Disheartening, isn’t it. Texas. Importance appears to be based more on politics than fact. I’m trying to be respectful that people want a choice. I understand the importance of freedoms. Just seems like even if we are given a choice, the one to wear a masks to protect each other would be easy. Seems like saving even one life would be worth being uncomfortable with something on your face for a while. I would wear mine forever if someone said I would keep someone alive if I didn’t take it off. To value another life as much as we value our own SHOULD be so easy. I don’t understand why it’s so hard. I’m in Texas, I’m a nurse, and I feel like I’m watching the world burn. School starts next week for my kids. I have three. Two are vaccinated and will mask at school and be covered with prayer. My youngest will again miss out on school and work at home with me. She is too little, immune compromised, and our district is taking ZERO measures to mitigate this year. We have been informed there will be no parent notification, no quarantine requirements (because it’s parent choice), and no contact tracing. The spread on my daughter’s drill team after just ONE week of practice last week scares me. By giving parents are right to choose, we also are taking away choice at the same time. Choice to know when to keep our kids home so we don’t make others sick. Heart broken doesn’t even describe the feelings. There needs to be a better word but I can’t find it.
This is a true public health emergency. It’s not a republican show or a democratic show, or Christian versus not, or black or white. This is about HUMANITY, COMMUNITY. This is life and death. We do have choices, vaccinate or not, mask or not, stay home or don’t. The only choice we need to focus on is right or wrong. What does it hurt to try and save each other even if we disagree with information.
I’m one scared mama, one frustrated and tired nurse, I’m praying though.
Love your neighbor has always been my Christian focus. Love, love, love.
I wear a mask and got my vaccine for love of my family and with the though that it won’t just save us, but save someone else too.
With freedom comes responsibility. None of us live alone on an island. We live in community with others. If we want to see the survival of civil society, we need to accept responsibility to behave in a way that does not cause harm to others. Thank you, Emily, for being a consistent voice, helping us understand how to behave responsibly throughout this pandemic.
Thank you. I am so discouraged (Texas here, of course). My kids were all virtual last year. My high risk (type one) 13 year old is vaccinated, thankfully. He will go in a mask. but my two girls aren't. I am pulling my youngest (6) to homeschool. But my 5th grader needs to go - I can't give her what she needs academically. I feel like I am having to make a choice between her health and her education. And frankly, I feel like I am making the wrong one. I am in a constant state of anxiety. It feels inevitable after 18 months of keeping her safe and I feel like I am just praying for a low viral load now.
I want to speak up and speak out but literally feel like I am alone in my views. My feed is filled with medical freedom and anti masking.
I am so broken over my Christian friends and how they have handled this pandemic.
I question myself what makes me see things differently. Am I the one who is wrong?
But then I look at the numbers, the science and even theBible. Everything points to we all have to do this, we need to love our neighbors as ourself, love the least, and follow the science.
How do you as a Christian deal with the voices that are for freedom no masks no vaccines? I am a nurse and believer. How do I share my heart and science?
I am also discouraged. No, I am outraged. These “freedom lovers” are only concerned about their freedoms. I love my freedoms too. But what makes the freedoms of those that do not want masks , more important, than those who feel everyone should when it comes to safety ?
My daughter and grandchildren are headed back to school. It seems to me, those that do not want masks, could care less about teachers/counselors, staff, or all children’s rights to be as safe as possible. Those that are high risk, or are too young to be vaccinated can just “ wear a mask or stay home if they are scared”. But don’t shut down their schools! The people people that have disparaged our school systems want them open at all costs without any safeguards . The only rights that matter are theirs. I can’t believe these issues have become political .
Hi Emily, although I do not live in the states, I appreciate your scientific and thoughtful overview and recommendations. We are all in this together! I have heard some of the background commentary warning about harmful effects of wearing masks (low oxygen, hypoxia, etc). I dismissed this a while ago, but since it's popped up as a concern within my circle of friends again, would you mind providing some science behind the safety of wearing masks? Thank you so much!!
Thank you for posting. I just sent my 6 year off to 2nd grade today here in SC where they can not mandate masks and I have called and emailed everywhere I could and it accomplished nothing. I saw only 3 other kids in masks in drop off. There is no virtual for her school I'm terrified for her. She has a mask and plexi shield at her desk and I pray it is enough.
