#Adult Primary Care Services

[gkhealth]

Comprehensive Adult Primary Care Services in Hazlet, NJ: Putting Your Health First with GK Health PC

In the bustling town of Hazlet, NJ, prioritizing your health is paramount. At GK Health PC, we understand the significance of accessible and compassionate adult primary care. Led by Dr. Mehandar Kumar, our practice is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare services tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Whether you’re seeking routine check-ups, managing chronic conditions, or needing urgent care, our dedicated team supports you every step.

Visit Us -

Location - 155 middle road, suite 3, Hazlet, NJ, 07730

Call Now :- +1 732-787-0568

[springhillprimarycare]

Internal Medicine Doctor Near Me Accepting New Patients in Spring Hill, FL

Looking for a trusted internal medicine doctor in Spring Hill, Florida who is accepting new patients? Our dedicated team of internal medicine specialists is here to provide you with personalized, high-quality care. With a patient-centered approach and a focus on preventive health, chronic disease management, and overall well-being, we strive to help adults and seniors maintain optimal health at every stage of life.

Why Choose Our Internal Medicine Doctors?

At our Spring Hill practice, we understand that selecting the right doctor is a critical decision. As internal medicine specialists, we focus on adult primary care and managing complex health conditions. Here’s why we are the best choice for your healthcare needs:

Comprehensive Adult Care: Internal medicine doctors specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing a wide range of illnesses and conditions in adults, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and respiratory conditions.

Personalized Treatment Plans: We take the time to understand each patient’s unique health history, lifestyle, and concerns. Our doctors craft personalized treatment plans designed to meet your individual needs and health goals.

Preventive Healthcare Focus: We emphasize preventive care, providing annual physicals, wellness exams, screenings, and immunizations to keep you in the best health possible and catch potential issues early.

Chronic Disease Management: Our team has extensive experience managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. With a comprehensive, long-term approach, we help patients maintain stability and avoid complications.

Coordination of Specialty Care: Should you require specialized care, we work closely with a network of leading specialists in the Spring Hill area to coordinate your care seamlessly.

What is Internal Medicine?

Internal medicine doctors, also known as internists, are primary care physicians who specialize in the care of adults. They are trained to manage a wide spectrum of illnesses, from acute issues like infections to chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Internists are experts in diagnosing complex conditions, providing preventive care, and managing multiple illnesses in one patient. Unlike family medicine doctors, who treat patients of all ages, internal medicine doctors focus exclusively on adult healthcare, ensuring you receive the most specialized care available.

Our Internal Medicine Services in Spring Hill, FL

Whether you’re new to the area or seeking a change in your healthcare provider, we are proud to offer a range of services tailored to your needs. Some of the key services we provide include:

Primary Care for Adults: Routine check-ups, health assessments, and wellness exams to monitor your health and prevent disease.

Preventive Screenings: Comprehensive screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and other common conditions, allowing early detection and treatment.

Chronic Disease Management: Ongoing treatment for conditions like heart disease, asthma, arthritis, and more, with a focus on minimizing symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

Immunizations: Stay up to date with vaccinations for flu, pneumonia, shingles, and other preventable diseases, especially important for seniors and those with weakened immune systems.

Women’s Health: Preventive care and treatment for women, including menopause management, osteoporosis screening, and reproductive health issues.

Geriatric Care: Specialized healthcare services for seniors, focusing on the management of chronic conditions, fall prevention, and maintaining independence.

Accepting New Patients in Spring Hill, FL

Our internal medicine practice is currently welcoming new patients in Spring Hill and surrounding areas, including Brooksville, Hernando Beach, and Weeki Wachee. We are committed to making the transition to a new doctor as easy as possible, ensuring a seamless process from your first appointment to ongoing care.

We accept a wide range of insurance plans, and our knowledgeable staff is here to assist with any questions regarding coverage and billing. Whether you’re dealing with a chronic illness, need a routine check-up, or are concerned about an emerging health issue, we are ready to provide the expert care you need.

