Day 4 - LA county enters Orange Tier
Vaccinated today….
4/8/21. Thursday. Vaccination Day
It’s official, Astrazenca causes blood clots. The information is sketchy, but apparently, in March, the UK noticed a cluster of blood clots among several patients injected with the AZ vaccine. At the time, the world had no idea exactly what was going on because these findings were not published – just whisperings. On 3/12/21, the European Medicines Agency [similar to the CDC, i.e., incompetent], goes on record saying, “Nothing to see here, folks. The AZ vaccine is fine. Carry on. Pip-pip. That’s a good chap” followed by a statement from the WHO, “What? AZ causes blood clots? Impossible!”
Although AZ is whole-heartedly endorsed by the WHO and the EMA (what a relief [sarcasm emoji here] ), the UK immediately stops administering the vaccine (LOL) with France, Germany, Italy and numerous other members of the EU following suit. Our own FDA never got around to approving the AZ vaccine in the first place, even though we’re sitting on a stockpile of millions of doses. For once, USA’s indecisiveness and inability to move quickly has finally benefited the American people.
On 3/14/21, AZ released a statement saying, “Hey everybody – we’re good.” Out of 17 million people vaccinated in the EU and UK, only 15 patients developed DVT [blood clots in vein blood vessels] and only 22 patients developed clots in the lungs that migrated to the pulmonary arteries. According to AZ, “these figures are much lower than the number of cases expected to occur naturally in that population…” In other words, if you got a blood clot after receiving the AZ vaccine, you were probably going to get a blood clot anyway. If you believe that, you’re an idiot.
Doctors have been telling patients with Bell’s Palsy side effects the same thing after they were injected with the Moderna vaccine, i.e., “If you got Bell’s Palsy after getting the Moderna jab, you were gonna get it anyway. BTW, did you have Botox recently? Well, it’s probably that”. All of this is fine unless YOU, or a loved one, were one of the 35 patients who developed a blood clot. With those odds, are you comfortable getting the AZ vaccine? You’re spending money to play the lottery for worse odds…but, then, playing the lottery won’t kill you…
AZ has been cooking the books on their vaccine’s performance this entire time, so nobody believes what the company asserts anymore – they lie constantly. At the same time AZ is touting the safety of their vaccine, they also released “fake news” overstating the efficacy data of their vaccine study and disseminating an international statement saying their vaccine was 79% effective in beating Covid-19. In reality, the effectiveness ranged from 69% to 75%, which is still adequate [the flu vaccine is only 40 to 60% effective], but dirty AZ presented “outdated and potentially misleading” data, i.e., they lied. Again. Within hours, Fauci and friends pounced and called AZ out, with Fauci referring to the lie as “an unforced error”, whatever the f—k that means. Is an “unforced error” a synonym for lying to the global community?
In response to all of the above, the US, sitting on stockpiles of AZ, begins dumping it, shipping 4 million doses as fast as possible to Mexico and our good friend, Canada. In a secret “sweetheart” deal – oops, the cat’s out of the bag – the Mexican Government agreed to restrict movement at the southern Guatemalan border and stem the flow of kids coming to the US in exchange for AZ vaccine that will ultimately be used to kill its own citizens.
It is at this point that the story leaks and we finally discover that 7 people DIED in the UK after receiving the vaccine and 30 people developed blood clots! What’s more is the victims are YOUNG…mostly under 30 and female...
The UK’s drug regulator MHRA – equivalent to the CDC, i.e., incompetent – issued a statement that the benefits of the AZ ‘jab’ outweigh the risks. What a relief! [sarcasm emoji here] We’re safe!
In response, the UK forbids people under 30 from getting the AZ vaccine and Germany agrees, but goes a step further – only Germans OVER 60 should get the vaccine. That’s it. The Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, and Spain concur. Canada and France have limited the AZ vaccine to people over 55; Australia over 50; Belgium, over 56…and Denmark and Norway? None at all.
Yes, maybe NOBODY should get the AZ vaccine. The South Africans stopped administering it in February… not because it killed people but because it just wasn’t effective. What are we doing? The WHO issued a statement, again emphasizing the safety of the AZ vaccine. As usual, when the WHO ‘issues a statement’, I do the opposite. Does anybody take the WHO seriously anymore? If yes, you’re crazy. There is no way in hell, L. or I would ever get the AZ vaccine.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Emergent BioSolutions, a facility in Baltimore, has been producing BOTH the AZ and Johnson and Johnson vaccine, simultaneously, at the same plant, against long-standing FDA policy and recommendations.
