Vermont Skier Visits Down Significantly Due to COVID-19

[Andrew B.]

Anti-vaxxers are but a small subset of the vaccine hesitant. Please stop treating those who don't want to be vaccinated as a monolith of anti-vax forever Trumpers. That just isn't the case. Remember there is a large subset of unvaccinated folks who can't be vaccinated whether due to pre-existing conditions or age (under 12).

Vilifying those who are not vaccinated will not do anything to convince them to get vaccinated and in fact further hardens their resolve. Just because you have no fear of the vaccines because you want to get back to your "normal" life does nothing to allay the fears of someone who is genuinely afraid. Calling them uncooperative and selfish Trump lovers does nothing to resolve our current situation and in fact will just prolong the crisis.

Instead of talking down to the vaccine hesitant and ragging on them as a group maybe try talking to such a person and understanding their position. That's how you show genuine concern and promote the fact that opinions can be changed. We used to do that in this country.

2 thumbs up for reason and understanding

 

[JimG.]

Got my Jay Peak pass, hoping that Science will finally win and that the US land border will open to the fully vaccinated, without the need for a COVID test prior to entering (US and Canada side).

I read that the dispute with border guards has been resolved and that it will open this month.

 

[JimG.]

Just like I did last year.

Pretty stoked I'll be skiing at K again this coming season.

 

[2Planker]

I hope so too. But...

When the pandemic first started, the stated objective of the lockdown was to "protect the vulnerable". Well, heck, they're mostly vaccinated, aka "protected" now.

So, why the big deal about vaccinating the college kids? One might ask. I for one don't quite see the point of that big push. Frankly, as soon as the vulnerable got vaccinated, and all those who want to get it got their chance to get it, the lockdown is lifted. And the pandemic "over".

As far as I can tell, the pandemic IS OVER!

(I know, I know, there're breakthrough infection. But those people aren't clogging the hospital. They're recovering at home)

Sure, those who are vulnerable yet refused to vaccinate are getting sick and dying. But why should we give a rat's ass about them? They made their choice, they should live with the consequence!

They aren't clogging the hospitals either. There're just not enough of them! Thank god. And with each wave of the unvaccinated getting sick and landing in hospital, there're also wave of vaccine uptakes too!

So yea, I hope as many people vaccinate as possible. But I just don't think it's such a big deal. I also don't buy the notion they're wasting health care resources. We tolerate smokers and other unhealthy lifestyle getting sick and "wasting" health care resources all along. We can live with the Covid vaccine deniers hogging ventilator and ICU beds too.

I really do think too many people over react when it comes to vaccine mandate! Just like many under react at the beginning of the pandemic & lockdown.

College kids live in communal housing. In Providence last year it was the PC kids that kept testing positive. Thhe faculty & staff aren't coming bacg

Anti-vaxxers are but a small subset of the vaccine hesitant. Please stop treating those who don't want to be vaccinated as a monolith of anti-vax forever Trumpers. That just isn't the case. Remember there is a large subset of unvaccinated folks who can't be vaccinated whether due to pre-existing conditions or age (under 12).

Vilifying those who are not vaccinated will not do anything to convince them to get vaccinated and in fact further hardens their resolve. Just because you have no fear of the vaccines because you want to get back to your "normal" life does nothing to allay the fears of someone who is genuinely afraid. Calling them uncooperative and selfish Trump lovers does nothing to resolve our current situation and in fact will just prolong the crisis.

Instead of talking down to the vaccine hesitant and ragging on them as a group maybe try talking to such a person and understanding their position. That's how you show genuine concern and promote the fact that opinions can be changed. We used to do that in this country.

EDIT: I'm fully vaccinated. I am neither pro nor anti vax. I got the shots to:

1) shut people up about whether or not I am vaccinated and why.
2) because my youngest son has to be vaccinated to return to college. Since he really has no choice (please don't say he does because he could go to another school, that's stupid) I felt it was important for me to also go through that process with him.

I have to talk to 30-40 patients every week, about why they're not vaccinated.
The reasons are nothing short of crazy, but we're used to it by now. Sad to say, I know
They just know better than clinicians w/ top notch medical degrees and 30+ years of experience.

 

[JimG.]

College kids live in communal housing. In Providence last year it was the PC kids that kept testing positive. Thhe faculty & staff aren't coming bacg

I have to talk to 30-40 patients every week, about why they're not vaccinated.
The reasons are nothing short of crazy, but we're used to it by now. Sad to say, I know
They just know better than clinicians w/ top notch medical degrees and 30+ years of experience.

I'm sure that's frustrating because you are certainly trying your best to help them.

I'll be attacked for saying so but sometimes the ultimate disaster (death) is not enough to convince people to take the vaccine. That's when we all have to say "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink".

Returning to restrictions will not promote increased vaccinations and in fact people are already using them to say that there is no reason to get vaxxed if we still have restrictions for vaccinated people. Time to open up society and come what may. If people die because they won't vaccinate, so be it.

 

[2Planker]

They beg for the Vacc, when you say they have to be admitted, and won't be allowed any visitors

 

[2Planker]

They beg for the Vacc, when you say they have to be admitted, and won't be allowed any visitors

We all will pay for Covid costs. HealthCare is loosing huge $$$ treating something that could be prevented. It will only raise all costs, including your Med Ins Premiums

 

[Harvey]

We all will pay for Covid costs.

We already are paying. And you're right, will pay in the future.

