It’s been 14 weeks since I last communicated with my readers on Covid or any other subject, for that matter. You may ask, “Where have you been?” or you may not have noticed my absence or, even more likely, you may not give a rat’s ass about what I’ve been up to. Well, I’ll tell you anyway – I’ve been on a deep personal odyssey of introspection to provide meaning to my past and, perhaps, offer guideposts for my future. Nah, that’s pretty much horse shit. I’ve just been chillin and watching. (Well, chillin for me, which is not the same as for everyone else.)

What have I been watching? Mostly the vile and sickening devolution of one of our only 2 political parties into a reality-denying cult of personality of an orange, narcissistic, small-handed moron. Dismaying certainly, but also frightening for this Republic. Let’s steer clear of that subject for now, though. I’ve also been observing Covid in the US and the world, focused mostly on the changing domestic pandemic and the impressive vaccine rollout. My impressions, domestically?

Covid Pandemic Response: Always remember that the virus does what it does. The Covid virus will continue to infect as many hosts as it can, as quickly as it can, until it runs out of hosts or mutates itself out of existence. What happens with this virus and this pandemic is now pretty much in the hands of the hosts. We have remarkably effective vaccines available on a massive scale in this country, free to everyone, with every level of government and many industries assisting in the production and delivery of this life-saving intervention. The vaccine represents an incredible scientific achievement. I am truly in awe of what they have accomplished.

Yet, it certainly seems like the “NEW USA” can screw this up. The idiots on the far right have managed to politicize even something as innocuous as a vaccine into an object of suspicion and loathing. Nearly half of those who voted for Trump in the last election now say that they are either doubtful that they will take the vaccine or are adamantly opposed to Covid vaccination. As much as we may hold these people in derision (I certainly do), as a group they represent a significant proportion of the US population and may thwart this country’s ability to control this epidemic. Obviously, for this you can thank Trump, Murdoch, Hannity, Tucker Carlson, anti-vaxxers, and the Republican leadership (Federal, State, and Local). Really, though, the blame for this goes all the way back to Reagan whose administration began the anti-science, anti-expertise philosophy that now forms the bedrock of the Republican Party. I don’t know that there is a way out of this for our country. Having 35% of the population denying both the facts of an election and the existence of a viral pandemic does not bode well for the future of a democratic republic that is based on an informed electorate. Good Christ!

On a more hopeful note, this country is vaccinating our population rapidly. We were at more than 3 million shots-in-arms per day for a time, although that rate has dropped a bit recently. To a certain extent, the drop off is to be expected. As Jeff Bezos likes to say, “the first 100 million is easy”. The people who were vaccinated early were the most easy to reach – they were clamoring for the shots. As that population was inoculated, finding and reaching the remainder becomes progressively more difficult. So, the rate is bound to gradually slow and the effort needs to be ramped up. I think it will be and I think we will get to 70% of our people by summer. I have no idea what it will take to get the troglodytes who don’t believe in the reality of the disease or who believe that Bill Gates it trying to put a tracking device in their bodies through the vaccine needle. I mean, really what do you do with that?

The answer to the variants? Immunize the population. Get shots in arms and reduce the possibility for more, and more frightening, variants. Meanwhile, let’s try to control these existing variants with the interventions that we know are effective – distancing and masks, particularly for the young people who are not immunized. I know that’s not what is happening, but that is what should be happening.

Personal Response: I am asked by friends and family on a regular basis for my advice on the Covid risk of certain situations and how I am approaching my life now that I have been vaccinated. I’m living my life. I continue to wear a mask when I enter public buildings or stores, of course, more though as a nod to facing this virus in solidarity with others than any fear of personal risk, at this point. I prefer to eat outside, but if the weather is uncooperative, I am fine with dining indoors. If I wanted/needed to fly somewhere, I’d have no compunction about getting on a plane. However, if I know a person over 50 is not vaccinated because of a personal decision, I tend to avoid any long conversations with them. That’s not for public health reasons. That’s just personal revulsion.

That’s all for now. I’m glad to be writing again and I hope those of you who read these essays are also pleased.

The above is all about the US response. The international story is much more complex and, quite frankly, more important. Perhaps later.

Stay well. Stay informed. Get the shot.

PS – I am pleased to say that my Covid projections of a few months ago were pretty much borne out. For all of the fear and hand-wringing, the US did not have a 4th wave of Covid infections. There were hot spots and some concerns in states where foolish government decisions were made, but we did not experience a 4th wave.

PSS – CDC’s advice in the later stages of this pandemic has been ultraconservative and, in my opinion, unhelpful. Almost to the point of mockery. More on my old agency later.