Vaccination equals celebration but – be careful

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/08/2021 (667 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

History has literally repeated itself, though we ignored it multiple times. Early in 2020, public health officials reminded us of the devastating effects of the Spanish flu 100 years ago, but some of us were convinced that we needed to relax a little. We all know what happened next.  

Hopefully our post-pandemic lifestyle will include such new habits as regular and thorough handwashing, distancing when possible and staying home when sick. These common-sense practices somehow went out of style, but must return if we are to care responsibly for our most vulnerable.

Thanks to the vaccinated majority, there’s finally a light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. With restrictions gradually lifting, we can begin to comprehend what “normal” will look like again.  

Businesses are opening up. Social and religious gatherings can be held indoors. Families can once again participate in sports and activities and find some relief from the heat at community splash pads and pools.  

As we begin to re-engage socially, I have noticed some lingering side-effects of our prolonged isolation — a slight uneasiness around groups of people. Thankfully, this feeling diminishes daily, though it may be a while before I’m comfortable in a real crowd. I’m sure this sense is shared by many.

Speaking of mental and physical wellness, our medical professionals continue to advise people to seek attention when needed. If you don’t require emergency care, there are six ACCESS Community Health Centres in Winnipeg with a variety of services: walk-in and primary care clinics, home care, child and family services, disability services, mental health, psychiatric care and more. I was blown away by the amount of help available to the community in one location.

As a volunteer entry point screener at an ACCESS Centre, I have experienced an increasing number of visitors announcing that they are fully vaccinated.

This is wonderful, but here’s the problem:

People will actually cut me off before I can finish asking the health-screening questions — as if they don’t apply to them anymore.

To clarify, once you are fully vaccinated, you can still acquire and pass along COVID-19 symptoms — but you’re less likely to end up on a ventilator. If you have cold or flu symptoms you should still stay home until they clear up to avoid transferring them to someone else, who may or may not be vaccinated.

Big hugs to everyone. Take care.

Wanda Prychitko is a community correspondent for St. James-Assiniboia. Contact wprychitko@yahoo.ca