The Delta Variant is Here

Now that the Covid Vaccine is here or at least here in part, the work for us begins.

It seems to me that having to register in order to make an appt adds to the stress that everyone is feeling about being locked down for the most part.

Our elected officials, in my opinion, have done a good job in keeping us safe, even if their decisions are unpopular. If you hold office and do not realize that you cannot satisfy everyone then you should not be in office.

Now that brings me back to the way the vaccine is being distributed. Registration online or by phone (if you can get through) certainly adds to the stress that we all feel, especially the elderly. Since I am considered elderly, I can tell you that needles are not necessarily my favorite thing. They fall somewhere between Liver and Onions and Anchovies.

In New Mexico, we are using large venues in order to distribute the vaccine, which under the circumstances may be the best possible way to get everyone vaccinated. From what I have read at least 70% or more of the population needs to be vaccinated if the vaccine is to be effective in the long term. There will always be those who refuse the vaccine, and most will follow protocol and get the shot or shots to protect themselves and their families. Supplies of the vaccines are limited at the present time and so controlling the appts is necessary. Once the clinics and your doctors have access to a supply the virus will start to disappear. That could take us to next fall if the predictions are correct.

It had been announced that there may be a new one-shot vaccine approved very soon which will increase the supply and help us move toward our goal.

Way, Way back in elementary school we were required to have certain “shots” before we could enter school and be cleared for classes. Back then some of the shots were administered by the school nurse or your General Practitioner from a gun-like instrument that reminded me of a Flash Gordon Ray Gun.

We have come a long way since then and the needles or shots are virtually painless, although the mere mention of a needle still raises the hairs on my arms.

I have my appointment scheduled and look forward to having immunity to the virus. My real fear is that people will not follow up for the second shot and thus start things all over again.

I commend our elected officials for a job well down in protecting us and I look forward to the “New Normal”, whatever that is.

The above narrative was written at the height of the pandemic and now we may face another problem. A variant is now the talk and moving across the world. The Delta variant is one that is more likely to put you in the hospital and can partially evade the antibodies produced in your body. That makes the vaccines only partially effective against the variant. This variant is the most transmittable of any thus far.

We have fallen short of the 70 % that we were shooting for, and it is worse around the world. We are celebrating getting back to normal and letting our guard down in my opinion. That is exactly what happened with the Spanish Flu in 1918. I can only hope that history does not repeat itself here.

We are in for a long ride and in danger of additional setbacks because we have not heeded the warnings and we have those who refuse to get the vaccine that could at least decrease the risk.