So, what is the best way to try to respond to relatives who refuse to get vaccinated? I live with my mom who is 80. I work in urgent care- (AAMA,CMA)I have been and am still encountering covid pos patients on a daily bases. I take every precaution that I can the entire time to protect myself and my mom (we have been vaccinated since Jan 21) - but family (1/2 are vaccinated ) come to see us and they are not vaccinated and I promise you that if any of them get my mom sick- I will come unglued. I have roomed so many patients who have long covid sx and those who have lost loved ones to covid. It is utterly heartbreaking. Any suggestions?
I am immune-compromised as a result of current chemotherapy treatment. Doing well, thankfully, but still have to be careful. All of my family is vaccinated except for our 8-year old who cannot be. VERY anxious for school since our school in Texas does not have a mask mandate. My fear is that if he is one of the few masking that we will both be put at risk, and there are no hospital beds should either of us need one. Would online school be a better option for us at this point until I can get finished with chemo and he can get vaccinated? I hate to make that decision, as we love our district and he loves his friends and needs to be with other kids, but don't feel safe for him. Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for information on how Delta, and the other mutations, are impacting those who have had Covid in the past. I know several who are not vaccinated and insist that they are just as protected as those who are.
So, I was made aware that those fighting hard to prevent masking are circulating around this letter template to their school boards/Health departments with a list of studies backing their claims that masks don’t work. I was just curious if anyone else was seeing the same thing? I’m going to try to read through these studies, but I don’t have much time for it, sadly. It’s just so frustrating, why people can’t trust the medical community. I am heartbroken that my school district in Michigan won’t require masks, I can’t imagine how southern states must be feeling. Hugs to all of you and hang in there, you’re not alone.
MakerMask has published a blog post "Masking Children for School". We do not endorse products, but we offer a guide on the "how" of selecting a mask that not only works as source control, but also in protecting the wearer. https://makermask.org/masking-children-for-school/
Hi Dr. Emily! Thank you for your post! I am new to Stubstack but have followed you on Facebook for quite some time and so appreciate your perspectives and insights. I was wondering if there is a way to send you a personal message via Substack as I have a question for you related to the pandemic that is more specific to my situation. I tried via Facebook messenger but understand you are primarily going through Substack now. No worries! Again, thank you for your work!
Disheartening, isn’t it. Texas. Importance appears to be based more on politics than fact. I’m trying to be respectful that people want a choice. I understand the importance of freedoms. Just seems like even if we are given a choice, the one to wear a masks to protect each other would be easy. Seems like saving even one life would be worth being uncomfortable with something on your face for a while. I would wear mine forever if someone said I would keep someone alive if I didn’t take it off. To value another life as much as we value our own SHOULD be so easy. I don’t understand why it’s so hard. I’m in Texas, I’m a nurse, and I feel like I’m watching the world burn. School starts next week for my kids. I have three. Two are vaccinated and will mask at school and be covered with prayer. My youngest will again miss out on school and work at home with me. She is too little, immune compromised, and our district is taking ZERO measures to mitigate this year. We have been informed there will be no parent notification, no quarantine requirements (because it’s parent choice), and no contact tracing. The spread on my daughter’s drill team after just ONE week of practice last week scares me. By giving parents are right to choose, we also are taking away choice at the same time. Choice to know when to keep our kids home so we don’t make others sick. Heart broken doesn’t even describe the feelings. There needs to be a better word but I can’t find it.
This is a true public health emergency. It’s not a republican show or a democratic show, or Christian versus not, or black or white. This is about HUMANITY, COMMUNITY. This is life and death. We do have choices, vaccinate or not, mask or not, stay home or don’t. The only choice we need to focus on is right or wrong. What does it hurt to try and save each other even if we disagree with information.
I’m one scared mama, one frustrated and tired nurse, I’m praying though.
Love your neighbor has always been my Christian focus. Love, love, love.
I wear a mask and got my vaccine for love of my family and with the though that it won’t just save us, but save someone else too.
With freedom comes responsibility. None of us live alone on an island. We live in community with others. If we want to see the survival of civil society, we need to accept responsibility to behave in a way that does not cause harm to others. Thank you, Emily, for being a consistent voice, helping us understand how to behave responsibly throughout this pandemic.
Thank you. I am so discouraged (Texas here, of course). My kids were all virtual last year. My high risk (type one) 13 year old is vaccinated, thankfully. He will go in a mask. but my two girls aren't. I am pulling my youngest (6) to homeschool. But my 5th grader needs to go - I can't give her what she needs academically. I feel like I am having to make a choice between her health and her education. And frankly, I feel like I am making the wrong one. I am in a constant state of anxiety. It feels inevitable after 18 months of keeping her safe and I feel like I am just praying for a low viral load now.
I want to speak up and speak out but literally feel like I am alone in my views. My feed is filled with medical freedom and anti masking.
