Who would've thought that wearing masks this year would likely save your life? I did, the instant I first heard about this type of communicable viral sickness was talked about relentlessly, the beginning of this year.
I now have about 20 masks. Some I've made myself. Other masks were made for me by people at my work campus or by vendors who sell goods at my mom and youngest brother's vintage store. I would like to find a kitschy traveling case to keep them in, each in their own safety case covering, to keep them as clean as possible, so I can wear one on any given day without having to think about whether they're clean enough to wear. I now wash them after I wear them once, in sanitizer solution, then air dry them. And once they're air dried, I pop them in the dryer to make doubly sure they are super free of any non-visible contaminant (sort of my own, wonky sterilizing method).
Have any of you been listening to Ari Shapiro, as he hosts NPR's
All Things Considered? On my drive home from work tonight, I got to hear the last half of today's program. They talked about lots of things, but the thing I keep hearing them cover is when a viable innocculation (sp?) shot will become available as a vaccine. I keep thinking back to the days, back when I was just a kid, elementary aged kid (7-10 years of age) and how polio shots had just come out and measles shots and diptheria shots, etc. The vaccination record, one had to have to be able to attend school and not catch viral diseases which could take off in small to large populations of human gatherings. I got to thinking today, about that. The time line of when those vaccinations were developed and how early on, doctors and scientists could wholeheartedly say that the vaccination would actually work and that the benefit of the vaccine would actually outweigh the risk of getting the vaccine. Kind of like flu vaccines of today. Sometimes they work; yet other times they don't or the unlikely outcome of actually getting really sick from the vaccine itself.
Due to several decades of vaccines for yesteryears diseases which could wipe out or cause significant harm to human beings, it's only been the past few years that anti-vaccine proponents have convinced a lot of younger adults with children to not participate in getting vaccinations meant to prevent your kids from contracting diseases which could kill you or alter your life in tangible ways (long of short term ways).
So I wonder now, if and when the COVID vaccine is ready to be disbursed as a viable way to counter the viral disease that is taking over the world (they said that Brazil is second only to the US in numbers of COVID cases and deaths, today), will it actually work or will they first batch they release be the test batch on people who elect to take the first round of the vaccine. Know what I mean?
I have some concerns about the vaccine they are working on. I actually hope that scientists working on the vaccine create the best vaccine possible. I am sure they are. But I do have a deep concern about it.
Until they are absolutely sure, I intend to keep washing my hands relentlessly and wearing masks and gloves and keeping my distance from others as much as possible. At work? Where I work? We still do not have even half of the working population back on campus. I'd say that only an 1/8th of us are back on the job, but you can't come to work without gloves or masks and we observe the 6 ft rule at all costs. Our building is closed to the public and only special appts made in advance, will get one permission to be on our campus. We're taking no chances.
Anyhoooo. That's what is on my mind now about COVID 19. The vaccine.
Keeping my fingers crossed and trying to not worry but I do feel a great deal of anxiety on a daily basis. For now, it's hand-washing, gloves and mask and enforced distancing. 24/7/365 (until further notice).
