September 2021 Politics Covid Thread

[carmensandiego]

More data that vaccines prevent death and hospitalizations.

[richard]

I am having a very hard time with all the stories of unvaccinated parents dying and leaving behind children. They make me so angry and sad at the same time.

[tmg]

Uncaripswife, ldubhawksfan, I'm sorry. I hope they are all feeling better soon.

[LaRo422]

Sept 13, 2021 8:51:55 GMT -6 richard said:

I am having a very hard time with all the stories of unvaccinated parents dying and leaving behind children. They make me so angry and sad at the same time.

I was talking to MH about this over the weekend. The trauma of all of it is unimaginable.

Uncaripswife and ldubhawksfan sending love to you both ❤️

[goldenbird]

Sept 13, 2021 8:51:55 GMT -6 richard said:

I am having a very hard time with all the stories of unvaccinated parents dying and leaving behind children. They make me so angry and sad at the same time.

me too. It honestly makes me think 'you don't care enough about your kids to get a fucking shot?' I can't imagine being a parent to a minor child who is in need of my support and provision and not getting the vaccine. That is just beyond irresponsible.

[Deleted]

I’m sorry Uncaripswife, I hope she starts improving soon.

[Deleted]

Sept 13, 2021 7:47:58 GMT -6 Uncaripswife said:

Sept 13, 2021 7:43:31 GMT -6 dc2london said:

This is the disconnect: CDC keeps saying it's safe to have everyone in school because of the mitigation measures they laid out.
Buuuuuuut the schools aren't adhering to the mitigation measures.....

'But how many districts are actually implementing such approaches is an open question. A Washington Post survey of the nation’s 20 largest school districts found that just four are following CDC recommendations to screen asymptomatic students, who can infect others even though they have no symptoms.'

By Yasmeen Abutaleb, Laura Meckler and Valerie Strauss

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/13/school-reopenings-delta-testing-biden/

I think what really happened is the administration decided kids needed to be in school and the CDC said some stuff to make that happen but no one is going to challenge the schools about compliance with the CDC guidance because the administration decided kids needed to be in school.

Yup. Parents needed to get back to work and keep that economy chugging.

[athn64]

Sept 13, 2021 10:27:35 GMT -6 easier said:

Sept 13, 2021 7:47:58 GMT -6 Uncaripswife said:

I think what really happened is the administration decided kids needed to be in school and the CDC said some stuff to make that happen but no one is going to challenge the schools about compliance with the CDC guidance because the administration decided kids needed to be in school.

Yup. Parents needed to get back to work and keep that economy chugging.

Realistically, kids do need school. But the government needed to crack down on compliance so that they could be there safely. 

[crimsonandclover]

Sept 13, 2021 10:31:24 GMT -6 athn64 said:

Sept 13, 2021 10:27:35 GMT -6 easier said:

Yup. Parents needed to get back to work and keep that economy chugging.

Realistically, kids do need school. But the government needed to crack down on compliance so that they could be there safely. 

This. DD2's mental health needs school, and there's pretty overwhelming evidence of a mental health crisis among the young, so I definitely approve of not just shutting things down or going into quarantine every couple weeks. There needs to be a good plan to keep everyone as safe as possible. I'm actually really happy with the plan our state has put in place. I feel it will result in very few quarantines for children except where it's really needed.

[Deleted]

Sept 13, 2021 10:31:24 GMT -6 athn64 said:

Sept 13, 2021 10:27:35 GMT -6 easier said:

Yup. Parents needed to get back to work and keep that economy chugging.

Realistically, kids do need school. But the government needed to crack down on compliance so that they could be there safely. 

Oh I know. I’m just cranky on this Monday, apologies.

[LaRo422]

Sept 13, 2021 10:46:16 GMT -6 crimsonandclover said:

Sept 13, 2021 10:31:24 GMT -6 athn64 said:

Realistically, kids do need school. But the government needed to crack down on compliance so that they could be there safely. 

This. DD2's mental health needs school, and there's pretty overwhelming evidence of a mental health crisis among the young, so I definitely approve of not just shutting things down or going into quarantine every couple weeks. There needs to be a good plan to keep everyone as safe as possible. I'm actually really happy with the plan our state has put in place. I feel it will result in very few quarantines for children except where it's really needed.