Convenient Location in Spring Hill, Florida

Our office is conveniently located in the heart of Spring Hill, [10500 Spring Hill Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34608 ] making it easy for patients from all over Hernando County to access quality healthcare. With ample parking and flexible scheduling options, we make it simple for you to prioritize your health. Same-day appointments are often available for urgent concerns, and we offer telemedicine options for those unable to come into the office.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

If you’re searching for an internal medicine doctor in Spring Hill who is accepting new patients, contact us today to schedule your first appointment. Our compassionate and highly skilled team is ready to partner with you in maintaining your health and achieving your wellness goals. Don��t wait — take control of your health now and experience the difference that personalized, patient-focused care can make.

Call us at (352) 835–7155 or fill out our online appointment request form to get started.

FAQs

Q: What insurance plans do you accept?

A: We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare. Please contact our office for a full list of accepted insurance providers.

Q: Do I need a referral to see an internal medicine doctor?

A: In most cases, you do not need a referral to see an internal medicine doctor. However, if you have an HMO plan, you may want to check with your insurance provider.

Q: Can I book a telemedicine appointment?

A: Yes, we offer telemedicine appointments for patients who prefer to consult with their doctor remotely.

Make your health a priority today. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with an internal medicine doctor near you, right here in Spring Hill, Florida!

[genderqueerdykes]

so this is very embarrassing to admit but im a full grown adult now (18), and i moved away from home to start my life over and hopefully transition. but i realized very recently that because of my dysphoria i actually never took anything in during sex ed (which was very bad to begin with) and i know nothing about my body as is. i'm 18 uears old and my body is not just not what i want it to be but i don't even know what steps i'd like to take in making my body my own because i know nothing about the body i currently have.

i dont know how my body works, i dont know what surgeries will do what. i feel so stupid and lost and embarrassed and going to a doctor for this seems even scarier now with the realization i don't know words to describe my parts, i don't know even the most basic of processes. please please please tell me you have resources for me?

if relevant, i'm afab and looking into masculinizing processes. though i'm sure that there's gotta be other folks in different bodies than mine that are just as lost... i just dont know how to start searching without feeling strange and alien. sorry for being rambly, you're just someone i trust to go to with this and i'm very lost.

i'm sorry you've been made to feel this way, but i'm saying this to reassure you:

nobody is a full grown adult at 18!

you literally just became an adult. you're a beginner at it. a "full grown adult" is someone who is 50+. don't let people worry you too much about your age. you're still developing as a person. you're very, very young. what sort of information do you need in specific? what do you need to know about how your body works?

these may help you for the time being:

Transbucket - A website containing information about medical transition including surgeons and reviews, before and after surgery results, cost of surgeries, and more.

TransGuySupply - Chest binders, packers, STP devices, and more.

TopSurgery.net - Website for locating top surgeons.

Underworks - Safe, trusted medical grade chest binders.

What do I need to know about transitioning? (Planned Parenthood)

I Think I Might Be Transgender - A pamphlet for potential/trans youth, with quotes from other trans youth.

r/FtM - reddit support community for transmasculine individuals.

FtM Surgery Overview (Crane Center for Transgender Surgery)

Metoidioplasty Overview (Crane Center for Transgender Surgery)

Phalloplasty Overview (Cleveland Clinic)

Phallo.net - Phalloplasty ExplainedMetoidioplasty.net - Metoidioplasty ExplainedVagina-Preserving Phalloplasty Overview (Phallo.net)

Non Binary Options for Metoidioplasty (Metoidioplasty.net)

More information on vagina-preserving phalloplasties (Queerdoc)

List of informed consent clinics in the United States that provide gender affirming care services.

National Center for Transgender Equality - Find out how to update your name and gender on state and federal IDs and records (United States)

Guidelines for the Primary and Gender-Affirming Care of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary People - UCSF Transgender Care

Rainbow Health Ontario - Social Transition

you can find the above and a lot more on my queer resources page:

if you would like more info on general sex ed, please check out this blog, they post lots of great information:

@certifiedsexed

feel free to come back with more specifics, i'll be happy to help with what i can!

