Harbingers of Hard Times and Vaccines

Yesterday afternoon I got a pneumonia vaccine at Ingles, our local grocery store.  On the face of it, that's not such a strange statement, not a statement that is a comment on modern life.  But let me make a few comments.

And yes, writing about a vaccine might seem like a topic too mundane for a blog post.  But my arm has been aching all night, so it's on my mind.

Getting a pneumonia vaccine wasn't in my plans until recently.  I'm turning 59 in 2 weeks, so I'm not in the group recommended to get a vaccine.  My spouse got one, after his doctor (also my GP) recommended it.  He's a heavy smoker, so he's in a vulnerable population.

Because my spouse is a heavy smoker, the Ingles pharmacist determined that I was eligible for the vaccine.  Lo and behold, my insurance covered it.  I am always surprised when my insurance covers anything, although these days, my insurance covers a lot.  I think of all the years I spent at crummy jobs because at least I had health insurance.  I am grateful that my health insurance is no longer tied to my job (thank you President Obama!).

I decided that it was time for me to get a pneumonia vaccine when a friend got very sick with pneumonia; she's only a few years older than I am.  She had a friend who had Covid and then developed pneumonia--and died!  I feel like I did a decade ago when suddenly I knew many people who were being diagnosed with shingles, and I decided to get the vaccine the minute I was eligible.  

Do I really know that many people who are coming down with pneumonia?  No.  But I feel surrounded by harbingers of hard times ahead, and whatever protection we can get is worth it.  A vaccine is such an easy dose of protection.

I returned home from the grocery store feeling very lucky.  I can go to the grocery store and get a vaccine along with my groceries!  I thought about a time that I wanted to get a tetanus shot ahead of hurricane season, and it was impossible to find.  The South Florida grocery stores didn't offer it, and my doctor didn't have it.  They just didn't think it was important.  I ended up going to the health department where everyone was puzzled ("Did you step on a nail?"), but they did have it, and I did get it.

Back to hurricane watching--speaking of feeling like hard times are just ahead.  We are likely to see Hurricane Beryl become a major hurricane; it's already the furthest east developing storm in June since 1933 (that humdinger of a hurricane season, worst ever).  A major hurricane in June hasn't happened since the 1960's.