Has your risk appetite towards Covid changed?

[Lookinagain]

Wait I thought vaccines were approved for kids 5-12 in the US already? Isn't this being rolled out?

yes, they are and yes it is. I'm not sure what @wildcat03 said meant to indicate that they were not.

 

[Tigerlilyrosepetal]

My risk aversion has gone in the more restrictive way. At first, I wasn’t very concerned with Covid. I worked a lot and was around many people. I wore a mask but wasn’t afraid. Then I was vaccinated and foolishly felt protected. In October I got Covid and was very sick. I am fairly young, but had a very tough time breathing and was so fatigued. I felt like an invalid. Since then, I wear my mask even more often and try not to take chances. It was really rough for me personally and even though I gave heard people say I am probably “super immune,” since having had it and the vaccine, I don’t believe it fully. The breathing issues were terrifying and I do not want to get it ever again. I am more cautious now than ever.

 

[MamaBee]

I was super cautious in the beginning. I isolated at my other house in Maryland with my mom, son and dog..My husband continued to work outside the house. I felt very vulnerable…I took my son out of his sheltered workshop. We stayed in the house and back yard for three and a half months. I ordered all my groceries in. I really thought it would fizzle out and I would be back home in a few months. My husband would drive down every weekend to visit in the back yard. I actually wouldn’t let him in the house. He had to P in the bush in the yard. I was really strict. When I realized this thing wasn’t going to be over soon..we went back home. I nagged my husband about being careful, etc. I missed out on holding my grandson who was born during that time. I drove from Maryland to Virginia to see him through a big glass window at my son and daughter-in-law’s house. When we got vaccinated we very slowly started visiting...It was a risk we were willing to take..I didn’t hold the baby. We split the time inside and outside. Since the variants I’ve gone back to getting mostly food pickups or drop offs. I do shop once every other week wearing a mask. I don’t visit any stores except for necessities.
We are continuing to visit my son and family. They also will visit us..My mom is in a nursing home. The nursing home has had Covid on other floors. Her floor has been okay. I wear a kn95 mask..I hit the elevator button with my elbow…It’s only one floor so not much time in it. We visit in her room now. My son and I wear our masks the whole time. I worry but she’s going to be 96 next week. I don’t know how much time she has left. She would be miserable if I didn’t visit her or bring her to my house. I’m not comfortable. It’s a real risk but I try to minimize by getting food delivered most of the time and isolating. My son is still home with me. He wouldn’t be able to keep a mask on all day or wash his hands without prompting. He’s safer with me.

 

[MamaBee]

I’m still very cautious and will continue to stay that way. We have had both shots and the booster. I still double mask whenever I go to stores. Masks are still required in the state I live in. Within the past two weeks 3 family members tested positive for Covid. All 3 people were sick. The youngest who is 7 was hit the hardest. She had a 103 degree temperature, coughing, throwing up, terrible headaches and body aches for 9 days.

A local hospital had 0 available beds the past two weeks. My stepfather was at the hospital all day last Friday. They kept him in a storage room due to no available space.

Anyone thinking this is over is crazy.

I’m sorry @Calliecake. That’s frightening to have it happen to people in your family. My son, Chris, had it. It was brutal but he wouldn’t go to the hospital. He was afraid they would intubate him. His oxygen level got to 76..I called him every two hours to make sure he was able to wake up. He slept 22 hours out of the day..only waking up to take my call. He didn’t answer once so I called the police for a welfare check. He somehow made it without going to the hospital. It took him a long time to feel like himself. He was running marathons when it hit him. It took him six months to walk up the stairs to his apartment without taking a rest in between.

 

[wildcat03]

Wait I thought vaccines were approved for kids 5-12 in the US already? Isn't this being rolled out?

Aussie kids are expected to get theirs in mid January after they see some real world data of how it acts on US kids.

