[GTALUG] Covids and other vaxxes Re: General Meeting Reminder

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Here is where to find out about covid vaccine availability:
https://www.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations/

And here's some epi infos for kicks
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Infectious-Disease/Respiratory-Virus-Tool

As to the RATs, everything ever shipped by MOH expired last week at the latest. Tho i saw 1 pop +ve the other day so they are still working somewhat. Only today (maybe yesterday) have new ones been available for order for health facilities. I can't find the link about what the new kits are currently approved for because I'm at home but if you really really need to know ping me in the week. (It's probably on public health Ontario and/or health Canada website.)

While we are talking lungs and associated body parts, there have been a bunch of changes/additions to vaccination situations re pneumonia and RSV in Ontario. Documentation for this within health care industry is not very good. Confusion is high. And there have been a huge amount of changes to these and other vaccines all in the past few months. (I am not aware of when so many vaccine changes happened all at once...maybe in the 60s or smthg? Its crazy.) So if your care provider declines you for one of these now but you think they're mistaken, ask again another time after they've been able to digest the info. 

These are mainly relevant to babies (less than 12 or in few cases 24 months), old people (over 60 y only sometimes) and people who have the kind of health condition where you are under the care of specialists. (Organ transplant, dialysis). Also indigenous people and some other groups.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-prevention-programs

That said in the past few years Canadian (PHAC) guidelines have changed to include many more people in the pneumonia vaccines such as smokers, asthma etc BUT the Ontario funding guidelines are NOT kept up with this. So you might be out of date per the national guidelines but not technically "eligible" per provincial. Some providers with their thinking caps on may be going with the national guidelines.. I am hoping that all the fast paced changes now happening will settle out to Ontario being in compliance with Canada. On the bright side if you missed out before it means you'll get the new, better vaccine ?eventually. If you have cash or insurance you can likely get an Rx for whatever your heart or macrophage desires.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-16-pneumococcal-vaccine.html - Ctrl+f in page for "table" and see if you (or another person you are reading in the interest of) is included in a risk group. If unclear OK to send me a private email I can help to interpret but not provide advice ofc.)

And lastly if you are so motivated there is a pertussis (aka whooping cough) increase currently in Ontario. Everyone should have  at least 1 documented dose of pertussis vaccine given after age 26.  It is usually given as tdap (brand name Adacel or Boostrix). If you can't determine the exact date/location this occurred then it is considered Not Done. Vague memories don't count. Nor does an assumption that it was "probably done". This is especially important if you will have any contact with an infant. Or the family of an infant if said family is wackadoodle not vaxxxing themselves. Pertussis in a baby is a true horror. They break their own ribs from coughing so hard. So we need to protect these babies from their dumb families by all making sure we have the aP.

Lastly lastly flu shot will be available soon. Don't be a wuss. Get a flu shot. Shoppers, rexall, nofrills etc will all have it for free. Plan to wear a t shirt on a grocery trip mid/late October. No excuses do it for the team even if you "never get sick". Ppl over 65 should get the 4x flu shot if possible; but it's better to get any flu shot then waiting for the best one.

And also meningitis polio measles HPV and mpox. All preventable via community immunity. Instead we're putting Ontario on the map as a high risk travel destination. Its a choice were making collectively. 

But what about Linux? Idk. Is it bad Libre to use zsh? I feel like I should use bash on philosophical grounds but I like zsh so much more. I tried really hard to switch to bash. 

The grandmother of the guy who wrote bash is the original illustrator of the monopoly man and it only endears bash further. 

Flu shots plz.


On September 10, 2024 3:27:05 AM EDT, Evan Leibovitch via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
>On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 3:28 PM Steve Litt via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
>
>
>> please consider getting the new 2024-2025 Covid shot that is adjusted for
>> the new strains going around.
>>
>
>if you can find it.
>
>I've been to the places where I usually get my shots (six so far, last one
>in November). They don't have anything yet.
>One told me they'll probably get them at the same time as they get this
>season's flu shots.
>
>BTW, can the original COVID test detect the new strain?
>Maybe it doesn't matter, the ones I have are now well past their expiration
>dates.
>But nobody seems to have new test kits either, so I haven't disposed of
>mine.
>
>- Evan
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