Thanksgiving is in 20 days. Hanukkah in 23. Christmas in 50. And the pandemic landscape continues to rapidly change. More likely than not there will be a mix of people attending your holiday celebration: family members that are ineligible (0-4 year olds), partially vaccinated (5-11 year olds), vaccinated but not protected (immunocompromised), or just plain unvaccinated (
Thanks for the timely thoughts on get togethers. If you have a limited number of tests, should you test the unvaccinated? The immunocompromised? Does it make sense to test the vaccinated at all?
Can I add: be flexible about the schedule? There have been lots of times - pre-pandemic - that my family has rescheduled holidays. Families can choose to wait until case rates are lower, or until the kids have been vaccinated, or until people who feel like they need to get a booster can get boosted, or until antivirals are widely available. Maybe we can invent a new holiday to celebrate some sort of agreed upon "end".
I feel like you’ve already addressed this somewhere, but a friend just texted asking if she should give her kid tylenol or advil an hour after vax as a precaution/proactive measure. I said we didn’t need it and I’d avoid it if possible, but does the science say avoid after or only before?
I tote my CO2 meter around with me. I've found airport concouses and security areas are really well ventilated. (600s and lower). Crowded gate areas not quite as good (900ish). I've been to Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, SLC....
Do you have a good infographic for reducing vaccine anxiety in kids? I was putting together a basic document and then realized I know of someone who may have a much better infographic!
Great post that speaks to the discussions my family has been having for the last few days. We are all vaccinated and healthy but some are very, very cautious, and your recommendation to get together without restrictions were surprising to those of us who still really don't want to get COVID and want the family to all get tested before gathering. My question is: Is there any data on the likelihood of transmission amongst asymptomatic vaccinated people?
Would you consider putting together a post with recommendations for scouting groups? I lead a Girl Scout troop with kids from 2nd-11th grades we have been meeting outside with masks. We would like to camp together again, but are not given much good guidance from our council. I'm considering having a family campout where each family camps in their own tent. I know some parents won't want to camp though, so tht will leave some girls out. If I just camp with older girls who are all fully vaccinated, it should be as safe as possible, right?
I am also on a planning committee for a camporee in April that normally has about 200 attendees. We haven't been able to have that for 2 years, but the council allowed us to reserve the camp, so it might be on for 2022. At thy point everyone eligible to attend is also eligible for vaccination. How do we compassionately handle the inevitable situation of kids and volunteers who aren't vaccinated?
As always, thank you so very much for all of your posts!
THANK YOU for the work you are doing and continuing to do! Your translation of the science news has really helped. As an IT person who often had to translate techno-trouble into management terms, I know it's not always easy to do. I'm going to admit to crying with relief when I read this particular post; we were already feeling good about having the small family Thanksgiving that we usually do; we were already scaling back our typical 40-person Friendsgiving, but I was trying so hard to figure out whether we could reasonably bring our Friendsgiving-lite in the house if the weather doesn't cooperate. We would enjoy having friends over to hang out in the back yard in the afternoon with a fire pit, and we thought that was fine, but I was really struggling with the thought of having that party move indoors if it rains (which it's threatening to do). I feel a lot better now. (and am still being surprised by emotional outbursts - this has been a long hard slog even for people as fortunate as my family has been). Again, thank you!
Nice to see others are living as my family is… With that being said I thought that a vaccinated person could still transmit so I was also surprised to see that you said if all were fully Vaxxed then could go back to pre-pandemic gatherings.
Separate question on antigen testing:
How long are the test results good for or are they only for that particular moment in time, ie dynamic?
Excellent post. I would like to know your thoughts on other forms of travel including long drives that require multiple stops for bathroom and food, busses, and trains. I would also like to know your thoughts on staying in hotels.
Thanks for the timely thoughts on get togethers. If you have a limited number of tests, should you test the unvaccinated? The immunocompromised? Does it make sense to test the vaccinated at all?
Can I add: be flexible about the schedule? There have been lots of times - pre-pandemic - that my family has rescheduled holidays. Families can choose to wait until case rates are lower, or until the kids have been vaccinated, or until people who feel like they need to get a booster can get boosted, or until antivirals are widely available. Maybe we can invent a new holiday to celebrate some sort of agreed upon "end".
I feel like you’ve already addressed this somewhere, but a friend just texted asking if she should give her kid tylenol or advil an hour after vax as a precaution/proactive measure. I said we didn’t need it and I’d avoid it if possible, but does the science say avoid after or only before?
I tote my CO2 meter around with me. I've found airport concouses and security areas are really well ventilated. (600s and lower). Crowded gate areas not quite as good (900ish). I've been to Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, SLC....
Do you have a good infographic for reducing vaccine anxiety in kids? I was putting together a basic document and then realized I know of someone who may have a much better infographic!
Great post that speaks to the discussions my family has been having for the last few days. We are all vaccinated and healthy but some are very, very cautious, and your recommendation to get together without restrictions were surprising to those of us who still really don't want to get COVID and want the family to all get tested before gathering. My question is: Is there any data on the likelihood of transmission amongst asymptomatic vaccinated people?
This being a season of potlucks -- people have been saying, oh, no we can't do that, not yet. When I asked why, some of the answers surprised me.
"What if an unvaccinated person cooked the food?" -- I didn't think that mattered??
"We shouldn't all touch the serving spoon" -- Um, this virus not spread by touch, so again not a big worry?
"We shouldn't crowd around the buffet" -- that one made more sense to me, take turns, give people space
Could you speak to this? Thank you!
Would you consider putting together a post with recommendations for scouting groups? I lead a Girl Scout troop with kids from 2nd-11th grades we have been meeting outside with masks. We would like to camp together again, but are not given much good guidance from our council. I'm considering having a family campout where each family camps in their own tent. I know some parents won't want to camp though, so tht will leave some girls out. If I just camp with older girls who are all fully vaccinated, it should be as safe as possible, right?
I am also on a planning committee for a camporee in April that normally has about 200 attendees. We haven't been able to have that for 2 years, but the council allowed us to reserve the camp, so it might be on for 2022. At thy point everyone eligible to attend is also eligible for vaccination. How do we compassionately handle the inevitable situation of kids and volunteers who aren't vaccinated?
As always, thank you so very much for all of your posts!
THANK YOU for the work you are doing and continuing to do! Your translation of the science news has really helped. As an IT person who often had to translate techno-trouble into management terms, I know it's not always easy to do. I'm going to admit to crying with relief when I read this particular post; we were already feeling good about having the small family Thanksgiving that we usually do; we were already scaling back our typical 40-person Friendsgiving, but I was trying so hard to figure out whether we could reasonably bring our Friendsgiving-lite in the house if the weather doesn't cooperate. We would enjoy having friends over to hang out in the back yard in the afternoon with a fire pit, and we thought that was fine, but I was really struggling with the thought of having that party move indoors if it rains (which it's threatening to do). I feel a lot better now. (and am still being surprised by emotional outbursts - this has been a long hard slog even for people as fortunate as my family has been). Again, thank you!
Nice to see others are living as my family is… With that being said I thought that a vaccinated person could still transmit so I was also surprised to see that you said if all were fully Vaxxed then could go back to pre-pandemic gatherings.
Separate question on antigen testing:
How long are the test results good for or are they only for that particular moment in time, ie dynamic?
"we should trust the Vaccines". Could you tell us more about why that's important? Why shouldn't we just stay home?
Excellent post. I would like to know your thoughts on other forms of travel including long drives that require multiple stops for bathroom and food, busses, and trains. I would also like to know your thoughts on staying in hotels.