[probablyasocialecologist]

The Cass Report is fatally flawed in its methodology, and as a result, its recommendations are harmful. Speaking on behalf of TransActual, Keyne Walker said: “It undermines the legal competence of both children and adults to access medical treatment and dismisses almost all existing clinical evidence on trans people’s healthcare by applying impossible evidence standards which, if applied to other medicines would invalidate more than three quarters of the existing treatments used in paediatric care which, like puberty blockers, are currently being prescribed off-label.” The report’s primary conclusions rest on excluding 98% of the relevant evidence on the safety and efficacy of puberty blockers and hormones for lack of blinding and controls. What this means is that they require studies in which some patients are given the treatment, and others are unknowingly given placebos. This is not only a clear breach of medical ethics and monstrous suggestion, but also impossible due to the obviousness of the impacts of puberty blockers and hormones.  The report also strays far beyond its scope and competence in recommending a review of adult services and in suggesting that young people ought to stay under the care of children and young people’s services until the age of 25. The latter is based on highly questionable understandings of brain development which have been repeatedly debunked as an oversimplification of the constant changes in human neurology over the course of our lives.  This recommendation, especially in a context of an already broken system of care for both adults and children, has the potential to have a significant negative impact on the lives and wellbeing of trans people in the UK.  Underpinning this report is the idea that being trans is an undesirable outcome rather than a natural facet of human diversity. This is clear not only from the recommendations but also from the exclusion of trans researchers from the design of the review process and the links individual members of the research team have to anti-trans groups, which the Cass team were warned about. Download the full briefing

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference archived on our website

I thought maybe some of y'all would like a qualitative study over a quantitative one. A study of covid disparities in England among PoC and disabled people.

Abstract Background COVID-19 Ethnic Inequalities in Mental health and Multimorbidities (COVEIMM) is a mixed methods study to explore whether COVID-19 exacerbated ethnic health inequalities in adults with serious mental and physical health conditions. We analysed data from electronic health records for England and conducted interviews in Birmingham and Solihull, Manchester, and South London. Sites were selected because they were pilot sites for the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework being introduced by NHS England to tackle race inequalities in mental health. Prior to the pandemic people in England with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) faced an 11–17-year reduction in life expectancy, mostly due to preventable, long-term, physical health conditions. During the pandemic there was a marked increase in deaths of those living with an SMI.

Aims This qualitative interview study aimed to understand the reasons underlying ethnic inequalities in mortality and service use during the COVID-19 pandemic for adult service users and carers of Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi backgrounds living with serious multiple long-term mental and physical health conditions.

Methods We took a participatory action research approach and qualitative interviews undertaken by experts-by-experience and university researchers Participants were purposively sampled by ethnicity, diagnoses, and comorbidities across three geographically distinct sites in England. Transcriptions were coded inductively and deductively and analysed thematically.

Results Findings indicated multiple points along primary and secondary health pathways for mental and physical health that have the potential to exacerbate the unjust gap in mortality that exists for Black and Asian people with SMIs. Issues such as timely access to care (face-to-face and remote), being treated in a culturally appropriate manner with empathy, dignity and respect, and being able to use services without experiencing undue force, racism or other forms of intersectional discrimination were important themes arising from interviews.

Conclusion These poor experiences create systemic and enduring healthcare harms for racialised groups with SMIs that need to be addressed. Our findings suggest a need to address these, not only in mental health providers, but across the whole health and care system and a need to ensure more equitable healthcare partnerships with service users, carers, and communities from racialised backgrounds who are often excluded.

[eccentrcks]

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐂: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐞.

This gorgeous artwork of Marlene was made by my talented baby sister. Give her some applause for this! 🫶 I also made a taglist out of boredom, so don't mind me. Taglist to those who inspired me to make this profile and ref. sheet: @revnah1406, @welldonekhushi, @littlemissclandestine, @alypink, and @darkhazard19.

⎯ 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:

Name: Marlene

Full Name: Marlene Jamie Monroe

Alias(es): "Mona" (General nickname by her family), "Marlie" (childhood nickname), "Chicky" (Captain Price), "Squirt" or "Baby Girl" (Phillip Graves), "Marl" (David Mason).

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Irish, Native American, Welsh.

Hair Colour: Chestnut brown.

Eye Colour: Light brown

Height: 5’11” (181cm)

Weight: 187lbs (84.8kg)

Body Built: Athletically average.

Languages Spoken: English, Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Cree, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Bulgarian, Mandarin, French, German, Portuguese, etc.