I hate what this is doing to the kids. DD is really struggling. We have had so many meltdowns and outbursts that it's either the beginning stages of puberty, pandemic burnout, or both. She came home Friday and got all upset and said seeing everyone in masks and everyone talking about Covid, not being able to see her friends, has her so worried. She started spiraling and broke down into tears. This isn't the first time it's happened. Probably the second time in the last month. I validate her feelings and tell her it's scary for everyone, tell her that this hasn't happened in 100 years, and we just have to make the best choices we can to get through this. She usually visits with my mom a few times a year, but hasn't seen her since the beginning of year when I had surgery. It's all just a mess. She's been doing in-person school, but she still seems overwhelmed. She had tummy aches for the last couple of years and I think I figured that it's anxiety related, and it's definitely gotten worse over the last few weeks. We've done all the GI testing and there's nothing there, so it's just generalized abdominal pain. She'll go to bed without dinner and say she just doesn't feel good. I don't know if I should ask for a therapy rec or what. I tried to call the doctor's office but sat on hold for half an hour. I was transferred back to the front and they told me the call volume is extremely high and they're overloaded with sick visits. I hate to make a doctor's appointment for that when they're so overwhelmed with covid and other illnesses, and to take a chance on exposing her even moreso than she already is.

[Minerva]

LaRo422, both my 8 year old and I get anxiety related stomachaches and other GI issues. It sucks so much - I feel for your DD. Therapy can definitely be helpful. There are a few kinds that are recommended specifically for GI issues, particularly gut-directed hypnotherapy (it sounds woo-y, but there’s a fair amount of mainstream clinical research supporting it).

[LaRo422]

Sept 13, 2021 11:38:26 GMT -6 Minerva said:

LaRo422 , both my 8 year old and I get anxiety related stomachaches and other GI issues. It sucks so much - I feel for your DD. Therapy can definitely be helpful. There are a few kinds that are recommended specifically for GI issues, particularly gut-directed hypnotherapy (it sounds woo-y, but there’s a fair amount of mainstream clinical research supporting it).

Thank you. I will talk to her doctor about it. I'm totally into the woo-y stuff, so I'm going to look into it.

[jaygee]

Sept 13, 2021 8:51:55 GMT -6 richard said:

I am having a very hard time with all the stories of unvaccinated parents dying and leaving behind children. They make me so angry and sad at the same time.

There is a pretty horrific story out of southern CA this morning that I’m kicking myself for reading. What is wrong with my brain to have clicked on that article?

Worst part is mom was a nurse. Ugh. Why?

[richard]

Sept 13, 2021 11:45:00 GMT -6 jaygee said:

Sept 13, 2021 8:51:55 GMT -6 richard said:

I am having a very hard time with all the stories of unvaccinated parents dying and leaving behind children. They make me so angry and sad at the same time.

There is a pretty horrific story out of southern CA this morning that I’m kicking myself for reading. What is wrong with my brain to have clicked on that article?

Worst part is mom was a nurse. Ugh. Why?

Yes, I saw that one this morning. After seeing two separate posts from friends of friends on FB about middle-aged men with young children dying after not getting vaccinated.

After losing my dad at a really young age, one of my personal deepest fears is leaving my kids behind when they're still little and I can't imagine doing everything in my power to avoid that. I also can't imagine how I would've felt growing up knowing my parent had a choice.

[piratecat]

Sept 13, 2021 10:27:35 GMT -6 easier said:

Sept 13, 2021 7:47:58 GMT -6 Uncaripswife said:

I think what really happened is the administration decided kids needed to be in school and the CDC said some stuff to make that happen but no one is going to challenge the schools about compliance with the CDC guidance because the administration decided kids needed to be in school.

Yup. Parents needed to get back to work and keep that economy chugging.

Kind of hard to do when kids keep getting sick/quarantined. 😭

[willow]

richard I feel the same re: unvaccinated parents dying. It makes me just so unbelievably sad for those children, and what those children might feel toward their parents when they grow up and realize the choice their parents made. It is especially close to my heart right now as I watch my 10 and 14 year old cousins grieve the loss of their mother who was involuntarily taken from them last week due to cancer. I am so sorry you lost your father so young. I'm sure this all hits much more personally for you.

[geekygirly]

I can tell my DH still harbors some anger towards his mom who died when he was young from lung cancer (she was a chain smoker). She was the primary breadwinner in his family so besides the trauma of losing his mom, life was really tough for them after that. But at least that was an addiction, and can sometimes be hard to break. But not getting a vaccine when all the evidence shows it is safe and effective?

[goldenbird]

Sept 13, 2021 11:45:00 GMT -6 jaygee said:

Sept 13, 2021 8:51:55 GMT -6 richard said:

I am having a very hard time with all the stories of unvaccinated parents dying and leaving behind children. They make me so angry and sad at the same time.

There is a pretty horrific story out of southern CA this morning that I’m kicking myself for reading. What is wrong with my brain to have clicked on that article?

Worst part is mom was a nurse. Ugh. Why?

That is the one I read that really set me off. Those poor kids, and so many. Jesus.

[goldenbird]

Sept 13, 2021 11:54:05 GMT -6 richard said:

Sept 13, 2021 11:45:00 GMT -6 jaygee said:

There is a pretty horrific story out of southern CA this morning that I’m kicking myself for reading. What is wrong with my brain to have clicked on that article?

