I am very fortunate that my state classified parents of high risk disabled kids (young adults, in my case) as “health care workers” and granted us access to the COVID-19 vaccine. 4 weeks ago I got dose one, and today I got dose 2.
As a short PSA–nurses like food and nothing stops you from showing them some gratitude. Here I am with the nurse who administered my shot, handing off a bag of chocolate.
“High risk” isn’t just a phrase. It’s a reality. My kid has a higher chance of complications or death than others. So I do this to protect them. And hospitals don’t have the capacity to handle a high support individual in the best of times. With a pandemic, the idea that my kid could end up strapped down and/or sedated has been very much on my mind.
So if I can reduce the chances of my kid getting sick, I’m taking it.
And I will admit, I am pleased to have the protection for myself. One of the phrases you will hear attributed to parents of disabled kids is “what will happen when I’m gone”. Well, this is a big step to make “when I’m gone” happen later. COVID kills.
As the parent of an autistic person I am well aware that many of my fellow parents are actively anti-vaccine. That’s a big reason why I speak out against their misinformation. The harm they do is very real.
I look forward to a time when we have COVID-19 under some control. Not so I can stop wearing a mask or eat at a restaurant. So I can rest with the confidence that my kid and other people are safer.
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By Matt Carey
Left Brain Right Brain 
I’ll get my second shot on March 2nd, 3 weeks after the first. Provided by the VA, because I’m 74 and have COPD, plus they resected a piece of lung a couple years ago. I was really worried this COVID thing was going to ‘get me’, because I’m triple-compromised. Haven’t been anywhere except the grocery store since last March. Soon we’ll be free. Yay for the ‘adult in the room’, Joe Biden!
Good to “see” you again mooncat.
(strangely, my autocorrect doesn’t believe “mooncat” is a word and wanted to change it to “moonrat”. Like that’s a word?)
If there are rats on the moon, then there are probably cats, too. 😉
Moonrat refers to the lying astronauts who said they went to the moon.
So glad you got your doses. You may feel ill the next day but it’s short lasting(a day or two) compared to getting COVID. My staff and I were lucky to get our first dose in December and second in January. It gives me great peace of mind that I can interact with patients, my family and the community somewhat safely while still wearing a mask. Anti-vaxxers don’t have a clue of how serious this pandemic truly is. My loved Autie and I talked about if he wants the vaccine and his response is YES!
In our state we cannot be considered “health care workers” unless we go through training and are paid for the work. It is all state dependent, and with my experience going through workshops with our local ARC our state falls between California and Idaho.
Folks from California come here and are shocked they cannot get what they had before (and have to go through the whole eligibility process again), and those from Idaho are so happy to get anything. Go figure. (not actual scientific data, just stuff I hear from parents who move here)
I am just glad I am in one the states “getting it right” (hint: on the west coast in the contiguous USA): https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/18/coronavirus-pandemic-states-467539
None of these commenters exist. Except in the mind and vivid imagination of the spook filling this website with his batshitcraziness.
Have a nice day y’all.
It’s certainly a relief to realize that you don’t exist. Please continue in your nonexistence, for the good of everyone
Greetings, the anti-vaccers now use VAERS against the covid vaccine, I found this article where they refute the VAERS issue very well, but the videos published in it are offline, because the server has fallen, can you tell me where I can get them? Thank you https://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2006/03/14/on-using-vaers/