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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 6, 2021 2:02:54 GMT
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 6, 2021 12:55:05 GMT
We had a little vaccination circus in my family over the past day or so. My dad is eligible under our state guidelines to get a vaccine if/when his health provider can get him one.
They had a kind of lottery among eligible people for appointments to get the first shot at the Minneapolis convention center, and he won a slot for tonight. However, he was also very leery about going to a large building with a lot of people to get the shot. Plus it's about 100 miles from their home, and considering the evening time slot, would have meant a two-day trip (as they don't like driving at night anymore).
In the end, they decided to wait until vaccination is available closer to home. Their nearby clinics are currently giving them to people 80 and up; he'll be in the next batch, being in his late 70s.
I can see both sides of it.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 9, 2021 13:03:24 GMT
Today Gov. Walz is reportedly going to expand coronavirus vaccine eligibility to a broader group, as 70% of Minnesota seniors (the largest segment of the first group of people eligible) have been vaccinated.
I'm assuming it still won't get down to me--40something, healthy, not a front-line worker--but I'm delighted nonetheless. It really seems like we'll be largely vaccinated here by early summer, not late summer or early fall as had initially been predicted. (Or maybe I'm getting caught up in optimism.)
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 12, 2021 16:36:21 GMT
Not only did the above expansion of vaccination eligibility happen, but today the governor announced further loosening of restrictions in Minnesota. While it's still far from normal, it really does feel great (and almost surreal, I've gotten so used to the restrictions). Among the changes here:
- In-person work for nonessential personnel/industries is permitted again - Worship service size restrictions are lifted - Up to 10k fans may attend Twins games (and I assume similar loosening of outdoor MN Loons soccer) - Expansion of upper limits on social gatherings (15 indoors; 50 outdoors; can be multiple-family) - Bars and restaurants can expand to 75% indoor capacity, including seating at bars (had been restricted to tables before) - Further indoor and outdoor capacity changes for arts events
Masks and distancing requirements remain in effect. The gist of it is that, barring setbacks, apparently things like graduations, proms, etc., as well as summer festivals and concerts, are likely to occur in some in-person capacity!
All of this seems like good, common sense rollbacks to me. I actually don't begrudge the governor the restrictions and his performance through this, considering opinions range really widely on the subject and making everyone happy is impossible. It HAS been a legit health crisis, but things are improving. Some people are more cautious than others, and that's fine. But as long as things are getting better, we ought to reopen proportionately to those improvements.
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Post by B.E. on Mar 13, 2021 23:13:43 GMT
I congregated with hundreds of people today. Yup, I got my first COVID-19 vaccination! Feels good.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 9, 2021 23:53:24 GMT
In Minnesota, there is a spike in confirmed cases (as well as hospitalizations) from COVID that are double and triple the daily rates from February and March. Yet of course vaccinations are continuing, weather is improving, restrictions are being lifted, and spirits are generally high.
It's odd. I don't know quite what to make of it all.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 15, 2021 19:22:34 GMT
I congregated with hundreds of people today. Yup, I got my first COVID-19 vaccination! Feels good. Took me a while, but I am officially signed up to get my first shot on Monday morning. And who came through with the available spot for me, after I signed up with the state and various pharmacies to get any available spots?
Legendary music club First Ave, which emailed its contact list about holding a shot clinic there! (Glad I didn't opt out of that email list...)
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Post by kds on Apr 15, 2021 19:58:12 GMT
I got my first Pfizer shot last Tuesday. My arm hurt like a son of a bitch for about a day, but no worse than when I was coaxed into getting a pneumonia shot a few years ago. I'll get my booster on the 27th.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 15, 2021 19:58:52 GMT
I'm getting Pfizer too. Did you feel at all sick from it, or just a sore arm?
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Post by kds on Apr 15, 2021 20:04:08 GMT
I'm getting Pfizer too. Did you feel at all sick from it, or just a sore arm? Just the sore arm. I had a slight headache the next day, but I can't be certain if that had anything to do with the shot.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 15, 2021 20:06:37 GMT
I'm getting Pfizer too. Did you feel at all sick from it, or just a sore arm? Just the sore arm. I had a slight headache the next day, but I can't be certain if that had anything to do with the shot. Might have been the four whiskeys?
Glad to hear that, though. I don't mind if it just hurts, but if I get a day of nausea or something, I'll be the biggest goddamn baby you've ever seen.
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Post by kds on Apr 15, 2021 20:11:54 GMT
Just the sore arm. I had a slight headache the next day, but I can't be certain if that had anything to do with the shot. Might have been the four whiskeys?
Glad to hear that, though. I don't mind if it just hurts, but if I get a day of nausea or something, I'll be the biggest goddamn baby you've ever seen.
No, the whiskey didn't happen until Friday. Is it bad that one of the reasons I scheduled a Tuesday shot was so any side effects wouldn't interrupt my drinking? Supposedly, the Pfizer side effects aren't as bad as Moderna, but from what I've heard, it's mostly fatigue with some mild flu like symptoms.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 17, 2021 0:35:47 GMT
I got Pfizer, too. Sore arm both times. Felt sick for a day after the 2nd shot. Not a big deal.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 19, 2021 15:35:52 GMT
Shot #1 is in the books for me. I can tell you, it was surreal standing in line to go into First Ave at 8:40 a.m., and being inside it, fully lit, no music, and a bunch of nurses seated spaced out giving shots. My 15 minutes of post-shot waiting was done right at the stage, looking out over the dance floor and seating area. I should've started singing: my big break!
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Post by kds on Apr 22, 2021 14:43:50 GMT
I'm five days away from Shot #2.
You know what I'm looking forward to? When Golden Corral is open again. Do I want to eat there? God no. But, if I drive past, and see the GC with a full parking lot, with people packed into a buffet area eating food with reckless abandon as kids put their disgusting hands in their chocolate fountain, I'll know.....we're back people.......we're BACK!!
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