In 2012, Emergent was awarded an $18.9 million dollar contract from the US government to mass-produce vaccines in the event a pandemic occurred. Emergent pocketed the 18.9 million and guess what? A pandemic occurred in 2020. Flash forward to today, and a pharmacology distribution consultant’s report from 8 months ago surfaces, erroneously tagged as a “Draft” when it’s actually the “Final”, stating that Emergent has neither the equipment, nor the manpower – especially the manpower – to mass-produce the vaccine, HOWEVER, “ the executives are confident they can fix the issue.” Where did the 2012 $18.9 million payout go? To the corporate “executives” who are confident they can fix the issue?
The executives are so confident “they can fix the issue” that they do nothing, the facility continues to run understaffed, and a “human error” results in somebody putting AZ virus into the J&J vaccine. “You put your peanut butter in my chocolate” :-( Uh-oh…cross-contamination. 15 million doses have to be destroyed and this results in only 700,000 J&J doses being delivered to the states in the coming days, instead of the 7 million we were all expecting. There are whisperings that the contamination occurred when “one employee walked from the AZ side to the J&J section of the facility without “showering” or taking proper precautions.” This fun fact is reported only once, in a UK-BBC publication. L. and I both agree it’s a dirty male. Statistically, men are less likely to mask or wash their hands after they go to the bathroom. They think rules of basic hygiene don’t apply to them so why would they bother to follow cross-contamination protocol? L. asks a question I never thought of: “Why was that guy walking from the AZ side to the J&J side anyway? What did he need over there?”
I ask the ultimate question: Why are there TWO vaccines being produced at ONE facility, against FDA guidelines and recommendations? Especially when one of the vaccines kills people. Within days, the US administration evicted AZ from the plant and J&J took over. What a relief that “the family company” is now in charge, but why weren’t they in charge in the first place? Why did the US govt. continue paying Emergent to generate a vaccine [AZ] that Americans were never going to use? So we can ship even more AZ doses to Mexico and Canada? Clearly, the US government doesn’t care if it kills our “friends” [Mexico and Canada], so why doesn’t our government go a step further and ship the AZ jabs to some of our third world countries [FYI - saying “third world” now has the effect of a racial slur – it’s more politically correct to refer to those countries as “developing” – thought you’d want to know]. If that plant had been focused solely on mass producing the J&J vaccine, our country would have been vaccinated by now. What a waste and a travesty.
And finally, after all this, studies conducted in Germany and Norway reveal, three days ago, that the patients who experienced blood clots after receiving the AZ vaccine ARE directly related to the AZ vaccine. You don’t say. Seriously? It took a special “study” to figure that out? Apparently, these blood clots occurred after the patients underwent a rare antibody reaction to the AZ vaccine. Are you sure the blood clots aren’t related to a bad batch of vaccine from the Emergent plant? The only victims who experienced the blood clot phenom are from the UK. Maybe some cross-contamination occurred that we don’t know about in Batch 1234C [I made that number up]…
*** Note: In three days [Sunday], there will be 222 cases of the blood-clotting problem reported throughout the EU, to include Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. The clotting problem occurs at a rate of ONE in every 100,000 people. And we will also learn that the EU regulators carried out detailed reviews of 86 cases, 18 of which were FATAL.
It is in the midst of all this that I am scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine today, at 12:00. I’m terrified.
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8:00 – 8:30 - I’m awake with high anxiety. I don’t want to get vaccinated today. I lie in bed and listen to Organize 365, then go downstairs and say good morning to the dog. It’s too early for her and she’s still asleep on the couch, so I rub her tummy three times, she grabs her tennis ball, and outside we go. She runs around and then finally goes potty. Back inside and cheese for her, coffee for me. I chop some apple slices and add to my lunch bag, then go upstairs.
I’m at 102 pounds. Clearly eating the crackers after 6:00 was a mistake. Check and redirect.
9:00-10:00 – Shower. Lotion. Covid-19 uniform. I listen to Today Explained.
-I leave for my vaccination appointment. I qualify for this appointment because it’s for people 50 and older, but I probably would have qualified anyway because I’m also a teacher. I bring both IDs, just in case.
10:30-11:30-Driving. I listen to Air Talk. I don’t want to do this.
11:30 – I’m a half-hour early because I’m not sure what to expect and want to make sure I’m on time for my appointment. Although the address is 6th street, the entrance is actually on 3rd, but there are no signs directing people where to go, just a series of orange cones blocking entrance after entrance. I can make out a line of cars on the other side of the parking lot, but I can’t figure out how they got there – its very frustrating.
I drive past the cones several times and randomly turn left, on a side street. It is there that I see a paper arrow, posted low, with the words “Vaccinate on 3rd.” This is hard to read and not a professional sign of any sort. I drive slowly to 3rd and see another paper arrow so I turn left again and, at 11:40 a.m., I’m in line.
I note that on the opposite end of the parking lot/park is a section for walk-up appointments, too.