Yes, Pfizer has been approved for ages 5-11 since early November. There was some discussion of delaying or not approving since kids are fairly low risk for acute COVID complications (or at least this delay was the rumor I heard but I’m unsure what the actual source was). I never heard of any reticence on the part of the CDC or FDA to approve, just some concerns regarding myocarditis.

 

[LilAlex]

I'm curious to know if PSers risk appetites have changed.

A little bit. Mostly as it relates to the expected clientele at the destination. I would not go to Sturgis or a tractor pull -- but we did a couple indoor crowd things (e.g., live taping of a Netflix special) that kinda gave me the creeps even knowing that all were masked and vaccinated. That was before Omicron, though. We flew over TG to visit our kids and will again soon.

Omicron is a bit of a wild-card and that does give me pause until we know a little more.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Not really. The kids are vaxxed and masked in school. DH vaxxed and masked and back to work in person. We all still use precautions that prove effective when in public.
We did do indoor Thanksgiving with about ten other adult family members and my two teens-all double vaxxed. We haven't been together as a group for almost two years. None of the little kid families or extended were there. Usually Turkey day can be up to 40 or more! people(DH's family is big)

I hesitate to share this, but I think it's an emotional side effect that many deal with but maybe doesn't get talked about openly as much. A type of Covid survivor's guilt.
* DH's friend who didn't take Covid/masking too seriously(but did get fully vaxxed) has a childhood buddy at work(same dept. as DH's friend)who refused vaccines/no masker mindset- this buddy caught Covid and suffered a severe stroke with prolonged mini events. He's unlikely to survive. He has four kids. DH has been trying to help friend with guilt- because of the fear there is even a small possibility he infected his buddy, who wasn't vaccinated. Friend also feels guilt that he couldn't convince his lifelong buddy to vaccinate. That dept. was unique as it had 'many of the few' who chose not to vaccinate and as is expected were mass infected/ill. The likelihood that DH's friend was the source is almost nil. A few infections were serious. DH's friend is devastated.
My heart breaks for him and his poor buddy and his family. It's just awful, all around.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Haha well not sure about that but I do the best I can do to keep us safe. We are older and have health conditions making us more vulnerable than the general population. So I have no misconceptions that we would be ok should we get COVID. No, I know we would get very ill and if we survive and would have long term consequences.

I’m also very concerned about my parents. Both elderly and frail. They unfortunately are still hosting indoors with the grandchildren who as I wrote above are still in school. So yeah I’m worried about them. If they come down with COVID there won’t be any recovering from that.

I will add we are fully vaccinated all of us. But that isn’t sufficient. Must wear masks indoors properly, physically distance and minimize time around people. And wash your hands frequently and don’t touch your face.

are your litt;e neices old enough to be vaxed yet
they are looking at in Janusary here for the under 12's
school goes back after our long xmas holidays at the very end of january

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Not really. The kids are vaxxed and masked in school. DH vaxxed and masked and back to work in person. We all still use precautions that prove effective when in public.
We did do indoor Thanksgiving with about ten other adult family members and my two teens-all double vaxxed. We haven't been together as a group for almost two years. None of the little kid families or extended were there. Usually Turkey day can be up to 40 or more! people(DH's family is big)

I hesitate to share this, but I think it's an emotional side effect that many deal with but maybe doesn't get talked about openly as much. A type of Covid survivor's guilt.
* DH's friend who didn't take Covid/masking too seriously(but did get fully vaxxed) has a childhood buddy at work(same dept. as DH's friend)who refused vaccines/no masker mindset- this buddy caught Covid and suffered a severe stroke with prolonged mini events. He's unlikely to survive. He has four kids. DH has been trying to help friend with guilt- because of the fear there is even a small possibility he infected his buddy, who wasn't vaccinated. Friend also feels guilt that he couldn't convince his lifelong buddy to vaccinate. That dept. was unique as it had 'many of the few' who chose not to vaccinate and as is expected were mass infected/ill. The likelihood that DH's friend was the source is almost nil. A few infections were serious. DH's friend is devastated.
My heart breaks for him and his poor buddy and his family. It's just awful, all around.

why do people not get vaxed ?
how many more families will have to suffer unreparable heart ache ???