Worst part is mom was a nurse. Ugh. Why?

Yes, I saw that one this morning. After seeing two separate posts from friends of friends on FB about middle-aged men with young children dying after not getting vaccinated.

After losing my dad at a really young age, one of my personal deepest fears is leaving my kids behind when they're still little and I can't imagine doing everything in my power to avoid that. I also can't imagine how I would've felt growing up knowing my parent had a choice.

That's my worst fear also. ❤

[willow]

Sept 13, 2021 12:18:36 GMT -6 goldenbird said:

Sept 13, 2021 11:45:00 GMT -6 jaygee said:

There is a pretty horrific story out of southern CA this morning that I’m kicking myself for reading. What is wrong with my brain to have clicked on that article?

Worst part is mom was a nurse. Ugh. Why?

That is the one I read that really set me off. Those poor kids, and so many. Jesus.

I saw this too. One small consolation is the GFM already is over $200k. I am glad at least the innocent children in this will have that to help support them with whatever family members are caring for them now. It is so heartbreaking. 

[goldenbird]

Sept 13, 2021 12:37:52 GMT -6 willow said:

Sept 13, 2021 12:18:36 GMT -6 goldenbird said:

That is the one I read that really set me off. Those poor kids, and so many. Jesus.

I saw this too. One small consolation is the GFM already is over $200k. I am glad at least the innocent children in this will have that to help support them with whatever family members are caring for them now. It is so heartbreaking. 

I'm glad. I really hope that their family members are able to raise them all in the same house. With 5 kids that would be my biggest concern, that they wouldn't have to be split up.

[dc2london]

This isn't a great system. DD became feverish on Saturday. When she was still feverish on Sunday morning I immediately sought a covid test. This was pre-dawn on Sunday and the earliest appointment was noon today (at a clinic open 7 days a week). Test results are taking 3-4 days to come back in my area. Keep in mind, none of my children can go to school until her test comes back negative (DS1 is still in quarantine either way, of course). So my younger 2 are going to likely miss an entire week of schschool, and that's with me acting quickly.
We have got to get our act together with testing. If we want kids in schools, we can't just have these constant rolling disruptions. And my little kids get no instruction while at home. You only get virtual assignments and independent study if you are on quarantine at the school's request.
(Luckily DS2's teachers have kindly shared with me what they're working on in the core subjects this week so I can keep him on track)

[abs]

Sept 13, 2021 14:07:49 GMT -6 dc2london said:

This isn't a great system. DD became feverish on Saturday. When she was still feverish on Sunday morning I immediately sought a covid test. This was pre-dawn on Sunday and the earliest appointment was noon today (at a clinic open 7 days a week). Test results are taking 3-4 days to come back in my area. Keep in mind, none of my children can go to school until her test comes back negative (DS1 is still in quarantine either way, of course). So my younger 2 are going to likely miss an entire week of schschool, and that's with me acting quickly.
We have got to get our act together with testing. If we want kids in schools, we can't just have these constant rolling disruptions. And my little kids get no instruction while at home. You only get virtual assignments and independent study if you are on quarantine at the school's request.
(Luckily DS2's teachers have kindly shared with me what they're working on in the core subjects this week so I can keep him on track)

Yes. There is no excuse for testing to be this bad! I’m sorry you are in this position. The disruptions this year are going to break me.

[dc2london]

Sept 13, 2021 14:11:21 GMT -6 abs said:

Sept 13, 2021 14:07:49 GMT -6 dc2london said:

This isn't a great system. DD became feverish on Saturday. When she was still feverish on Sunday morning I immediately sought a covid test. This was pre-dawn on Sunday and the earliest appointment was noon today (at a clinic open 7 days a week). Test results are taking 3-4 days to come back in my area. Keep in mind, none of my children can go to school until her test comes back negative (DS1 is still in quarantine either way, of course). So my younger 2 are going to likely miss an entire week of schschool, and that's with me acting quickly.
We have got to get our act together with testing. If we want kids in schools, we can't just have these constant rolling disruptions. And my little kids get no instruction while at home. You only get virtual assignments and independent study if you are on quarantine at the school's request.
(Luckily DS2's teachers have kindly shared with me what they're working on in the core subjects this week so I can keep him on track)

Yes. There is no excuse for testing to be this bad! I’m sorry you are in this position. The disruptions this year are going to break me.