I am so broken over my Christian friends and how they have handled this pandemic.
I question myself what makes me see things differently. Am I the one who is wrong?
But then I look at the numbers, the science and even theBible. Everything points to we all have to do this, we need to love our neighbors as ourself, love the least, and follow the science.
How do you as a Christian deal with the voices that are for freedom no masks no vaccines? I am a nurse and believer. How do I share my heart and science?
I am also discouraged. No, I am outraged. These “freedom lovers” are only concerned about their freedoms. I love my freedoms too. But what makes the freedoms of those that do not want masks , more important, than those who feel everyone should when it comes to safety ?
My daughter and grandchildren are headed back to school. It seems to me, those that do not want masks, could care less about teachers/counselors, staff, or all children’s rights to be as safe as possible. Those that are high risk, or are too young to be vaccinated can just “ wear a mask or stay home if they are scared”. But don’t shut down their schools! The people people that have disparaged our school systems want them open at all costs without any safeguards . The only rights that matter are theirs. I can’t believe these issues have become political .
Hi Emily, although I do not live in the states, I appreciate your scientific and thoughtful overview and recommendations. We are all in this together! I have heard some of the background commentary warning about harmful effects of wearing masks (low oxygen, hypoxia, etc). I dismissed this a while ago, but since it's popped up as a concern within my circle of friends again, would you mind providing some science behind the safety of wearing masks? Thank you so much!!
Thank you for posting. I just sent my 6 year off to 2nd grade today here in SC where they can not mandate masks and I have called and emailed everywhere I could and it accomplished nothing. I saw only 3 other kids in masks in drop off. There is no virtual for her school I'm terrified for her. She has a mask and plexi shield at her desk and I pray it is enough.
So, what is the best way to try to respond to relatives who refuse to get vaccinated? I live with my mom who is 80. I work in urgent care- (AAMA,CMA)I have been and am still encountering covid pos patients on a daily bases. I take every precaution that I can the entire time to protect myself and my mom (we have been vaccinated since Jan 21) - but family (1/2 are vaccinated ) come to see us and they are not vaccinated and I promise you that if any of them get my mom sick- I will come unglued. I have roomed so many patients who have long covid sx and those who have lost loved ones to covid. It is utterly heartbreaking. Any suggestions?
I am immune-compromised as a result of current chemotherapy treatment. Doing well, thankfully, but still have to be careful. All of my family is vaccinated except for our 8-year old who cannot be. VERY anxious for school since our school in Texas does not have a mask mandate. My fear is that if he is one of the few masking that we will both be put at risk, and there are no hospital beds should either of us need one. Would online school be a better option for us at this point until I can get finished with chemo and he can get vaccinated? I hate to make that decision, as we love our district and he loves his friends and needs to be with other kids, but don't feel safe for him. Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for information on how Delta, and the other mutations, are impacting those who have had Covid in the past. I know several who are not vaccinated and insist that they are just as protected as those who are.
So, I was made aware that those fighting hard to prevent masking are circulating around this letter template to their school boards/Health departments with a list of studies backing their claims that masks don’t work. I was just curious if anyone else was seeing the same thing? I’m going to try to read through these studies, but I don’t have much time for it, sadly. It’s just so frustrating, why people can’t trust the medical community. I am heartbroken that my school district in Michigan won’t require masks, I can’t imagine how southern states must be feeling. Hugs to all of you and hang in there, you’re not alone.
https://inoneplace.com/thelibrary/item/KulZnicXu5xAJMq?fbclid=IwAR1pyf3PHn4o0K3-NrmA5OzKptUwcRi5OygaylCJQVaXoUWig3MCGQhZYX8
For reference, our pandemic volunteer organization MakerMask has curated a list of literature about masks. It is divided into different categories for easy reference. https://makermask.org/masks-for-covid-literature-highlights/
MakerMask has published a blog post "Masking Children for School". We do not endorse products, but we offer a guide on the "how" of selecting a mask that not only works as source control, but also in protecting the wearer. https://makermask.org/masking-children-for-school/
Hi Emily. I have a few questions asked to me regarding H1N1 vs COVID. Do you have any data to send to me comparing the two?
Hi Dr. Emily! Thank you for your post! I am new to Stubstack but have followed you on Facebook for quite some time and so appreciate your perspectives and insights. I was wondering if there is a way to send you a personal message via Substack as I have a question for you related to the pandemic that is more specific to my situation. I tried via Facebook messenger but understand you are primarily going through Substack now. No worries! Again, thank you for your work!