The Debbie Downers have been right all along

[KroozNut]

3 hours ago, T8NCruise said:

Really fast catchup.

 

That's awesome, although not exactly 'fast catchup'. DW and I have been fully vaccinated since February.

[kazu]

When comparing U.S. to Canada, keep in mind, Canada does not manufacture vaccine (yet).  they rely on imports so were at a disadvantage compared to the U.S. that did have manufacturing there and could support their research.

 

In the meantime, those provinces where people exercised the proper protocols have stayed pretty safe with few cases and few deaths.  We haven’t been hiding in our homes here although we do restrict our activities to what is essential.  All our stores are open here, hair salons, gyms, etc.  We just follow the health protocols.  I get my hair done, see my dentist, etc - it’s just a bit different 😉 

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, kazu said:

those provinces where people exercised the proper protocols have stayed pretty safe with few cases and few deaths

 

Surely not as well informed about Canada as you are, but it is my impression that the Maritime Provinces have dealt with this pandemic much better than most other areas of North America.  

[kazu]

36 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Surely not as well informed about Canada as you are, but it is my impression that the Maritime Provinces have dealt with this pandemic much better than most other areas of North America.  

 

Yes, we’ve been called the safest place in North America several times.

Nova Scotia had an outbreak (thanks to an idiot travelling) but they are now getting back to normal gradually.  But in reality, their outbreak is nothing compared to so many others 😉 

 

Overall, our numbers have been negligible in the Maritimes.  We tend to listen to the scientists and pull together willingly to keep everyone safe 😉 

 

Maritimers take care of their neighbours, family, friends and strangers so if it meant wearing a mask and doing a bit of sacrificing, we did it.

You don’t want to see the reaction when someone doesn’t play ball 😉 

[rkacruiser]

37 minutes ago, kazu said:

pull together

 

The most significant two words in your post!  

 

If you would access the statements that Senator Lisa Murkowski has made on her web site, she keeps speaking of the difficulty of getting "everyone to pull together" in order to get our Congress to approve the temporary waiver of the PVSA that is expected to allow a short Alaska cruise season to begin.  She speaks of not only her colleagues, but also of the others involved in our Federal government.  

 

Pulling together is such a simple concept.  But, it seems so difficult to comprehend and accept by so many.  

 

[HappyInVan]

Ontario shortening the second dose to 4 weeks for seniors...

 

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/ontario-covid19-vaccines-second-dose-appointment-144357404.html

 

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

Ontario shortening the second dose to 4 weeks for seniors...

 

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/ontario-covid19-vaccines-second-dose-appointment-144357404.html

 

That is definitely a speeding up of the process. 

[kazu]

3 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

Ontario shortening the second dose to 4 weeks for seniors...

 

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/ontario-covid19-vaccines-second-dose-appointment-144357404.html

 

 

Depending on their age and when they got their vaccine 😉  Most people age 70+ - 80+ in Ontario got their first vaccine much more than 4 weeks ago 

[john2003]

Just got June 9 appointments for Jenny and my second doses in BC. Very happy.

[Vict0riann]

We have appointments for June 12 - we had our first jabs March 17, so it will be three months instead of 4, but still a lot more than 8 weeks!

[Cruisepucks]

As @kazusaid, most 70 plus in Ontario are well over 4 weeks since their first vaccine. Vaccines for 80+ started mid March and 70+ in late March (92 yr old DM March 13, 70 something DH March 30) making their second doses due in July.

While Ontario has announced that the provincial booking site will open Monday for second doses for 80+, half of the 34 public health units in Ontario do not use the provincial booking system. They have their  own booking systems and not all of them will be opening bookings for second doses on Monday. It depends  on the supply and appointment availability in their area. For those that had their first dose shortly after their age group opened, the second dose will move forward by 2-4 weeks at most.

 

Still it's an improvement over the 16 weeks interval and I'm happy about that.

[rkacruiser]

15 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

Ontario shortening the second dose to 4 weeks for seniors...

 

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/ontario-covid19-vaccines-second-dose-appointment-144357404.html

 

 

And, given the scientific data that I have seen and believe, this is a decision that is much overdue.  I am thankful that my friends in Ontario will be able to get this second dose sooner than I believed that they would be able to do.      