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

im very nervouse
we just went to this traffic light system
red beng where if there was an outbreak one's region's health system wouldn't cope
we are red here
not because we have covid
beacuse it isn't here yet
but because we have the lowest slowest vax rate in the country right here in our city
i dont know why ?
but Maori poeple are the less trusting or most undesided of the vacine
they (the health ministry) break the stats down by ethnicality here

people read too much social media i bet !

Asians and Causians top the list for being vaxinated

pacific islands are pretty good too - a lot of their churches have done a lot to promote the vaccine

the govt need to do much more to get those lagging behind vaxed

im scared to go anywhere
we have vacine passports now but for my work (retail bakery compaired to a cafe) we do not require it for entry for our customers as we all wear masks and require masks and no one is eatting instore
but the takeaway fish and chip shop next door does ??????????

our owner and his very large family are all double vaxed but he's of the opinion it should be a personal responsibilty thing and yes people should be vaxed but it should be their own choice
he did race around printing off a new stack of the wear a mask poster for the shops windows

we have three little shops and the bakehouse and our branch are all double vaxed but the other shop has 3 unvaxed
their manager is our manager's sister
there have been tears over christmas dinner already as the lnlaws refuse to mingle with the unvaxed dIL'S sister's family
these sisters are very close
im hoping the unvaxed shop come to their scences both for us and for their own families
but so far they are saying if it comes down to it they will quite

the govt are letting people claim unemplyment with no stand down if they quite work becaues they wont get vaxed which i think is utter BS

if they ask me i wont work at that branch, its too big a risk

 

[Missy]

are your litt;e neices old enough to be vaxed yet
they are looking at in Janusary here for the under 12's
school goes back after our long xmas holidays at the very end of january

Yes, they got double vaccinated. First vaccine in May.

 

[Missy]

im very nervouse
we just went to this traffic light system
red beng where if there was an outbreak one's region's health system wouldn't cope
we are red here
not because we have covid
beacuse it isn't here yet
but because we have the lowest slowest vax rate in the country right here in our city
i dont know why ?
but Maori poeple are the less trusting or most undesided of the vacine
they (the health ministry) break the stats down by ethnicality here

people read too much social media i bet !

Asians and Causians top the list for being vaxinated

pacific islands are pretty good too - a lot of their churches have done a lot to promote the vaccine

the govt need to do much more to get those lagging behind vaxed

im scared to go anywhere
we have vacine passports now but for my work (retail bakery compaired to a cafe) we do not require it for entry for our customers as we all wear masks and require masks and no one is eatting instore
but the takeaway fish and chip shop next door does ??????????

our owner and his very large family are all double vaxed but he's of the opinion it should be a personal responsibilty thing and yes people should be vaxed but it should be their own choice
he did race around printing off a new stack of the wear a mask poster for the shops windows

we have three little shops and the bakehouse and our branch are all double vaxed but the other shop has 3 unvaxed
their manager is our manager's sister
there have been tears over christmas dinner already as the lnlaws refuse to mingle with the unvaxed dIL'S sister's family
these sisters are very close
im hoping the unvaxed shop come to their scences both for us and for their own families
but so far they are saying if it comes down to it they will quite

the govt are letting people claim unemplyment with no stand down if they quite work becaues they wont get vaxed which i think is utter BS

if they ask me i wont work at that branch, its too big a risk

Hugs to you Nicky. I am hoping the vaccines get to everyone and everyone who wants to get vaccinated can. It is a travesty how there are still countries where people don't have enough vaccines.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

why do people not get vaxed ?
how many more families will have to suffer unreparable heart ache ???