Date of Birth: August 29, 2002.

Place of Birth: Fairbanks, Alaska.

Blood Type: AB-

Sexuality: Heterosexual.

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: N/A.

Status: Unknown.

-

⎯ 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗦:

Myers-Briggs Type: INTJ-T (The Architect)

Calm and reserved: Despite having her moments of being a spitfire, she is actually a well composed individual and this really helps her in matters of survival. Although pretty social sometimes, then she can be completely asocial, Marlene is not exactly the kind of person who wouldn't instantly show her actual personality to others whom she'd just met. She handles stressful situations with the pressure very well most of time.

Selfless and loyal: Marlene may be an impassive and hardened young woman, but she has a good soul and heart. Those who are lucky to be a genuine friend of hers are privileged to see her display her true self at most times. Has the tendency to put others before herself. Marlene's love language is giving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch- which the latter is a rare thing of her to do frequently as a young adult now. Keeps it discreet though.

Tough as nails: She is unbelievably durable and endures a lot of life-threatening situations. Often gets underestimated by others, but tends to straighten them up with a surprise. It still hurts, yes, although she just quickly learns how to suck it up and keep going without letting it drag her down.

Jaded and weary: It's safe to mention that Marlene didn't had a normal childhood and went through a lot of hardships growing up with a paranoid survivalist of a mother. Kind of a sore spot for her to be asked about. Has a bad case of PTSD and denies her clinical diagnoses constantly. ("I'm fine." is her favourite saying) Has a complex relationship with her mother, her only parent that raised her this way, which means Marlene cares and resents her at the same time, yet she internally respects the woman who taught her most of everything she knows. She suffered from losses who were dearly significant to her... somethings she isn't ready to openly talk about. So the girl is just simply exhausted from existing.

Adaptable and intelligent, also a polyglot: If thrown into an environment that Marlene hadn't been in before, she will learn and adapt if it's necessary. Growing up traveling with her mother had taught her some things. She's quite a multilingual genius, speaks and read around 37(ish) languages, but also graduated high school at sixteen before attending Stanford University and finishing in three years for her computer science degree. So in a shorter summary, she's an eager and fantastic learner.

-

⎯ 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦:

Primary Weapons: Knife, Karambit neck knife, Remington 700PSS, HK-MP5K, HK-MP5A3, TP-82, XM177E1, and Pipe Bombs.

Fighting Style: Hand-to-hand combat, some MMA.

Special Skills: Great at reading others' body languages and sensing danger.

Talents: She can learn to speak at another language in a short span of time, craft explosives such as a pipe bomb within an hour if she has the resources, and create traps with the right stuff.

Shortcomings: Can get paranoid most of the time, chronically insomniac, has some trust issues, and suffers from terrible migraines.

-

⎯ 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬:

"Born and grew up outside of Fairbanks in an isolated cabin for five years of her life with her mother, who had Marlene at eighteen, and mostly traveled around on the road after. She grew up with tough love and Melissa, her mother, was fiercely overprotective with her only child. Once they settled somewhere in California when she was eight where Marlene finally got enrolled in a public school where her peers would eventually learn about her intellect. She never knew how, or where, her mother earned her huge incomes to financially support themselves, but knows Melissa just has an every important job whenever she isn't home. Besides, whenever her mother was confronted, she was just met with a firm look by her and the woman stating that it's none of her concern as Marlene should just focus on herself. Eventually this led to her rebellious behaviour before incidents occurred and slowly shaped Marlene into a withdrawn teenager in college."

"Her history with Taskforce 141 was purely platonic. Met them through her mother, one by one when she was an teenager, before the group realized she was Melissa's baby girl and they all knew the same woman who met each of them outside of their occupations. She've met Phillip Graves when she was a kid when he came by to confront her mother before a father-daughter bond was formed between them since then. David Mason is her godfather and one of the people whom Marlene looks up to- much to Graves' dismay."

"When she was done with college at nineteen and the year 2021-[REDACTED]."

"Until 2022, she was brought into the CIA's custody in middle of a late evening walk, more like by Taskforce 141, and interrogated after some evidence of her was caught stealing some invaluable intel and secrets, appearing as one of their employees, before she was picked up by a black van after that. She kept denying the accusations and evidence for weeks until Graves, allegedly dead at the time, safely liberated her despite Marlene being in a frail condition with the help from David Mason and proof that she was truly innocent. Someone had framed her."