[KroozNut]

On 5/28/2021 at 2:13 PM, kazu said:

When comparing U.S. to Canada, keep in mind, Canada does not manufacture vaccine (yet).

 

 

And why is that?

[highscar]

Fingers crossed. The health care units where we got the first shot will notify for a time for the second starting tomorrow. Maybe finally my great granddaughter will get to know me. 

[ontheweb]

27 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

And why is that?

different decisions made by the politicians in charge.

[old mike]

Thirty years ago Canada was a global leader in the development and production of vaccines but the politicians took their eyes off the ball and like so many globalized "commodities" the production moved away to lower taxation jurisdictions. Seems like such a common problem with politicians worldwide nowadays, "look squirrel" instead of delivering on election promises. 

 

 

[HappyInVan]

Here's some bad news. Indian variant in the UK is taking off. doubling every week. This variant is now 3/4 of the UK's daily total.

 

The Indian variant is more infectious than the UK variant. Much more infectious than the original strain. But, it's not one of the vax-resistant ('escape') variants.

 

Cases and deaths starting to spike. Looks like the Germans and Austrians are right. The Austrians have even banned direct flights from the UK.

 

The UK surge countermeasures will be activated. We will see whether they are effective. Lessons to be learned here. So, it ain't over till its over. 🙄

 

Looks like Doubting Debbie is right. Doesn't matter what the vax rate is. As long as covid is circulating, it will hitch a ride with travellers!

 

Perhaps, America should offer its surplus vaccines (70m) to the Caribbean and Mexico? ❓

 

[rodndonna]

9 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

 

The UK surge countermeasures will be activated. We will see whether they are effective. Lessons to be learned here. So, it ain't over till its over. 🙄

 

Looks like Doubting Debbie is right. Doesn't matter what the vax rate is. As long as covid is circulating, it will hitch a ride with travellers!

 

 

 

 

Exactly!

[KroozNut]

22 hours ago, old mike said:

Thirty years ago Canada was a global leader in the development and production of vaccines but the politicians took their eyes off the ball and like so many globalized "commodities" the production moved away to lower taxation jurisdictions. Seems like such a common problem with politicians worldwide nowadays, "look squirrel" instead of delivering on election promises. 

 

 

 

Translation: Canada moved to a socialistic healthcare system, and this slow response to the pandemic and vaccine rollout is simply one of the many negative impacts of that really bad decision.

Edited May 31, 2021 by KroozNut

[KroozNut]

13 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

Perhaps, America should offer its surplus vaccines (70m) to the Caribbean and Mexico? ❓

 

 

Or perhaps to Canada?

[T8NCruise]

1 hour ago, KroozNut said:

 

Translation: Canada moved to a socialistic healthcare system, and this slow response to the pandemic and vaccine rollout is simply one of the many negative impacts of that really bad decision. Laughable!

That whole statement is truly laughable!

[kazu]

 

4 minutes ago, T8NCruise said:

That whole statement is truly laughable!

 I second that.

 

[Lido deck main]

1 hour ago, KroozNut said:

 

Translation: Canada moved to a socialistic healthcare system, and this slow response to the pandemic and vaccine rollout is simply one of the many negative impacts of that really bad decision.

We are coming up to almost 55 years of our healthcare system.  The U.S. is one of a handful of countries without universal Medicare in the world.   There are only two countries in the world that don’t go by the metric system, again the U.S. in one of them.  Both my maternal grandparents were born in the US.  Our conservative government at the time 30 years ago stopped funding to our research council and the scientists who worked there.  

[fatcat04]

Sorry to be blunt but I've kinda "had it" and have wanted to say this for months. We are all human and I have friends all over the US, Canada, and Mexico. Let's cheer each others victories and not tear each other down for our shared failings, whether personal or political. This disease is personal for many of us, not abstract. It's not like the virus gives a damn where the borders are or to what nation or party it's victims belong. We are better than this. 

Edited May 31, 2021 by fatcat04

[rkacruiser]

it's easy to point fingers at "others".  It's more difficult to point fingers at ourselves when it is "ourselves" of whatever nationality who keep voting members into our Congress and our Parliament who fail to do the job that we expect them to do.