With the virus, the world is now different and as someone still high risk I am having to continue to navigate my life around a virus that's ready to pounce. I have always gone with if something helps then go with it, but in this case, it was made too difficult for me to make decisions about whether it was safe for me to take the vaccine.
There was merit to the vaccine
I am not anti-vaccine, but the UK government has made it impossible for me and thousands like me to make that decision. There was merit to the vaccine, in that you wouldn't be as poorly catching the virus if you had it, but the scaremongery surrounding its very existence, with autism and with the slogan of the UK government of roll-up your sleeves, meant I was mentally and permanently stuck, unable to make the decision on taking it.
Two and a half months of illness
I did eventually catch Covid. It wasn't something I was able to shrug off quickly and my digestion survived, which I was grateful for, but it did take me 7 weeks to recover, then I went straight into the flu virus that I caught from people coughing in John Lewis failing to put their hands to their mouths, the same day I took my mask off to give myself a mask break. It took me around two and a half months to recover from both.
The virus will come back
Now four years in, and into the summer months of 2023 and the virus isn't so much pouncing, but to coin Arnie's phrase, and according to the experts it will be back later on in the winter months. Ignoring the virus will simply perpetuate it. Governments don't care.
There will be more pandemics
The scientists are also telling us there will be more pandemics. It is staggering that governments are choosing to ignore the infirm, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the older generation and people who have more to lose and who still need the support, to keep them safe.
Lifting all restrictions is keeping people are keeping people stuck in their homes. Over on social media, it is the topic of conversation. With lifting restrictions around the world, whether you are high risk or not, shouldn't we all be asking, what kind of governments do this?
Common sense seems to have gone by the wayside. The virus hasn't disappeared like people seem to think and like you said, it will come back.
Politicians seem to want to please the masses, by acting like the pandemic is over when it's anything but over. I hope people will smarten up before it's too late.
Thanks Randy. Yes, given what we know about the virus, into its 4th year, you're right.
What I find difficult to comprehend is that where we need to smarten up, instead we're putting ourselves first. Come the winter/fall the virus will start to appear and spread again.
We need to be clever, intelligent, virus smart, so that as we go about our lives, we keep ourselves safe.
If that means masking up, then that should happen. Rather mask-up than have to deal with acute illness, although for many the virus is chronic (long-covid), hospital, or worse death.
I still feel anxious about Covid because I know it's still hanging around. Certain social situations boost my fear of the virus significantly.
But worry can be unhealthy, so I just try to stay informed, that's the best I can do for now.
Thank you for your blogs about this stubborn virus, they are indeed helpful.
Thank you for responding. The way I see it, it's a joint effort. Getting our voices out there, informs, advises, guides, acquaints, and makes us and others aware. In an already changed society and world, it's necessary.
I am where you are. I have anxiety around social settings, particularly in public spaces. And while that's not easy, 4 years into Covid and I am beginning to feel the effects 'of not having a life' and that's not easy also.
But like you, I choose to stay informed and shall continue to do so. Most people don't care. With a 'it won't happen to me' attitude, we are now the minority.