Barring valid medical exemption, I just don't know Daisy. I just don't know.

 

[Missy]

why do people not get vaxed ?
how many more families will have to suffer unreparable heart ache ???

Barring valid medical exemption, I just don't know Daisy. I just don't know.

Lots of reasons. Most of them not based in scientific reasoning. Denial, fear, mistrust, just three of the reasons.

By The Numbers: Who’s Refusing Covid Vaccinations—And Why

Hospitals are filling up with Covid patients with one thing in common: they’re not vaccinated. Here’s who they are.

www.forbes.com

The largest municipal force in the U.S. has thousands on unpaid leave over vaccines

About 9,000 New York city employees are on unpaid leave for failing to heed Mayor Bill de Blasio's Oct. 20 vaccine mandate.

www.npr.org

Why Only 28 Percent of Young Black New Yorkers Are Vaccinated (Published 2021)

As the Delta variant courses through New York City, many young Black New Yorkers remain distrustful of the vaccine.

www.nytimes.com

Why do some people delay getting vaccinated or pretend COVID doesn’t exist? Paradoxically, denial of death

Humans are unable to face the stark reality of death, and often engage in various forms of denial.

theconversation.com

 

[nala]

Yes. First as of Memorial Day weekend 2020–after first lift of lockdown. Tested the waters, always in a mask. Observed that essentials were not dropping dead from touching things, working with people etc.—I lived with one and over half my family was considered essential and it was essential that they work to survive. I didn’t once think oh, let others risk their lives to bring me groceries or deliver my products as I have the luxury of sitting in my home. I Didn’t hose down food. Never once had access to one can of Lysol in the early days of pandemic and turns out, I didn’t need it. Observed thousands outdoors at the beaches and protests who did not drop dead, so that summer was essentially spent outdoors. Tested the theory of air ventilation and frequented casinos since then May 31, 2020. Took a break in Dec 2020 but back at living life in Jan 2021. Vaccine gave me utter freedom. Traveled, ate indoors. Parties, big reunions all maskless. Went back to work in August as a teacher. 160 kids spend the day with me. All good. Got my booster. I am grateful that I adapted. Adapted of necessity. Adaptability is the new wealth in this new world.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Yes. First as of Memorial Day weekend 2020–after first lift of lockdown. Tested the waters, always in a mask. Observed that essentials were not dropping dead from touching things, working with people etc.—I lived with one and over half my family was considered essential and it was essential that they work to survive. I didn’t once think oh, let others risk their lives to bring me groceries or deliver my products as I have the luxury of sitting in my home. I Didn’t hose down food. Never once had access to one can of Lysol in the early days of pandemic and turns out, I didn’t need it. Observed thousands outdoors at the beaches and protests who did not drop dead, so that summer was essentially spent outdoors. Tested the theory of air ventilation and frequented casinos since then May 31, 2020. Took a break in Dec 2020 but back at living life in Jan 2021. Vaccine gave me utter freedom. Traveled, ate indoors. Parties, big reunions all maskless. Went back to work in August as a teacher. 160 kids spend the day with me. All good. Got my booster. I am grateful that I adapted. Adapted of necessity. Adaptability is the new wealth in this new world.

i did wash the groceries at the beginning
im kinda very glad we stopped doing that because it was a real time consuming pain

i do hope that people that wern't so great at washing their hands before. are now washing them better still

 

[Demon]

My attitude hasn't changed much. I've worn masks indoors for shopping, etc, since masks were actually available. I've had 2 vaccines and a booster. The only thing that's changed is now I feel a little less inclined to want to shove someone away from me if they're closer than I like or unmasked.

