So under COVID I was using, in my mind, vaccination rate as a proxy for relaxing my behavior

[dsc]

but it is dawning on me that the vaccination rate in my county is pretty stuck at around 50%. That wasn't what I was hoping. I got my shots (Feb and March) and my booster (Oct). I have been strategic in my outings. I avoid buffets, crowded movies, and the like. So I watched The French Dispatch for example but won't watch the latest Bond film or the Eternals. But, I am honestly getting tired of this. While I don't think anyone should go out of their way to expose themselves, I am getting tired of being the only person who seems to care about this at all. I had fixed in my mind that 70% vaccinated would mean I could do crowds etc. Seeing that is unlikely to ever materialize, I am realizing that I might have to mask, open up to crowds a bit more, and be strategic when I can. I don't want to give COVID to others, but I also am frankly getting tired of being the only adult in the room.

[Poiuyt]

1. I hear you

My wife and I have not been to a restaurant since the pandemic started. We will socialize indoors with friends who we know are vaccinated, but avoid friends who aren't and wear masks inside grocery stores, etc. It seems like we're the only ones wearing masks.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. I still wear my mask, in hi human contact areas (food markets, Wal-Mart). But I don't wear it

in places where there is low traffic. Getting my booster, next month.

On edit - in my rural community, about 1/2 mask at the grocery store. No one seems to be outraged, one way or another.

[brewens]

3. Roger that. Back in July I had my hip rehabbed well enough to walk to the bar. That was about the

lowest infection and deaths we've had and I was fully vaccinated. I thought I'd make that an every Friday thing.

My neighbor friend is the bar manager and she knows I'm single and looking. Getting out there and some other local events should have had me meeting someone pretty easily. That lasted a few weeks before the delta variant took off and I shut down again.

I started seeing a therapist for unrelated reasons, I thought. Being isolated is more of a problem than I thought now that I'm keeping track of what's going on for her. I'm looking forward to going in again this week. It's helping.

[Meowmee]

4. I am boosted now

Never stopped masking (Kn95) anywhere and avoid any big crowd situations. I also will not meet in smaller groups with any unvaxed people even masked.

[Phoenix61]

5. Not sure what medical person it was but she said

The vaxed need to decrease what they think their risk level is and the unvaxed need to increase what they think their risk level is. I’m done covering their sorry asses.

[Lars39]

6. I'm not eating turkey with extended family

Don’t know or trust that they’re vaxxed or that they wear a mask. I do know they think trump is going to be reinstated, so that’s all I really need to know.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. neither are we

Although one of my husband's brothers and his entire family are vaxxed. We have not had a big family event for 2 years.

I did go to a baby shower - outdoors, everybody vaxxed. The shower was for the aforementioned brother's stepdaughter.

[Lars39]

11. My husband and I are the holdouts...

and his elderly parents are making comments about it.

[MOMFUDSKI]

7. Now we are seeing the numbers skyrocket once again.

I never stopped wearing a mask when in a store, crowds, etc. Got my 3rd Pfizer Sept 28. My twice-vaxxed w/Moderna son now has covid up in Milwaukee. He is pretty sick and lost taste/smell. This is a scary situation and just don't know how long this will go on. I plan to go back to hole up mode as in the beginning. I agree with you about being the only adult in the room when I see all the party hardy folks just living their lives. Way too many anti-vaxxers for my taste. Good luck to all of us. By the way, my paternal grandmother DIED in the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic so I have a deep respect for mother nature.

[babylonsister]

22. Your poor son, does everything right,

still gets sick. I hope he feels better soon.

We steer clear of people as much as possible. I'm in Florida and everyone seems way too cavalier.

[Pobeka]

8. I hear ya. Then I found out the 70% target was based on the Beta variant, not Delta.

I think we need more like 90% vaccination rate to beat Delta. (Just a guess, but I did spend 31 years using fancy math every day so I think I'm in the ballpark). I really should see if any epidemiologists have put out a refined number.

We live in a country with spoiled children inhabiting the bodies of too many adults.

You can, at least, choose who you want to be around. We're only hanging out with vaxxed adults for social/family gatherings.

I wish us all good luck in finding times to be with adults.