Fortunately H and I are at home so we don't have to miss work or risk losing income, but I'm not excited for DD to miss a bunch of kindergarten. It's her first school experience and they're still at the "learning the very basics of school life" phase

[Minerva]

Sept 13, 2021 14:07:49 GMT -6 dc2london said:

This isn't a great system. DD became feverish on Saturday. When she was still feverish on Sunday morning I immediately sought a covid test. This was pre-dawn on Sunday and the earliest appointment was noon today (at a clinic open 7 days a week). Test results are taking 3-4 days to come back in my area. Keep in mind, none of my children can go to school until her test comes back negative (DS1 is still in quarantine either way, of course). So my younger 2 are going to likely miss an entire week of schschool, and that's with me acting quickly.
We have got to get our act together with testing. If we want kids in schools, we can't just have these constant rolling disruptions. And my little kids get no instruction while at home. You only get virtual assignments and independent study if you are on quarantine at the school's request.
(Luckily DS2's teachers have kindly shared with me what they're working on in the core subjects this week so I can keep him on track)

Ugh. And you did everything right. I hope your DD is feeling better soon and her result is negative. What a mess. I really hope we see faster turn around time and more available testing from Biden’s initiatives sooner rather than later.

DD’s resource sessions for expressive communication are all virtual this week because her teacher and SLP were exposed to a COVID+ kid and it’s also taking them 3-4 days to get results. They are technically allowed to continue teaching in the school building, but since they come into our home for the resource sessions, they gave us the options of in person, virtual, or cancelling. Her private preschool is starting this week, so I’m just as happy to have one less in-person thing while she adjusts.

[LaRo422]

Sept 13, 2021 14:07:49 GMT -6 dc2london said:

This isn't a great system. DD became feverish on Saturday. When she was still feverish on Sunday morning I immediately sought a covid test. This was pre-dawn on Sunday and the earliest appointment was noon today (at a clinic open 7 days a week). Test results are taking 3-4 days to come back in my area. Keep in mind, none of my children can go to school until her test comes back negative (DS1 is still in quarantine either way, of course). So my younger 2 are going to likely miss an entire week of schschool, and that's with me acting quickly.
We have got to get our act together with testing. If we want kids in schools, we can't just have these constant rolling disruptions. And my little kids get no instruction while at home. You only get virtual assignments and independent study if you are on quarantine at the school's request.
(Luckily DS2's teachers have kindly shared with me what they're working on in the core subjects this week so I can keep him on track)

My 9th grader is currently failing math and he is distraught. He has goals of being a radiologist and said any bad HS grades could keep him from doing what he wants. He went to school the first two days (a Thursday and Friday), became symptomatic over the weekend, got tested on a Tuesday. He missed that whole week because we didn't get results until Friday morning. There was no virtual instruction. Only assignments sent to his school email. He didn't understand it because he wasn't being taught, so he got behind. He started school the next week, but then we got a letter that Thursday evening stating he'd been a close contact and to quarantine for 10 days (if we wanted, totally optional. We obviously chose to quarantine). So he missed the whole next week. Again, no virtual instruction, just emailed assignments. He still didn't understand the work, so he struggled through assignments. Then, school went virtual for two weeks, and it was a total shit show. The teachers couldn't catch him or the other students up on what they missed because then the whole class would be held up. They started back in person instruction today. I talked a counselor this morning and they said many kids are in this situation, and they're trying to figure it out. He's never failed a class or even come close to it. He gets mostly A's with a few B's sprinkled in. He has a 33 in that math class. He has C's in some other classes, but they're working with him. He's beyond frustrated and stressed. I told him we'll get it figured out. I can't believe that a year and a half in and we haven't figured much of anything out.  

[dc2london]

Dang LaRo422 that is so unfair and unfortunate. I'm so sorry. I hope they find a way to catch him up.

[athn64]

Sept 13, 2021 14:07:49 GMT -6 dc2london said:

This isn't a great system. DD became feverish on Saturday. When she was still feverish on Sunday morning I immediately sought a covid test. This was pre-dawn on Sunday and the earliest appointment was noon today (at a clinic open 7 days a week). Test results are taking 3-4 days to come back in my area. Keep in mind, none of my children can go to school until her test comes back negative (DS1 is still in quarantine either way, of course). So my younger 2 are going to likely miss an entire week of schschool, and that's with me acting quickly.
We have got to get our act together with testing. If we want kids in schools, we can't just have these constant rolling disruptions. And my little kids get no instruction while at home. You only get virtual assignments and independent study if you are on quarantine at the school's request.
(Luckily DS2's teachers have kindly shared with me what they're working on in the core subjects this week so I can keep him on track)

Thankfully our turnaround is better, but we have a similar system. It's really frustrating. We need to prioritize testing 

[LaRo422]

Sept 13, 2021 14:38:41 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Dang LaRo422 that is so unfair and unfortunate. I'm so sorry. I hope they find a way to catch him up.

Thanks. I feel so badly for all these kids that are already struggling with the pandemic, but now have to worry about their grades because the adults can't get their shit together. School is already stressful enough!