 

[Calliecake]

I’m sorry @Calliecake. That’s frightening to have it happen to people in your family. My son, Chris, had it. It was brutal but he wouldn’t go to the hospital. He was afraid they would intubate him. His oxygen level got to 76..I called him every two hours to make sure he was able to wake up. He slept 22 hours out of the day..only waking up to take my call. He didn’t answer once so I called the police for a welfare check. He somehow made it without going to the hospital. It took him a long time to feel like himself. He was running marathons when it hit him. It took him six months to walk up the stairs to his apartment without taking a rest in between.

Thank you @MamaBee. I remember when C had the virus. It was so scary because we really didn’t know much about the virus at the time. We were all worried about your son and the stress it was putting on you too. At the time you were doing everything possible to keep your mom and family safe. My niece and grandniece aren’t vaccinated (It upsets me). Covid hit my grandniece the worst. My SIL is vaccinated and it didn’t hit her bad but she slept a lot. My niece felt awful for about a 9 days and still has lost her sense of taste and smell. They are all doing well now.


@daisy and Diamonds, The people here that refuse to get vaccinated will not listen to reason or science. It’s really sad to see.

 

[jordyonbass]

I went to a party with friends last night, nobody seemed to risk adverse but one thing I did notice is that ALL of us have developed social issues with so much time spent in lockdown here in Melbourne. We were learning how to be around each other again to a large degree.

 

[MamaBee]

Thank you @MamaBee. I remember when C had the virus. It was so scary because we really didn’t know much about the virus at the time. We were all worried about your son and the stress it was putting on you too. At the time you were doing everything possible to keep your mom and family safe. My niece and grandniece aren’t vaccinated (It upsets me). Covid hit my grandniece the worst. My SIL is vaccinated and it didn’t hit her bad but she slept a lot. My niece felt awful for about a 9 days and still has lost her sense of taste and smell. They are all doing well now.


@daisy and Diamonds, The people here that refuse to get vaccinated will not listen to reason or science. It’s really sad to see.

@Calliecake Thank you..I’m happy your family is doing well now.

 

[wildcat03]

Yes. First as of Memorial Day weekend 2020–after first lift of lockdown. Tested the waters, always in a mask. Observed that essentials were not dropping dead from touching things, working with people etc.—I lived with one and over half my family was considered essential and it was essential that they work to survive. I didn’t once think oh, let others risk their lives to bring me groceries or deliver my products as I have the luxury of sitting in my home. I Didn’t hose down food. Never once had access to one can of Lysol in the early days of pandemic and turns out, I didn’t need it. Observed thousands outdoors at the beaches and protests who did not drop dead, so that summer was essentially spent outdoors. Tested the theory of air ventilation and frequented casinos since then May 31, 2020. Took a break in Dec 2020 but back at living life in Jan 2021. Vaccine gave me utter freedom. Traveled, ate indoors. Parties, big reunions all maskless. Went back to work in August as a teacher. 160 kids spend the day with me. All good. Got my booster. I am grateful that I adapted. Adapted of necessity. Adaptability is the new wealth in this new world.

A gentle correction. Many essentials did die. My friend and ICU chief was among them. I still miss him.

 

[MamaBee]

A gentle correction. Many essentials did die. My friend and ICU chief was among them. I still miss him.

I’m so sorry @wildcat03..

 

[nala]

A gentle correction. Many essentials did die. My friend and ICU chief was among them. I still miss him.

I’m sorry for your loss. There were different levels of exposure for the different types of essentials. And I was referring to the ones in the supermarket bc I did my own shopping. I would not be comfortable waiting for someone to deliver groceries to me if I thought their lives were in jeopardy. And to those who kept America running by working in manufacturing, construction, etc. they were touching things and working alongside people daily — I know many and observed they were fine. My heart goes out to those who were exposed to the infected bc many sacrificed their lives. I never intended to imply that I observed Them as no one was allowed in hospitals and I don’t know any personally.

 

[Missy]

I am grateful that I adapted. Adapted of necessity. Adaptability is the new wealth in this new world.

