pro-vaxxer

Text reads: The future is unwritten but this blog post isn't. Background contains a pair of gloved hands holding a vial and syringe.

The future is unwritten but this blog post isn’t

Pharmacist: “Are you okay with needles?”

Me, internally: Yes, I remember getting vaccinations at school and they would tell us to count to 10 to take our minds off what was happening, but I would literally watch needles go into all the kids’ arms as I was counting ’cause I’m a sadistic biatch like that.

Me out loud: “Uh, yeah, they’re all right.”

It’s okay, you don’t have to keep me away from your children. Though if you do, I’ll understand. 😜

Anyway, I got my COVID booster a week ago. (Moderna after two doses of the Pfizer vax — figured I’d hedge my bets. 😉) I’d planned to get my booster ahead of the reopening of the WA border — which was supposed to be February 5, but has now been delayed indefinitely. I guess I’m both sad and relieved about that.

Sad because it means people will be separated for even longer if they can’t get an exemption, with no knowledge of when that will change. And relieved because the “let it rip” approach to living with the virus disproportionately kills vulnerable members of the community.

Like I said in my last post, I don’t know what the right balance is. But neither do all the armchair epidemiologists who barely scraped through high school science. At least I know what I don’t know.

We’ve lived mostly mask-free in WA during the pandemic but I think they’re probably here to stay now. I don’t mind… they’re not the most comfortable things to wear, especially in summer, but I feel the same way about bras and I’ve been wearing those for most of my life.

In the not-too-distant future, I’m hopeful of flying away, staying somewhere well ventilated where I can chill bra-less, going out and buy supplies from fully stocked shelves (probably with a bra and mask on), and coming home to Perth without infecting anyone or forcing my family into isolation or quarantine. Whew!

But until then… we’ll always have these nutty blog posts. 😉

Text reads: Something something something festive. Background contains glowing baubles, including one decorated with a ribbon.

Something something something festive

Obligatory festive season post coming up, just as mask mandates are reintroduced in Western Australia.

I could say “Merry Christmas” but obviously not everyone celebrates it, myself included. (I don’t care if you say Merry Christmas to me though. Neither does any other non-Christmas celebrator I’ve ever met.)

“Happy Holidays” is a nice catch-all, but not everyone gets holidays or has a happy time during them.

“Season’s greetings” seems to cover it all but feels unnecessarily formal for most occasions.

So I’m going with “Live long and prosper” and “May the Force be with you” – because it is possible to love both Star Trek and Star Wars, and you totally should. 😉

Anyway, it’s been a pretty significant year for me. I published my first novel in November, and while I prefer not to be the centre of attention as a person, I’m proud of that damn book. Hopefully there’s more to come. 🙂

(You can give Black and Blue all the attention in the world, by the way. It is a book – an inanimate object – and therefore does not experience awkwardness or embarrassment.)

Looking towards 2022, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit anxious about the not-too-distant future. I’ll be eligible for my third COVID shot shortly before WA’s borders are set to reopen, but it’s not really my own health I’m worried about. (I’ll get that third jab as soon as I can though, that’s how I roll.)

Meanwhile, I’m still looking for a hand sanitiser sponsorship in the New Year. I don’t drink alcohol, but I’ve been rubbing it on my hands since long before COVID… so come at me, hand sanitiser manufacturers! Yeah, I know it’s extremely unlikely but a girl can dream. 😛

This will probably be my last blog post for 2021 unless something particularly amazing/terrible happens before the end of the year. For now… Live long and prosper and may the Force be with you. And also with you.

Text reads: Choice and consequence. Background contains syringes of different sizes.

Choice and consequence

While I don’t think I’ve ever actually said so until now, it’s not a secret: I’m pro-vax. I think everybody should be vaccinated unless they genuinely can’t for medical reasons.

“But you’re vaccinated, right? So you’re safe, right? Or doesn’t your jibby jab actually work?”

Newsflash: We don’t just get the jab for ourselves, but thanks for confirming the inherent selfishness of anti-vaxxers.

I got vaccinated because I want to do everything I can to protect our community, which includes immunocompromised and vulnerable people. Because I believe “learning to live with the virus” should centre around helping the population reach herd immunity as safely as possible, not a bunch of ableist snotrags deciding who’s expendable.

If you choose not to get vaccinated in Australia, you may be restricted from certain venues and events, or have to find a different job. Inconvenient, but it’s still your choice.

If you choose to equate public health measures with apartheid, segregation or the Holocaust, possible consequences of that include being shunned by people who are rightfully disgusted by the disgusting comparison.

If you choose to spread misinformation about vaccines, either deliberately or because you inexplicably believe your amateur research is valid, possible consequences include being labelled an anti-vaxxer even if you insist you aren’t one.

If I choose to publish this blog post, possible consequences include certain people unfriending/unfollowing me on social media, sending me angry messages or refusing to buy my book. But that’s okay. Because getting vaccinated is bigger than just me.

I’m not being brave or edgy here. I actually had a lot more sympathy for vaccine hesitancy earlier in the year. But months of watching privileged people cry about oppression and wellness warriors act like martyrs is wearing thin. I’m just tired now.

And maybe a bit disappointed at the lack of noticeable improvement in my wi-fi. 😉

TL;DR – please just get vaccinated.

Text reads: Not throwin' away my shot. Background contains 2 gloved hands holding a globe that is wearing a mask.

Not throwin’ away my shot

I have now received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and I feel awesome. 🙂

I’m also happy to have reached the “feeling awesome” stage, because I wasn’t in the days following my second shot.

I got Pfizer, and literally the only side effect I had from the first dose was a sore arm for a day. I was in the gym doing an upper body workout less than 48 hours later. I knew — and was also told by the nurse administering my vaccine — that side effects are more likely to be worse for the second dose of Pfizer. But it was still a bit of a shock to be out of commission for two days and have to call in sick to work. Then for the next few days I was functional but definitely not 100%.

But I’m all good now and I’d do it all again — short-term pain for long-term gain. And I already get the flu shot every year for work, so more jabs in the form of COVID boosters are no big deal to me.

Besides, it would be great to be able to supplement my income by offering additional services as a mobile hotspot. For the right price, I’m also open to walking past someone you don’t like in order to shed the vaccine virus at them. 😉

P.S. In case y’all missed the Hamilton reference in the blog title…

“My Shot” — Hamilton