The line moves extremely slowly – I’m glad I have a half-tank of gas. Anything lower and I might have run out. All passengers and staff are masked. A Hispanic woman comes up to my window and asks for my ID. I give her my CDL, she checks my DOB, then says, “And why are you qualified to be here today?” Doesn’t she know? She just saw my DOB. Startled, I say, “I’m 50 and I’m also a teacher.” She directs me to move forward.
More waiting and idling in my car – I hope it doesn’t overheat. I have apple slices and almond butter and continue listening to Air Talk.
Another female dressed in scrubs approaches my window so I roll it down. Her ID says “Pharm technologist” ??? She asks for my name and DOB then checks the data base on a portable laptop. Apparently, only my name and DOB is in the database. The health questionnaire I completed online at home, along with my personal information, such as my address and phone number…all gone. I proffer my CDL again and we begin the tedious process of providing my information and completing the survey, such as, “Do I have pre-existing conditions? Do I have any allergies to medications? Do I take any medication?” At least she didn’t send me home to complete, yet again, the computer form. She pauses when I say, “I don’t take medication” and tells me, “That’s good”, then returns my CDL and asks if I have any questions.
I say, “Just one. When can I see my parents?” The Pharm Tech asks, “Are your parents vaccinated?” Yes. “Ok, so it’s 14 days between shots and this is your first shot…” I interrupt her immediately and say that I thought they were administering the J&J vaccine, which is only one dose. I don’t tell her this, but I’m leaving if it’s Pfizer or Moderna. She replies, “Yes, that’s right. So you can see your parents in 14 days” and off she goes.
I don’t understand this arbitrary number. Do I need to wait 14 days to be fully inoculated? Or am I allegedly able to carry the “rona” in my nostrils for the next 14 days and possibly infect other people during this time? This piece of information that the media, CDC, and the WHO have been feeding us has always seemed preposterous to me. When’s the last time you got vaccinated – for anything – and were told, “Hey, lay low for 14 days because you might carry chicken pox [measles, small pox, etc.] in your nose.” I’ve never heard this before. With any other vaccination, the moment you receive the “jab” you’re ready to move about in the world.
I told her my parents were vaccinated. If I’m vaccinated and they’re vaccinated, why can’t I see them tomorrow?
I’m slightly concerned about the allergy-to-medication question because I’m actually allergic to sulfa-based medications, like Macrobid, and I suffered a severe allergic reaction after taking Cipro for a UTI when I was in my late 20s. I’m afraid if I answer honestly, they won’t administer the vaccine. I’m also afraid what will happen to me when the vaccine is, in fact, administered.
I continue idling in my car. The line isn’t moving so I read a Money Diary.
We’re all just sitting here, not moving. Another helper comes to my window and asks if I want bottled water. No.
A Korean college student starts wheeling a cart filled with syringes from car to car and performing injections. When he reaches my car, I roll down my window, but he asks me to open the door instead, to make it easier for him. He wants to know which arm and I say, “left.” A female next to him hands me a paper with a variety of symptoms that I could experience if I go into anaphylactic shock. I skim the symptoms and put the paper away – if I read it more closely, I’ll experience psychosomatic symptoms and think I’m dying. If something happens, I’m supposed to remain in my vehicle, turn on my hazards, and honk the horn.
The Korean college student grabs a syringe and I immediately look away. I can hear him tapping the syringe. He grabs the flesh of my shoulder, tells me to take a breath, and then jabs the needle into my arm. It’s not quick and I can feel the vaccine being pumped into my shoulder. I’m surprised at how much it hurts – my arm is immediately sore.
Yet another woman comes buy and writes “12:10” on my windshield, in light-blue, water soluble marker. Here is the reason for the delay. Once the vaccine is administered, we remain in our cars, next to a portable ambulance, for 15 minutes of observation before we can leave. I think directing people to yet another line, once they’re vaccinated, would have helped the process run more smoothly, but that’s not happening.
Yet another woman comes buy and hands me a “swag bag” full of junk through my car window.
I remain in my car and check the menu for the Whole Wheatery. L. texted me her order earlier.
At 12:30, I’m cleared to leave and I drive to the neighboring park-and-ride, call the Whole Wheatery, and place my order.
1:00-1:30 – Driving to Lancaster.
-I stop by College No. 1. I haven’t been there since March 2020, when classes were abruptly canceled and everyone was sent home. This is the only community college I know of that is conducting hybrid classes in the summer, largely because of our President who is forcing staff back into the classroom as early as the first week of May. Because he is so insistent that Summer instructors conduct classes face-to-face, I expect to see a pristine, beautiful campus waiting for us and ready to go, including the completion of any/all previous construction projects. I’m kind of excited to see what the campus looks like now, especially since it’s been a year!