 

[kbroderick]

Re hospital capacity, my dad had appendicitis a couple of months ago. The surgeon ended up coming to the hospital he was at, which normally wouldn't have hosted that surgery, because the bigger ones (including CMMC) that normally would've didn't have beds available. Anecdotal, but I suspect it's far from the only case where capacity affected care plans, even if the hospitals never officially got overwhelmed.

I also suspect the breakthrough rate is getting undercounted, as most breakthrough infections don't result in hospitalization. I still strongly believe that getting vaccinated is by far the best way to reduce the risk of both significant illness and the (relatively low for most) risk of death, plus reducing infections does reduce spread (breakthrough infections are clearly plus likely than infections in the unvaccinated).

Finally, having a very pregnant wife has driven home the effects that even an asymptomatic infection can have on your life--if she tests positive when we go into the hospital, she doesn't get to hold the baby. We're being especially careful as a result, between that and having a one year old at home (because while serious cases in the young are rare, that's not much comfort if your child happens to be an outlier).

 

[deadheadskier]

Congrats kbrod on the soon new baby. Best wishes that all goes well, mom and baby are healthy and you don't have to deal with any of those separations

 

[BenedictGomez]

Americans need to appreciate and pay a helluva a lot more for prepared food, so the employers can better compensate their workers.

Already happening. To the point I wonder if it's going to be destructive to the industry writ large. That said, I'm not one who believes the Fed mantra that inflation is "transitory", so there's that.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I have to talk to 30-40 patients every week, about why they're not vaccinated.
The reasons are nothing short of crazy, but we're used to it by now.

They tend to fall into these five baskets:

1) This DNA vaccine will alter my DNA = No it wont, it's an mRNA vaccine.
2) This mRNA vaccine will alter my DNA = No it wont, mRNA relates to protein synthesis & doesn't affect DNA directly.
3) This is an experimental vaccine! = Every flipping novel drug or vaccine known to man was or is "experimental", that's how it works.
4) The vaccine is not FDA approved it's emergency authorized! = A dumb argument, given the same people who will grant FDA approval are of precisely the same expert cohort group who granted emergency authorization in the first place.
5) I'm worried about side effects = Hundreds of millions of humans have now had this vaccine, side effects are minimal, and none are worse than "death".

 

[BenedictGomez]

I also suspect the breakthrough rate is getting undercounted, as most breakthrough infections don't result in hospitalization.

Breakthrough cases are being undercounted, because the Biden Administration doesnt want you to know about them. This is frustrating medical professionals.

UNPOPULAR OPINION: We are all (eventually) going to get COVID19, so make sure you get vaccinated, and IMO, get a booster roughly 6 months afterwards (or whatever timeframe experts decide will yield the largest statistical benefit).

 

[Andrew B.]

Re hospital capacity, my dad had appendicitis a couple of months ago. The surgeon ended up coming to the hospital he was at, which normally wouldn't have hosted that surgery, because the bigger ones (including CMMC) that normally would've didn't have beds available. Anecdotal, but I suspect it's far from the only case where capacity affected care plans, even if the hospitals never officially got overwhelmed.

I also suspect the breakthrough rate is getting undercounted, as most breakthrough infections don't result in hospitalization. I still strongly believe that getting vaccinated is by far the best way to reduce the risk of both significant illness and the (relatively low for most) risk of death, plus reducing infections does reduce spread (breakthrough infections are clearly plus likely than infections in the unvaccinated).

Finally, having a very pregnant wife has driven home the effects that even an asymptomatic infection can have on your life--if she tests positive when we go into the hospital, she doesn't get to hold the baby. We're being especially careful as a result, between that and having a one year old at home (because while serious cases in the young are rare, that's not much comfort if your child happens to be an outlier).

Congrats and be safe

Not sure it matters but I will say having spent some time with family at SMMC this past week. The states bed shortage is not only due to C-19. A relative who is an administrator there said it’s more about staffing shortages than Covid overload.

 

[Harvey]

4) The vaccine is not FDA approved it's emergency authorized!

Be interesting to see if this changes when it is approved.

 

[Harvey]

Already happening.

I'm seeing it. A few times I did't bring a lunch and ordered out from work, it's $20 for a sandwich, and when you order it they push pretty hard for a tip.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Be interesting to see if this changes when it is approved.

For some it will, but my WAG (wild ass guess) is that for the bulk of them this is just an anti-vaxxer excuse & once it's FDA approved they'll latch onto some other excuse or reason to not get vaccinated. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[deadheadskier]

Breakthrough cases are being undercounted, because the Biden Administration doesnt want you to know about them. This is frustrating medical professionals.

UNPOPULAR OPINION: We are all (eventually) going to get COVID19, so make sure you get vaccinated, and IMO, get a booster roughly 6 months afterwards (or whatever timeframe experts decide will yield the largest statistical benefit).

Be curious when boosters become available and how they are approached. I got my second Moderna on March 4th. I'd be fine with getting a third jab today if there was benefit. Wonder if I would end up with a third Moderna or one of the others.

 

[Harvey]

I’m a pro-vaxxer

Never heard this before. Does anyone really WANT to take a vaccine? I never got a flu shot until this year.

I'm a lesser of two evils vaxxer.

 

[ThatGuy]

San Francisco clarifies J&J booster shot stance

San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax on Thursday clarified the department’s stance on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for people who previously received the sing…

www.google.com

Appears they are offering people in San Francisco a booster shot if they received the JnJ vax. Not recommend by the CDC yet but that will probably change.