Friday Feature: COVID Vaccine Myths and Facts: Some Good Sources

Yesterday, I read an article in the New York Times about the anger that vaccinated people are feeling about going backwards. We've followed the rules. We've done things "right" and now, despite that, we're not only back to masking and fear, we're feeling helpless. 

I'm not angry, exactly, but I am frustrated. I want to stop wearing masks. I want to teach my classes without fear of illness (mine or theirs). I want people to stop dying from this disease. I want those who can take the vaccine to get vaccinated so we can reach herd immunity and go back to something resembling a normal life. 

As an educator, I'm big on information. So, today (tonight, actually, as I postponed writing this), I'm going to share a variety of sources addressing the myths surrounding vaccines. I cannot even imagine being a person of color and taking a leap of faith that this time, the system is trustable. I can't imagine being afraid of needles but getting one anyway. 

But, I also can't imagine dying from this disease, alone and afraid, when there's a viable alternative.

I can only hope that reading the facts helps someone, and that is my goal here. I don't want to take away anyone's rights, but I'd like to have a few of my own back. 

If you've got a great source I missed (credible, science-based), please include it in the comments. No one should ever take medication without knowing the facts and I hope those provided here make the medicine easier to take in order to protect those who truly cannot be vaccinated. 

From Healthline: "Here's How it Was Possible to Develop COVID Vaccines so Quickly"

From the CDC: "Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines"

From the Mayo Clinic: "COVID-19 Vaccines: Get the Facts"

From Johns Hopkins: "COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth vs. Fact"

From University of Missouri: "The COVID-19 Vaccine: Myths vs. Facts"

Thanks for reading. Back to my regular, non-political posts next week.

Friday Feature: Zoom Dysmorphia

First Snapchat surgeries and now Zoom Botox? 

If the time you've spent staring into your device's camera has left you scrutinizing your features for imperfections, you're not alone. Personally, I just like to make sure my hair's not sticking up, my makeup is blended and I'm not so close to the screen that I look otherworldly.

But, according to this article from MedPage Today, plenty of people are leaving Zoom meetings feeling badly about themselves due to things beyond the meeting content. Zoom dysmorphia not only leaves online meeting attendees hyperfocusing on perceived flaws, but also flocking to dermatologists to do something about them.

I shook my head when it was teens who wanted to get surgery so they'd permanently look like they looked courtesy of Snapchat filters, but Zoom dysmorphia seems to be affecting people old enough to know better. I thought I was as vain as the next person, but maybe I'm not. Or maybe I'm just not very observant, or old enough that my eyesight really is going. I suppose if a procedure helps someone feel better about himself or herself, it's not a bad thing but this article left me with one thought.

We really need to get out more.

Friday Feature: Three Simple Steps

I miss dinner with friends. And hugs. And conversations that don’t take place with a computer screen for both mood lighting and disinterested third party.

When it comes to COVID safety, I tend to err on the side of caution (my daughter calls this "paranoid.") As for my friends, they're all over the spectrum. Some are more cautious, some are less cautious, and some are risk-takers. Staying busy and connected is key, perhaps especially so for those who struggle with mental health issues; while it's important to stay physically safe, too much silence and solitude can take their toll on psychological well-being.

If you’re wondering whether you’re playing it too safe, not safe enough, or somewhere in between, check out this article from the New York Times, which acknowledges the importance of balance as we weigh our choices. For me, it validated a concept I wasn’t even fully aware I was doing, which is budgeting my exposure time.

You know something else I miss? My daughter believing that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to the precautions I take. Maybe showing her this article will help.

Stay safe.