

    When I got my latest COVID booster last month I requested it in the glute and she said she could not do that. This was not due to privacy concerns, as we were in a little room. Also, apparently when it comes to giving injections, the glutes are much higher than I thought. Probably I was thinking of Gluteus Maximus and they are injecting in the higher Gluteus Medius.

    So now I am going to try to get my flu shot at my doctor's office so I can get this in my glute.

    You definitely can't get a rabies vaccine in the glutes, the antibody response is lessened. I don't know about other vaccines but I imagine it would be similar.

    Does Lupron trigger an antibody response, or is it something different? If not maybe that is why the glute is an acceptable spot for it.

    Typically they don't want to give vaccines in the glutes because there is a major nerve trunk running through and it's pretty easy to hit something like the sciatic nerve and mess you up pretty good.
  • siberiantarragon
    siberiantarragon Posts: 265 Member
    edited December 2022
    33gail33 wrote: »
    FYI - Dr. Fauci (the US guy) advocated taking vitamin D back in 2020 ...

    “If you are deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. So I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself taking vitamin D supplements,” Fauci,79,

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/14/supplements-white-house-advisor-fauci-takes-every-day-to-help-keep-his-immune-system-healthy.html

    I certainly heard about the benefits, it was widely reported. I've been taking it from the beginning.

    I also started taking vitamin D regularly in the early pandemic. I've noticed a huge improvement in my immune system since then. I get sick less often and recover more quickly. I also haven't gotten COVID as far as I can tell (I have gotten a couple of cold/flu type illnesses since 2020 but never tested positive for COVID) and I live in one of the states with the worst case and death rate.
    But, I think I'm going to wait a bit on the new boosters, even though everyone over 12 is eligible to get one. I don't doubt their safety...I'm sure they are perfectly safe. I just want to see what their efficacy numbers look like in human trials. So far, we just have animal trials. It's possible this one will also only provide temporary protection.

    My immune response from the last booster wasn't fun...high fever, chills, exhaustion. So, I'm just going to hang back a bit on this one. We usually get flu shots at work sometime in the fall. If they offer the new Covid booster at the same time, I'll probably get it. I'm just not going to run out and make it a priority right now.

    I got the original vaccine, but only after it was fully FDA approved. I'm not going to take the new boosters because I'm not going to take something that's only been tested on animals. Especially because I had a bad reaction to the second shot which was supposedly tested fully. I was also disappointed to see how the vaccines turned out to be much less effective than they originally advertised (they originally advertised 95%+ efficacy).
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    edited January 2023
    I've now become a germaphobe after my tripledemic extravaganza, so this week I created a germaphobia kit for on the go. Obviously I carried some of this stuff in my purse already, but I reorganized it in one convenient bag that I can carry in my hand or in my purse as needed and easily access everything, and that's small enough to fit even in my smallest purse.

    The bag is a sunglasses case from Dollar Tree. Along with my hand sanitizer I clipped a "key" that I got from Dollar Tree this week, which can be used to open doors or press buttons. My building has an elevator so it comes in handy for that. Then I have two mini Ziploc bags from Dollar Tree, one with two masks (just surgical masks because unfortunately KN95s are not available anywhere), and one with a pair of vinyl gloves. The gloves are mostly to use on public transportation if I have to touch a pole or something.

    Then I have two benzalkonium chloride disinfecting wipes (come in pack of 15 at Dollar Tree) which I got for wiping down surfaces such as shopping cart handles. They can also be used for disinfecting hands. I have two alcohol lens wipes which I use for cleaning my phone. I carry additional ones in another pouch but it's good to have them handy here. Then I have an anti-fog cloth for my glasses, which was from Walgreens and can be reused up to 10 times. Then I have two makeup wipes which aren't disease related but this was just a convenient place to put them.

    I also got a bunch of those travel packs of Clorox disinfecting wipes which I might take to certain places and also will use for longer trips and to disinfect surfaces if my partner or I get sick again. Additionally I added some Zicam Rapidmelts to my pill case, which you're supposed to take at the first sign of illness to shorten respiratory illnesses, and I also added a Lolleez cough drop lollipop to my medical pouch for any bad coughing fits.

    jspusq3sk50v.jpg

    Wow!

    My husband and I just got the booster. Our doctor (BIL) said to get it now. So far COVID is stable here, in Italy, and people that need to, mask on public transport and doctors offices, hospitals, etc. We also got our flu shot in November, and neither of us have even had a cold since then. I only mask up on public transport. Wash hands as soon as I get home--a little more aware.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    @siberiantarragon yikes! My partner has what he thinks is a cold but as soon as I press Post I am going to find the thermometer and check his temp.
  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    I would make sure - my wife had 'just a cold' until we tested (yes, she was positive) and it went thru the entire family. We are boosted as much as possible and we had fairly minor cases - mild fever, congestion, sinus issues - so thankful for that.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    The only places requiring masks here now are hospital settings and doctors' offices. (Probably long term care homes too but I never go in one so can't say for sure)

    I was holding out for the bivalent vaccine to get my second booster/4th shot and a couple days after it became available here I got Covid. The guideline here is waiting either three or six months (depending which gov't site you're on) after infection to get another vaccination.

    Other than four days of feeling like someone had installed razor blades in my throat, I didn't have a bad time of it. I still had lots of energy and was actually very physically active. Our province lifted isolation requirements the day after I tested positive so I was out on the trails doing 5 mile walks every day. I masked at work voluntarily for 10 days after I went back, not entirely convinced that 5 days made me "safe". We've got some people at work with pretty serious health issues.
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,371 Member
    edited January 2023
    I had a mild case late November/ early December, likely caught it while returning home from overseas. It started with whopper of a headache, which I had initially attributed to jetlag/lack of sleep, then 24 hours later my nose starting dripping. I returned a positive PCR. I had no other symptoms other than those mentioned.

    In Tasmania, cases are up again and I've seen more people wearing masks again in non-mandatory environments. At the end of this month, the state govt run PCR testing sites will be shut, and people will require a medical referral for free PCRs.

    Hard to believe it's been three years. I remember my brother was meant to return to China for work, but he had been hearing from colleagues there to wait awhile. Thankfully he did.