On Edit: Lucky guess on my part, here's an article.

https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-herd-immunity-90-percent-2021-8?op=1

But I think it's worse than that, because people tend to cluster, not mix uniformly. So the vaccination rate would have to be higher to compensate...

[dsc]

14. Well the cows will come back home and give birth to aliens before my county gets to 90

and yes, that is even more depressing.

[Pobeka]

20. Woah, cows giving birth to aliens gives me hope!

Thanks for that. You lightened my day

[Ms. Toad]

19. You are correct - as to herd immunity.

The percent needed is based on R0, which is dramatically higher for delta than it was for the original variant(s).

70% is still my own personal safety level (but that is too low - even for the original COVID - I believe it was over 80%).

[yellowdogintexas]

10. I wear mask everywhere. I am also fed up with being the only adult in the room

I do take some consolation that it is highly unlikely I will get the flu.

[demigoddess]

12. keep masking! got my booster last week and had such a reaction! Felt like I got covid.

never had a reaction to a vaccine and I have had plenty(military brat). I had fever and chills for over 24 hours, dizziness, nausea, headache. Still having some symptoms almost a week later. Hope it goes away soon. I feel terrible. ps. I always wore a mask!

[moonscape]

23. I had a strong reaction to the 2nd Moderna and

was thrilled. Fever was 102, could barely stay awake for nearly a week, body aches, etc and the whole time I was chanting ‘I’m building antibodies … I’m building antibodies …’

[pnwest]

13. I soooooo feel you. I'm tired of it as well.

I think I’ve decided that once I have my booster in Dec, I’m going to just live my life as tho COVID were the flu. Get my annual shots, and stop wearing this mask unless it’s required somewhere. Life HAS to return to some kind of normal, where we’re not consumed with COVID worrying every day. I need to see some live music again, damnit!! I need to go to a bar and drink irresponsibly with my crew again!

[madville]

15. Vaccination rate doesn't really concern me

I’m vaccinated and boosted, I go everywhere I want to and don’t worry about it anymore. If someone else is unvaccinated it’s really not my problem. All the vaccinated people at work that have had breakthrough infections since August had very mild cases, some only knew they were infected because of the tests we take, had zero symptoms.

[Skittles]

16. yup

the anti-vax folk scream about their "freedoms" - what about OUR freedoms???

[Ms. Toad]

17. As long as you're masked and vaccinated, you are relatively safe going about your business

I've been teaching in person since August 2020 to as many as 100 students at a time. I've been exposed, but have not contracted COVID (although my vaccinated co-worker did - likely here, but perhaps on a shopping trip).

Largely, it just means eating ahead of or or after an event, rather than during - since eating requires you to remove your mask.

I use 70% vaccinate rate +

[BannonsLiver]

18. We went to the movies a week or so ago

There were 6 people in a theater that seats 250 and in the giant reclining chairs. We were nowhere near anyone else and wore masks. You just have to be strategic and plan ahead. Those things can generally be done safely with the right equipment and planning. That being said, I'm still avoiding crowded indoor spaces particularly bars and restaurants.

Anyway, live a little. That's my advice. Within reason. Even the biggest COVID scold here let it slip they are taking a trip to Mexico in the near future and Mexico has zero barrier to entry for American tourists and from what I understand, virtually no protocols at many resorts. I was frankly stunned they were planning a trip there, given all the rhetoric about how unsafe it is to do simple things like go to the grocery store. So, take what you read here with a grain a salt, no matter what.

We also have traveled to Saint Lucia, Hawaii and Oregon this year with no problems. The testing requirements are reasonable and its easy to avoid crowds with proper planning. There's going to be some element of risk in anything you do, but preparation and attention to detail can be empowering.

[Dorian Gray]

21. So, I've been opening up here in NYC

but restaurants require vaccine proof. I went to a comedy show at Carnegie Hall the other night, and you had to show vaccine proof. I took my daughter to see Hamilton for her birthday. We had to show proof of vaccine (for me) and a negative covid test for her. I've been to two movies. (Vaccine requirement for adults. Kids don't need them. But need to keep mask on.)

And with the exception of the restaurants, you have to keep your mask on in all the venues. Same with church, and I'm going to services.

So I think for the most part, places are being more thoughtful about mitigation/air flow/vaccine requirement/masking.... as long as those are being addressed, I'll do most things.

If I were in another area of the country, maybe I'd feel differently.