Unfortunately I think we're likely going to notice the next wave weeks after we would have if people had been getting tested like previously.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/incomplete-data-likely-masks-rise-us-covid-cases-rcna23652
Some of the local and national news cover it less. Locally they don't report the number of cases on the local news that I watch. They talk about testing only when sites close due to a lack of demand. The national news is covering that super-spreader event that infected quite a few politicians, but don't see much of anyone saying that's why it's good to get the booster.
As soon as mask mandates were lifted for a lot of places, some people took that to mean the pandemic was over. With the weather getting warmer that might be more beneficial as people are outside more rather than indoors around others more closely, but vaccines and mask wearing is what brings the level of virus down and the severity for most people. And a lot of tests were being done so that we didn't have to wait until the lagging indicator, hospitalizations, to rise to notice that something more would need to be done.
For places where mask mandates were lifted, people took that to mean they can go without their masks now. That's not what that really means. It means you don't have to wear your masks in those places, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't wear one, especially if at higher risk. People forget that choosing to wear a mask remains a really good option.
I know of some people that may not get the next booster, at least as of now. I haven't paid attention to the current research on the booster, so I don't know if it still takes about two weeks before it is most effective like some of the other shots I think were. Also, if people wait until we know if there is another wave, you're waiting rather late if we aren't testing enough.
I don't like the fact that we don't have a set schedule when we are eligible for the next booster. For those 50 and up for example, when can you get your third booster? For people like me, when can you get your second booster? If we knew we could get it every 4 to 6 months, if we choose, people might not be waiting to try and time the next wave. I assume there will be another bad wave in winter of 2022, but I don't know, and I don't know about between now and then even. I wouldn't want someone at risk to wait thinking they shouldn't get a booster now and should instead wait before winter to get it. They should have the option to get it now and also another one then. But they should know that now, not wait until then and then find out that you'll be eligible soon. I think that's how it should be for at least the most vulnerable. As for clinical trials, you're not likely going to suddenly seem safety issues when it comes to a potential third booster. They can do those for that, and for effectiveness, but I think we're to the point where we should just make them available with a minimum time in-between doses. At least for the most vulnerable.
In the meantime, I don't even know how funding for things are going when it comes to testing into the future and even for subsequent vaccinations. If uninsured people were to have to start paying for them at some point, that would be a big problem. Hopefully the bare minimum on those kinds of things get worked out, but it's ridiculous how we're in the third year and we're running into funding issues that could potentially occur. I heard about a potential deal of around $10 billion in the works around a week ago, but don't know when that will be finalized. And of course more is always needed. |