"Then not too long hours after she was brought into his protective custody, no one knew who helped her other than the fact that she escaped CIA's custody, as one of The Shadow Company's bases was attacked. Mostly everyone made it out, but Marlene who was soon announced dead after she passed out from the blood loss with the base getting bombed into nothing once they were forced to leave her behind. Leaving Graves and David angry, distraught, and vowed to avenge her once they find the culprits. Her remains were never found after that."

Theme song: Methods of Madness by Secession Studios.

*Profile will be be updated once the story progresses and kept her backstory vague(ish) for now.

[auro-cyanide]

Today is my mum's funeral service, one week after she passed.

I can say without a shadow of doubt that her death has been the most painful thing I have ever experienced, and the most confusing.

I've gone from being a primary carer to very very suddenly being an adult whose only dependants are two cats. The way my life is going to change is going to be significant.

For the first few days I was so heartbroken I wanted to die, and now I feel so weirdly normal that I'm just waiting for the grief to swallow me whole again.

I'm going to stand in front of everyone and read my mum's eulogy when in the past I thought I would be far too distressed to ever speak.

Tomorrow I leave to head to France to have what was meant to be a respite break from caring, which is now more of a circuit breaker from everything that has happened.

I've been reading a lot about grief and it has helped, especially stories from others that had lost their mum's, or lost their loved ones through a terminal illness.

The mix of emotions and thoughts are so complex and interwoven with memories of the past that I'm sure I'll need a lifetime to get through it all.

Right now it's one day at a time.

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

I turn 18 next year and I’m not sure where I can get testosterone, I’ve looked at planned parenthood’s website but the only one in my state doesn’t offer hrt services 😭 do you have any advice on how to access hrt?

Lee says:

Happy (Very very) early birthday! If you're still a year away from being 18 you have plenty of time to figure this out.

You should start by talking to your primary care physician and ask if they are knowledgeable about gender-affirming care and are willing to prescribe you HRT themselves. If they are not experienced with HRT for gender-affirming reasons, ask them to look into it and refer you to a healthcare provider who is.

While you're waiting for your appointment (often it can be at least a month away even if you schedule the first available date) use that time wisely and go out into the world (And internet) and talk to people! There must be at least ONE other trans person in your state who is on hormones, right? You just have to find ONE other trans person in your state who is on hormones (and trust me-- there's more than just one trans person on hormones in your state! But all you need is one person), then find out where they're getting their prescription from!

Online platforms can be a great resource for shared experiences and advice so I'd just start by googling "transgender [insert hormone name] in [insert state]" until you find the right key terms. You might also be able to find something on Reddit or through Facebook groups.

Additionally, going to trans support groups and meeting people there and asking your trans friends to ask their friends, etc can all be a good way to find a provider through word-of-mouth.

Another thing you can try is contacting LGBTQ+ centers or organizations in your state and seeing if they have any recommendations. Even if Planned Parenthood's local branch doesn't offer HRT services, they may have a lists of trans-friendly healthcare providers or clinics that do, so it could still be worth reaching out to them.

If you're planning on attending college or university, check if the campus health center provides HRT or can refer you to local resources that do. Some college health centers offer comprehensive services for transgender students, but unfortunately most do not.

Many healthcare providers now offer telehealth services for transgender patients looking to start or continue HRT. These services can be particularly helpful if you live in an area with limited access to transgender healthcare. Providers like Folx Health, Plume, and QueerDoc offer gender-affirming care to patients in many states, all through telehealth platforms.

There's more info on starting hormones in this post, and you should take a look at that too.

Finally, I'm guessing that you don't have much experience with adulting which is fine because everyone starts somewhere! I was in the same position as you once. I also started to look into starting T when I was 17 and got everything ready (appointments scheduled for after my birthday, letter of support since it wasn't fully informed consent, lab work done the month before I was 18, etc), but didn't actually start hormones until I was 18.

