ANTICIPATION....
At the @GoAHealth immunization clinic at 12:35, for a 13:10 appointment. Parking lot full. Queue around the building. I join the queue, take the fresh medical mask & wait. "We are serving 12:40 appointments says the announcer". At 13:10, she invites 12:50 people.
The queue is calm, orderly. But it's hot & there's not much shade. People all around the parking lot, in shade puddles, waiting for their time's announcement. @ 13:17, she invites 13:00 (1pm) appointments.
The queue takes approx 20 mins to move around the building. Once in the queue, some people are facing the dilemma: wait & hope the new time is announced before reaching the door? Or get into the shade?
I feel like we've already had the dress rehearsal for this with Dose 1.
(Forgot to say I'm back in my car, waiting). I'm wondering who scheduled these appointments?
It is 13:28: still serving 13:00 appointments.
Wondering: should I rejoin the queue?
13:29 "We are serving 13:10". I'm back in the queue, which now is only 2 sides of the building long.
Anticipation mounting!
13:41 and I'm in the door!
It's air-conditioned inside, which is lovely. After a shot of sanitizer gell, I'm back in another queue. I'm having airport flashbacks!
13:48
Checked-in! Easier than a flight, by far. I just had to confirm health card number, type of vaccine for Dose 2, address, birth date, and then it's a third queue.
The queue divides (unzips?) for Moderna & Pfizer. I get to watch a vaccinator on casters and a helper speak to someone with their arm ready.
Patient confidentiality preserved by this photographer (not by clinic set-up)...
14:04.
VACCINATED!!
Marissa of AHS refused to allow me to photograph the shot going in.
I have to wait 15 mins.
Using the time to enroll in the Covid19 Vaccine Safety Survey. It's literally this, or stare at all the other people sitting in lonely cubicles, post-jab.
Actually, I'm not eligible to participate. The criteria is: enrol within 8 days of Dose 1. Not accepting study participants at Dose 2.
When I had my 1st jab (at a pharmacy), I was not invited to enroll. :-(
Now, to see whether I'll be one of those who experience Covid19-symptoms as my immune responders spot the novel corona virus spike protein.
Good morning Day 1 of Dose 2 vaxed!
So far, just a very sore arm. Feels like I was punched (and, for the record, Marissa-the-Vaccinator's technique was impeccable).
Starting to feel ache-y, fuzzy brain. Is it end of a long day or am I feeling my immune response kicking in?
Summary: Mon PM= very sleepy ~1 hr post-jab. Tues AM, arm felt punched, some swelling at injection. 15 hrs= achy, skin felt tight, couldn't focus on screens; 20 hrs= chilled, wrapped up in blankets. Wed AM= fuzzy; Wed aftn, ok, but S.o.B on exercise. Wed PM= AOK!! #Pfizer#vax2
* S.o.B = short of breath. Eg: after riding my bike a few blocks.
June 28th = My #OptimismDay!
This does not mean I will stop protecting myself & others. #Delta is in Alberta. <35% are fully vaxed, as yet.
So: I'll still #mask indoors & in public where I can't physically distance & I'll hand-wash, reciting the Star Trek intro. #FullyVaccinated
Ok, bear with me; working through an idea.
The @CityofEdmonton has identified that to institute the #biketransportation infrastructure needed to meet climate crisis, human well-being & municipal tax affordability goals, will cost ~ $200M. But only $100M was budgeted. /1st
So we have a shortfall of $100M over the next budget cycle (2023-26).
Car-dedicated infrastructure (lanes, parking, parking lots) is pricey to the municipal budget, & is always inadequate: it induces demand & increases risk, noise, pollution rather than easing congestion, etc. /2
Bicycle infrastructure is cheaper to maintain, & induced demand makes for reduced risk, noise, pollution.
So it's in the city budget's best interest to increase bicycle use while reducing car use.
@pitaTofua Sending a plea for help from #Kotu (Home of the Taufatofua chiefly title). Professor Perminow, author of the book about Kotu's response to the March 2011 #tsunami warning, reports: "the situation is quite a bit worse than the air photos indicated" #TongaVolcanoTsunami
Cont'd: "Dear friends, finally received a first hand eye witness account on the ground from Kotu... Sitiveni Fehoko... returned from Lulunga yesterday after having brought relief supplies & this is what he reports: /2 #TongaVolcanoTsunami#Haapai#Kotu
The video is brilliant. It captures most of what I would have said, if I'd been able to carve out the time to make a video by deadline. What I would add is how angry I feel.
via @YouTube
I'm angry that so many colleagues have been laid off. I'm angry that they've been laid off and disappeared by our senior administrators, and that those of us still here are not permitted to grieve. /2 #StopPSEcuts & #ProtectOurFuture:
I'm angry that the layoffs have disproportionately impacted women, and other equity-deserving staff, and that the diversity of our university community has not been protected. /3 #StopPSEcuts & #ProtectOurFuture
Mayor @doniveson warns Albertans not to flout Covid19 precautions just because the @Alberta_UCP MLAs & staff did. We refer to the impact from politicians' bad modelling of public health advisories as the #DominicCummingsEffect. It's measurable. It's dangerous.
#CummingsEffect happens when the public stop adhering to public health messages after learning that a political figure personally flouted the same advice. It is a measurable danger during an epidemic. *This* is the real danger from the #UCPvacations. (2) thelancet.com/journals/lance…
The effect is named for Dominic Cummings, an aide to the UK PM @BorisJohnson. Cummings & his family flouted health advisories & travelled from London to Durham. Both felt ill; later covid19 +ve. Their action shocked locked-down Brits, & scandal ensued (3) bbc.co.uk/news/uk-528111…