I've been boostered! I got my third dose of Pfizer today, six months to the day after my second one. I even got a new vaccination card given that I did what they recommended at the time and laminated my original one. Some of the other people there were clearly getting boosters, but there were a few that may have been getting first or second doses. At least I hope they were.
The US will open its land borders to fully vaccinated people in November. Borders have been closed for about 19 months. It's hard to believe they've been closed for that long. I would not have thought it possible, but then I did not anticipate a pandemic such as the current one. Air travel restrictions will also be lifted in early November also for fully vaccinated people. Carry that vaccination card with pride!
Uneven access to vaccines and health care is increasing the gap between rich and poor nations. Wealthy nations give booster shots while 96 percent of people in low-income countries await an initial vaccination. The International Monetary Fund's chief economist explains, "Recent developments have made it abundantly clear that we are all in this together and the pandemic is not over anywhere until it is over everywhere." That sounds about right to me.
China is giving third shots to elderly and high-risk groups including front-line professions such as medical workers, immunocompromised people, people ages 60 and older, and travelers going to high-risk countries. The goal is fully vaccinating 80 percent of the population by the end of the year. I do not think I've seen a goal set here since the 70 percent by July 4 one tanked. I would not know where to begin on a goal except possibly to start from the idea that things will get worse again before they get too much better.
Minnesota is dealing with a covid surge; all counties there are at high risk for community transmission according to the CDC. New daily cases are up by 29 percent in the last two weeks, and hospitalizations are up by 17 percent. The daily case average on Monday was 2,932, the highest it has been in 2021. The daily case average bottomed out during the summer at 81, quite the difference from today. Ninety-six percent of the ICU beds in the state are in use, as are 93 percent of the non-ICU beds. All the hospitalized covid patients are unvaccinated; 59 percent of the state's population is fully vaccinated compared with the national average of 56 percent. Says the CEO of one of the state's largest medical systems, "Every element of our health system is incredibly stressed."
Alaska was rationing health care not too long ago and is still struggling. Anchorage just approved a mask mandate following vigorous debate and demonstrations; everyone must wear a mask or face covering in public indoor spaces with limited exceptions for younger children and for religious or medical reasons. Some opponents of the mandate wore stars of David to the city council meeting to liken mask requirements to the persecution of Jews n the Holocaust. Don't get me started on how offensive I find this.
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines say that they will not comply with Texas's governor's executive ordering banning vaccine mandates. They say that they will continue to follow the federal mandate.They are not the only businesses feeling that way. The Greater Houston Partnership, a business group that includes such companies as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and JP Morgan Chase, also opposes the governor's order noting that it "does not support Texas businesses' ability and duty to create a safe work place."
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