This is not new. Adaptation has always been critical for survival. Throughout time.
One must adapt or one will perish. (Emotionally if not literally but often literally)

 

[Missy]

A gentle correction. Many essentials did die. My friend and ICU chief was among them. I still miss him.

I am so sorry @wildcat03

 

[nala]

This is not new. Adaptation has always been critical for survival. Throughout time.
One must adapt or one will perish. (Emotionally if not literally but often literally)

I didn’t say the concept was the new. I said it was the new wealth. If you (general
You) prefer to stay inside to avoid any possible covid exposure, or to continue to live as we did during the first lockdown, it doesn’t matter how much wealth you have bc you can’t recoup time. Some adapted more quickly of necessity bc they didn’t have the luxury to stay at home as was the experience that I was sharing —MINE—as per the question of this thread. That is all. MY risk appetite.

 

[Missy]

I didn’t say the concept was the new. I said it was the new wealth. If you (general
You) prefer to stay inside to avoid any possible covid exposure, or to continue to live as we did during the first lockdown, it doesn’t matter how much wealth you have bc you can’t recoup time. Some adapted more quickly of necessity bc they didn’t have the luxury to stay at home as was the experience that I was sharing —MINE—as per the question of this thread. That is all. MY risk appetite.

There is an in between too. We all have different risk preferences. And I stand by my initial comment. It’s not the new wealth. Adaptation was always critical.

 

[nala]

There is an in between too. We all have different risk preferences. And I stand by my initial comment. It’s not the new wealth. Adaptation was always critical.

Yes. We do all have different risk preferences. That is exactly why op posted this thread. Just sharing mine. My emphasis on calling it “new wealth” stems from the fact that I have never seen sooo many people refuse to accept the different facets of adaptation that our new world requires. Some still refuse to get vaccines. Some refuse to mask. Some refuse to be maskless even outdoors. Some refuse to do their own grocery shopping. Some will never spend time with their loved ones and sadly, time will take away that opportunity. Never in my life did I think we would be in this scenario where adaptation is required of us on the daily, almost. And that’s what I should have emphasized—adaptation means becoming flexible— what you espoused as certainty yesterday can today be uncertain and require a different approach.

 

[Missy]

@nala

I also think one’s experiences influence one’s view on issues. I personally know healthy individuals who died from Covid. Who had no pre-existing conditions. Not to mention others who did have pre existing conditions.

Some in the medical field; heroes who did their job despite great personal risk to them especially at the beginning of the pandemic when we knew so little. Many others (not in healthcare) who were also heroes by simply doing their jobs. We are forever in their debt imo.

Being in the healthcare field also gives me a different perspective because I know how much can go wrong. Thankfully now we are much better off than before but there is still considerable risk. So I remain cautious and aware. As we all should. I don’t judge anyone for taking more risk than I do as long as they’re vaccinated and not causing harm to others.

What’s the huge deal wearing masks indoors. And of course we don’t need to wear them outdoors. Some people are behaving unreasonably. And it is hurting others.

Unfortunately no I don’t think this behavior is something new. Just a variation on how some people have always behaved.

I do think adaptation and flexibility are one and the same. And agree. Both are critical.

And I’m glad people here share freely. I think we are all better for it. Being able to share and debate and learn.

 

[margauxmines]

Funnily enough my 60+ dad is more daring than me and my 40+ mum. Mum and I are still very cautious; I don't go out to see friends much less eat in restaurants. My dad has gone to a few dinners with his other family. Recently an overnight stay for an office Christmas party. He is fully vaccinated and just received his booster last week. He says we need to learn how to live with COVID in the world... I'm not convinced, but he's too stubborn to be kept at home if he absolutely does not want to be.

Should caveat that this has only been happening in the last 2 or so months. Before this he has always been very very risk averse. He is still cautious when he's out, I trust him on that, but I certainly would not be comfortable taking my mask off even in a group that was fully vaxxed, while he has no problem as long as he's certain everyone has had their shots. Go figure!