Everyone has a different path through life, but this may be your first time scheduling doctor's appointments for yourself, signing up for a patient portal, getting your own health insurance (unless your parents support you being on HRT and wouldn't boot your off of their coverage), paying for appointment and prescription and lab work copays, etc.

Since you have a year until you're actually 18, it would be a good idea to start getting prepped for your first dive into the healthcare system as a legal-adult-even-if-it-doesn't-always-feel-that-way and google the basics of having and using health insurance. There's a lot of words you're going to need to learn one day (what's a deductible vs an out of pocket maximum vs an allowed amount etc) and this is as good of a time as any to start learning some of those basics (The advanced level is learning how to appeal denied claims, etc).

You got this anon! You're clearly on the right track by starting to investigate the process of starting HRT in advance, and remember that starting HRT as an adult also comes with adult responsibilities like figuring out how to pay for it! When you're thinking through the logistics of finding an in-network prescriber, don't forget to budget for those things too.

Followers, any tips for anon?

[vague-humanoid]

Just a few days before our interview, Jill’s (Ed: not her real name) immunologist sent her to the hospital to rule out pulmonary embolism, which happens when a blood clot gets stuck in an artery of the lung. In Jill’s case it would be a Long COVID symptom amongst many others she had been battling over the last year: including swelling around the tissue of her heart, memory deficits, sudden heart-rate surges, fatigue and abnormal kidney test results.

By that point, she’d had COVID four times, despite taking stringent precautions. She was born with a primary immune deficiency. And, without a fully functioning immune system she needs weekly injections of human immunoglobulins from plasma donations. A very small viral load can make her sick and she’s at a much higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID than most people.

“Every time I catch it, it adds new layers to my disabilities,” she says. “COVID is slowly killing me.” Her haematologist believes the past COVID infections have further damaged her immune system. She is looking at a possible lupus diagnosis.

Her voice is raspy and soft over the phone. She pauses when I ask how she is doing.

“Well, I got COVID,” she says. “Again.”

At the hospital appointment several nurses were not wearing their masks properly, and one kept pulling it down to talk with Jill, who had to remove hers to get her lungs checked. As someone who is very isolated with her family — everyone works and goes to school from home — Jill believes that the appointment led to her most recent infection.

She’s always been careful with her health but in the past, she worked in the school system. By 2020 she moved to a remote position and at that time still had many options for safely connecting with those around her and she could attend health-care appointments without concern. About a year ago, nearly all restrictions were lifted in Alberta and that’s when she got her first COVID infection.

Three years in, nearly everyone she knows has moved on including — most bafflingly to her — many of the medical professionals she sees. But, Jill says, moving on is not a privilege afforded to people like her.

Recently, PCR testing became inaccessible to health-care providers, who, in the past, were able to test regularly. And while Alberta Health Services (AHS) still requires masks, any health-care settings outside AHS can make their own rules. So, once masking was no longer mandated in public settings, many dropped requirements — this includes many of the specialists seeing immunocompromised people, including those Jill now sees due to Long COVID.

“The variants have been left to run rampant and I have really become more and more scared,” she says.

“Governments are saying: Oh we can re-open because we have all these tools. But they are not available to the immunocompromised population. So, the monoclonal antibodies are no longer effective against the current variants. Because the variants are so immune-based, the vaccines were never particularly effective for immunocompromised people because of the nature of our immune systems.”

As well, Jill says that there are many contraindicated drugs that cannot be taken with Paxlovid, the drug which is used to treat COVID patients in specific circumstances. According to Health Canada, Paxlovid “is used in adults to treat mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients who have a positive result from a severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 viral test and who have a high risk of getting severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.”

She still takes the vaccines with hopes they will help, and while she believes Paxlovid is saving her life with this current infection, she says it is not a guarantee against more Long COVID symptoms. And, for the infection prior to the current one, the drug was not available due to a kidney infection caused by the virus.

“I have to access my medication, my health care. And by people not masking around me, I have no way to protect myself,” she says. “If you don’t want to wear masks as a society then you are going to leave the immunocompromised people behind.” And she says many high risk people are not able to work from home, or have their kids in online classes or maybe struggle to afford masks or air purifiers — many social and financial issues make individual protections far more challenging or impossible. She is currently in a court battle with her ex.

