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So, I've had the vaccination. Now what?
#1
My wife & I had a Moderna vaccination 3 weeks ago (with 2nd shot next week).  We're now past the point where the Moderna clinical study showed 95% protection against the (original) virus.  We're going to have to figure out new bounds on our activity.

At 95% protection, the vaccination should reduce our chances of getting the original virus by a factor of 20 over someone who hasn't had the vaccination.  That sounds good until you realize that it means (roughly) that instead of 28M confirmed cases, there would be only 2.4M cases.  Or, for each 120 vaccinated people, one of them would have gotten COVID (ignoring herd protection).

But, the big win for the vaccination is that the chances of getting a serious case is reduced even further, but the numbers were too small to get a non-zero estimate.  For the placebo group, there were 187 cases of COVID with 30 that were serious.  For the Moderna vaccine group, there were 12 cases of COVID with 0 serious.  One might expect around 2 serious cases out of the 12, but these are small numbers.

We've been more careful that most & I expect we will continue to be more careful.  Obviously, we'll continue to wear masks, etc.  We had a pizza delivered yesterday -- the first food we've had in a year that we didn't prepare.   My work has been remote, but now I can entertain going back to the office to work.

We do plan to drive to our grandkids in person in a few weeks for the first time in a year. (FaceTime has been a blessing).

It is time to make up the postponed annual physical and visits to the dentist.

I admit thinking about flying to Austin & San Antonio to see family & to see the NCAA Women's basketball tourney in early April, but I decided that after a year of being very careful, it just wasn't worth the risk.

If the number of cases in the US falls to levels from last April, then the risk of exposure is pretty small.  But if the cases stay at their current levels (about at the July peak), there's still a lot of exposure possibility.  (The current 70K new confirmed cases a day means about 0.2% of all people are in a 10 day window of having confirmed COVID. More will actually have COVID.)   Risks of catching COVID will depend upon how many people get vaccinations and how good those vaccinations are at preventing infections by the current strains of SARS-COV2 (vs just preventing serious cases of COVID).   

How do others view how they will manage their risks?
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#2
I am planning on max paranoia until 2 weeks after the second dose. I do not believe that M and P are as protective as you quote so early. US case rates are leveling off at a really high level.

For what it's worth we are having exactly the same discussions as you seem to be. There is a real cost to avoiding something. Your grandchildren will have changed. Even without COVID each of us has a limited time left.

We're still paying the house cleaners not to come in to the house, doing some of the dental stuff, visiting the twice vaccinated in law (but outside and with distance because he let loose after his second shot).
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#3
Tough decisions. The information out there is so incomplete. Isn't the CDC planning on making a recommendation soon? Though even their recommendations...we all know how well those went a year ago. It'll be interesting to see if the CDC will err on the side of caution, as opposed to last year.

For what to do once you get vaccinated?

I'm not in the vaccinated age group...won't be til summer, at least, but I'd probably try to check off all the important things of moderate risk and the comfort things of low risk.
Things like ordering takeout (note, I've ordered takeout since about May (pizza even earlier), though no indoor dining, so that kinda gives you an idea of my risk comfort level), going to the grocery store an hour before close. Going to the dentist or doctor for an overdue checkup. Doing things outside, where you can stay spaced and masked.

Would I take a plane trip? I've had friends who have done it...though out of necessity. I don't think I'm ready for that yet.

I've had cleaners come over once a month. We hole up in a room that they're not to clean (if we're not able to leave the house) and then open windows and vents/fans when they leave, while staying masked for the first few hours.

I think with all activities, if you're concerned about the risk, the most important part is that not only do you stay vigilant, but I think that you have confidence that those involved in the activity will stay vigilant as well.
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#4
A local news station carried a report about a Palo Alto senior living facility that celebrated most residents getting their second dose with an outdoor gathering with cocktails and Mariachi performers.

The very first scene showed two tables of residents and some standing. You could make out whether people were wearing masks for only 8. Seven (all residents) had masks below their chins (none were actively putting food or drink to their mouths); one (server) had a mask on. (To be fair, as they panned to more of the gathering, most had their masks on or had food or drink in their hands. Of course, all on-camera interviews were of people wearing masks.)

My mother lived at such a facility for 15 years. I know that these residents probably consciously intend to wear their masks and would probably swear they had only removed their mask to eat/drink. Yet, COVID doesn't know what your intent is.

I hope there were none with active COVID.
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#5
KTVU? Saw the same video this morning, though wasn't paying too much attention. Not sure we're ready to go all the way there yet. . . .

On another note, went to Stockton/Lodi 9 days ago, and it was like visiting a different planet. Few masks and live music. Servers and musicians all sans masks. . . .Wonderful and frightening at the same time.
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#6
Yep, KTVU. I don't mean to knock the rest home or the individuals. But it is just our nature that we fall back into the habits of a lifetime, even when it still can be dangerous.
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#7
Agreed. Even hard with teenagers to get them to break habits. . . .
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#8
It's great to have 95% protection but that's not enough for me with the current rate of infections. I'm not changing anything for a while. I'm assuming that means until sometime this summer. I'm hoping to go somewhere in August.
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#9
I am scheduled to get the J&J jab this coming Friday.   I will probably only change one thing in my distancing protocol (which includes no restaurants):  playing basketball again, with a mask.   Calculated risk versus other health issues, and I am still debating and will discuss with my MD tomorrow.  And of courseI have to find the right mask.
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#10
The CDC has now weighed in on what fully vaccinated people can/should do.   I feel there are squishy spots.
  1.  They' define "fully vaccinated" as 2 weeks after your final shot of the vaccine.  
  2.  They studiously ignore that the J&J reduces the likelihood of getting COVID by a factor of 3 while the other two reduces the likelihood by a factor of 20.  
Quote:If you’ve been fully vaccinated:
  • You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
  • You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
  • If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
    • However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.
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