1:30 – 2:00 - I arrive at my campus and drive around the perimeter. It truly looks like a bomb went off. I mean a real bomb. Sections of the campus have been razed and there are construction projects, in various stages of disrepair and completion, throughout the entire property. In one area, it looks like a high-rise apartment complex is going up. I have absolutely no idea what that could be – more classrooms? The ongoing construction project that was next door to my lecture hall and close to completion in March 2020? It’s still not done. Sections of almost every parking lot are cordoned off with chain link fencing – where on earth are the returning students going to park? And why was there such a ‘push’ to get back in the classroom by Summer? There is no place to park and no place to teach! OMG – what a mess!
2:00- 2:30 - I leave the campus very dejected and disillusioned. What the hell has been going on for the past year? Nothing? 2020 would have been the perfect time to complete all of our infrastructure projects. There were no students or teachers on campus for a year! From my perspective, it looks like almost nothing was done.
2:30-I pick up our order from the Whole Wheatery. I order a broccoli-nut soup and a tuna sandwich on “squaw-bread” and L. gets something??, baked potato soup, and a Busy Bee Smoothie.
2:30-3:30 – Driving. I listen to Organize 365.
3:30-4:30 – Home and L. is leaving for work at the Art Studio. She grabs her food and takes off.
-I eat my lunch and read Small Fry. The bread on the half-sandwich is very dense, but I’m eating early enough in the day so that it shouldn’t affect my weight.
4:30 – 5:15 - I don’t know if it’s the stress of today or the actual J&J shot, but I’m exhausted. I take a nap, but wake with a start around 5:15.
5:15 – I go to work. Class starts at 6:00. I check the Discussion Board and make sure class content is ready to go. I also check email at College No. 2.
6:00 – 6:30 - Class begins. The students have an AUDIO lecture, a documentary, and a video quiz. It’s quiet tonight.
-I check my French Cinema class. My teacher sent me an email – I think it may have been an email blast, actually – checking in to ensure that we have found partners for the “presentation” assignment. Of course I haven’t, but I’m hoping I can at least get partial credit for working solo. I respond to her email, apologizing for not knowing the students in the class and being unable to connect with anyone. I get the feeling that she is adamant that we work with someone…uh oh.
6:30-7:15 – I take the dog for a walk.
7:15 –7:45 - I post the link to the documentary then take attendance.
-One student stopped coming to class several weeks ago and has an F. I drop him a few hours before the deadline.
- I send an email blast reminding the students that we have a combo class next week – 2 chapters and 4 Inquizitives.
- I receive an email from the OSD liaison. After my numerous email exchanges with the OSD student and my constant attempts to help him advance in the class, after his failure to complete 18 assignments and the Midterm, the student has proceeded to throw me under the bus by informing OSD that he cannot hear the AUDIO lectures sufficiently. Uh, turn up the volume.
I respond to OSD, saying that I wish the student would have told me there was an issue. I would have provided him with a transcribed copy of every lecture had I known. What an asshole! He did none of his assignments and now I’m the problem?
I show L. my previous emails to the OSD student to see what she thinks – will I go down for this? L. doesn’t think so.
7:45-8:30 – I prepare the Discussion Board for next week’s 2:30 Monday class and make sure class content is ready to go.
-I prepare my Insanity DVD so I can start the workout when class is over.
-L. returns from work and we talk about her day.
8:30 –9:00 - I post the Video Quiz, then send an email to those students who did not sign in on the Discussion Board, informing them that they have been marked absent.
-A few of my students do poorly on the Video Quiz which means they have failed to watch the video and blindly guessed on the multiple-choice quiz. I send stern emails, reprimanding them for bailing on the video.
9:00-9:30 – Class ends, but I hang around to see if the students have any questions.
-I log onto my French Cinema class and discover that we are having a special Zoom meeting at 9:00 a.m. Yes, in the MORNING!. A movie director is the invited guest and he will be speaking to us. Apparently, I missed this Announcement. Great.
9:30 – L. is available and wants to do “TV Time.” I’m up for it, after my workout is over.
9:30-10:15 – Insanity workout. This one is called Cardio Power and Resistance.
10:15-10:45 – Recover. I read Small Fry and have a glass of champagne.
-L. asks if I’m ready for TV Time. Nope – I have to do a supplementary Insanity workout called Cardio Abs that will take 20 minutes.
11:00-11:20 – Insanity – Cardio Abs.
11:20 – 3:00 – L. and I binge watch the rest of Season 1 of Broadchurch. OMG – what a twist! I don’t want this to be a spoiler so all I’ll say is I never saw it coming. I couldn’t stop watching.
3:00-3:45 – Night time routine. Bed. I set my alarm for 7:30 because I need to be presentable for my French Cinema Zoom meeting tomorrow morning.