“He wants increased access, in-person school and group extracurricular activities. All things that put me at higher risk of infection,” says Jill.

Recently, she went to her cardiologist to find that no patients or staff were masking.

“I really realize now I have to be my own advocate,” she says.

She has to constantly think ahead. So, she now calls beforehand to see if the appointment can be done remotely or if the staff can mask. She’s also decided to start carrying around a laminated sheet that explains her medical condition as it is often something she needs to repeat at each appointment or in the emergency room. 

Like many others, she’s found ways to navigate her way around a harrowing array of risks. And yet, even with all these precautions, she can not control the actions of others which can directly affect her health.

Holly (Ed: not her real name), is retired and lives in a small community just outside Edmonton. She’s currently thinking about her next visit to her doctor, who hasn’t been taking precautions from the beginning.

“It’s exhausting always trying to get around how there is no protection for us anymore,” she says. “I’m thinking why am I made to feel crazy when my own doctor won’t wear a mask? Won’t acknowledge that it’s airborne?”

But the worst part, she claims, was that he minimized the effects of COVID, saying it was rarely an issue and only affects a certain demographic. Holly does not believe that is true, but regardless it is of little comfort when her husband, who’s in his 70s, has chronic health complications.

“I think patients are rightfully concerned, particularly when they go in for health care,” says physician Neeja Bakshi. “I think the medical community should be doing whatever we can to protect those who are coming in.”

It’s true, she says, that hospitals are no longer overwhelmed, and fewer people are dying; there is less of an acute emergency. But COVID is still circulating, people are still dying, and Long COVID (aka post COVID-19 condition) should be on everyone’s radar.

Recently, the World Health Organization announced an end to the global health emergency. But it also said earlier that “one in 10 infections result in post COVID-19 condition suggesting that hundreds of millions of people will need longer term care.”

COVID can cause organ damage — particularly affecting the heart, kidneys, skin. Plus, there’s risk of brain and immune damage, along with increased risks for cancer and autoimmune disease.

And, while no one knows yet how long that damage could persist, a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine says 59 per cent of Long COVID patients had organ damage a year later.

In 2022, Bakshi started a Long COVID clinic at her health facility Park Integrative Health, treating patients from across Canada. Every week she completes upwards of 20 disability forms for people who need to take time off work due to the debilitating effects of Long COVID.

While certain health complications make Long COVID more likely, anyone can be affected regardless of the severity of their infection or the state of their health. The indiscriminate nature of COVID is one of the things that’s been most shocking to Bakshi. She’s treated a number of elite athletes who went from performing at a professional level to struggling to have enough energy to brush their teeth.

Many patients struggle with stigma not just from medical professionals but from family, friends and employers. It’s an invisible illness, says Bakshi, so patients may look fine and are often misdiagnosed as something psychosomatic.

“I’m immersed in the world. But I don’t feel like you can deny it exists. And I think it’s a bit of ignorance on the medical community’s part if they say they don’t know anything about Long COVID. There are very specific disease patterns and symptoms,” says Bakshi.

There is also a lack of support. The most proven management strategy for Long COVID or even any COVID infection is recovery and rest, says Bakshi. But that’s not possible for many people. Initially, in 2020, there was forced rest through quarantine periods, but that time off has become shorter, as employers don’t have to pay for employees to be off at all.

“We are not a society that is built on support. We’ve already set ourselves up to fail from a recovery perspective,” says Bakshi.

Jill has found validation in Bakshi’s clinic as one of her patients. But that experience stands out amongst a sea of specialists who have given up on precautions.

“Instead of recommending upgraded masks, air cleaners and UV, or working from home, immunologists that manage my condition recommend wearing a mask if you want and enjoying your life—as short as that may be. I am not sure if this is complacency, or giving up… Either way, education and change need to happen or far too many valuable lives will be lost and disabled unnecessarily,” says Jill.

Savvy AF.  Blunt AF.  Edmonton AF.

