To vax, or not to vax?

Weighing up chances…

Charles: You had your vax?

Rodney: Got my third one a week ago.

Charles: Good. We’re off to the races then. Literally. Saturday, right?

Rodney: They’ll let us in. But Rachel’s not coming. She’s an antivaxxer.

Charles: Why?

Rodney: She says it’s a gamble. Get vaxxed, suffer a heart attack. No vax, catch a cold.

Charles: Hmm. Or worse. Yes. Unvaxxed, suffer a cold or pneumonia, maybe die. A gamble either way.

Rodney. Admittedly, there are some murmurs, But in the end it’s horses for courses. Literally.

________

Voice-over

Odds on favorite: Get vaxxed and you miss the virus or at least don’t get seriously ill.

Outside chance: Don’t get vaxxed to avoid a vanishingly small chance of a side effect.

Depends on which horse you back: go with statistics or place more credence on stories.

Jab 2

Speeding up...

16:00

This won't hurt a bit.

Doctor: Second shot?

Yes.

Doctor: No problems last time?

No.

Doctor: Feel OK?

Yes.

Dr. Wait in the waiting room.

16:05

Nurse: Same arm as last time?

Yes.

Nurse: Done. Shower tonight is OK. Wait 15 minutes.

OK.

16:20

Receptionist: Do you need medicine? Just in case.

No. Have Tylenol.

Receptionist: That’s fine. Here’s evidence of your vaccination. Temporary. Later it can be exchanged for a vaccination passport.

____________

Voice-over

And that was it. Faster than the first time. We're all getting practice. I made a will and went to sleep. Next day a little slow but the will wasn’t needed. Not yet. 

First Vaccination

Waiting to lean into the needle

After the jab…

Reiki: How did it go?

Yūki: A breeze. I fill in a form. Name, address, age, temperature. A dozen health and vaccination history questions. Yes, I’m well today. Haven’t been sick recently. Have you read and understood all about the need for a vaccination? Yes, I agree to be vaccinated. No allergies to vaxes and never had any.

Reiki: Take long?

Yūki: Well, first, the doctor calls me in. Checks the paperwork, that I answered all questions correctly. Sends me out. Wait five minutes. Then another door opens and in we go. The nurse this time. She’s got the shot ready on a metal trolley. “Relax,” she says. “Lean into the needle.” Slight prick. She gives me a sheet explaining it’s OK to take shower today, that there may be some pain in the arm tomorrow.

Reiki: You leaned into the needle? Basically you injected yourself?

Yūki: It’s not a difficult injection. No vein to find. Goes into the muscle.

—————

Voice-over

After waiting 15 minutes and it’s all over. Free to go. Next morning a sore arm. Right, not left. Opposite arm to the injection. Referred pain?

Vaccination Adventure

Good news…

A jab for dessert?

Sybil: News flash! Grandma just had her first jab.

Phoebe: Well, they seem to be accelerating the rollout then. I thought she wouldn’t get it for a month.

Sybil: She was told last night that vaccinations would be given to all residents in the morning and then she didn't sleep well.

Phoebe: Worrying about it?

Sybil: Right, she never liked injections.

Phoebe: They did everyone in the Duchess wing?

Sybil: Wheeled them all down to the lounge before midday, gave them an early lunch and then jabs for dessert.

Phoebe: How’s she taking it?

Sybil: Seems quite jubilant she got through this adventure, without any side effects. Almost like she feels she’sleading the way out of the Covid Forest.

_________

Voice-over

When a cluster breaks out in an elderly care facility it can turn into a forest fire. Fatalities resulting from clusters in Japan are (1) Care institutions, (2) workplaces (3) eating and drinking establishments.