[punkitt-is-here]

I was like 12 when Season 4 of mlp first started airing, and I remember being vaguely aware of what episodes bronies did and did not like and I just like. Did Not Care. They didn’t like Mysterious Mare Do Well or Spike At Your Service among others, while I was just excited to see my favorite ponies (and dragon) going about their lives and learning things! It was so cool that Twilight became a princess! Despite some bronies getting very heated over it iirc. Now that I’m an adult, yeah I do agree or at least sympathize with a lot of the criticisms people had over certain episodes or plot points, but not enough to make me stop enjoying the show as a whole. I’m not saying adult fans aren’t allowed to dislike or criticize certain parts of it, nothing wrong with having opinions, but idk I just feel there’s an interesting perspective to watching it as part of the target audience and then watching it when you’re past that age. You understand the adult perspectives that people bring to this show that all ages enjoy, but you also know from experience that for the target audience things aren’t always meant to be that deep. It was made for kids to enjoy and it accomplished that goal and then some, and that’s what matters most

Yeah! I like your words, they're good. "It was made for kids to enjoy and it accomplished that goal and then some" is a great way of looking at it, because I'm much the same way. I'm never gonna work myself into a tizzy because the show was unrealistic or not as adult as I would like because it's primarily made for kids (its a show called friendship is magic) and if I get to enjoy it past that age, that's a wonderful bonus. I remember seeing a lot of adult fans complaining about stuff in Season 4 when I was young and just watching them completely work themselves into a rage??? and at some point you just gotta step back and go "this show is aimed at people who don't even know what taxes are yet. That is the primary audience. Anyone reached after that is a bonus" and I just enjoy the show wayyyyyy more looking at it from that perspective.

[moog-enthusiast]

FLOWER DEAN is 19 years old, 3 years older than her brother BASIL, putting her in the same age group as MARI & HERO. She’s a very bookish thing, she can almost always be found on her lonesome with her nose in a novel. She dyes her hair blue over her natural color, keeping it as a cropped pixie cut, often adorned with a daisy chain crown gifted to her by her younger brother. With GRANNY being old even when FLOWER & her brother first moved in, responsibilities often fell to FLOWER to take care of. She never really had the normal life of a kid, playing the maternal role for her younger brothers from a young age. GRANNY may have been the one to attend school conferences and such when FLOWER was young, but crippling chronic pains unfortunately left GRANNY bed-borne rather frequently. FLOWER was already a very caring, quiet kid growing up, but with this standard of being the adult figure of sorts, is the root of her emotional fragility, and her care-taker mentality. She made meals for her family regularly, cleaned wounds, handled finances, and varied chores around the house. This led to FLOWER becoming a sort of unofficial head of household, and a lot of self-isolation and social anxiety. MARI KANZAKI, one of FLOWER’s neighbors and classmates, takes interest in becoming FLOWER’s friend in elementary school— pulling her out of the house as they got closer between primary and middle school, so FLOWER could meet the other kids their age. They got even closer after their younger brothers became friends, as it meant they were now in proximity of each other a lot more, even if just to babysit. FLOWER became good friends with the older kiddos and developed a crush on MARI— her first love. This crush on MARI is written as a reference to FLOWER being described as a boring MARI personality wise by OMOCAT, and ties the KANZAKI & DEANfamilies all over again. Whether her feelings were requited or not is indeterminate. MARI may have been her best friend, but post-incident she finds a lot of comfort in HERO, as the two mourn and support one another together.

FLOWER’s real name is “PRIMROSE”, but she goes by FLOWER to almost everyone- a nickname given to her by her GRANNY. The DEANS’ grandmother referred to the kids as “SPROUTS”, affectionately, and a young FLOWER insisted she wasn’t a sprout anymore since she was the oldest- and earned herself a new name from the amused guardian.

She is always the older sister of BASIL, but in aus with other siblings, such as ROWAN variants, or ocs, she is perfectly happy as well! She puts a lot of her self-worth into being a good sister… to the point she ‘adopts’ many of the younger kids of FARAWAY, opening her doors to anyone hoping for a nice hot meal or general support. She often brings meals to AUBREY, though less frequently after she becomes aware of her bullying her brother. She has a hard time engaging in conversation with most of the old friend group, and opts for gifts and acts of service to show her support instead. She does not feel worthy of being known by her childhood friends.

BASE CANON

After the recital, BASIL goes home looking for comfort from his soft, quiet, older sister and tells her what he’s done. He needed someone to know- someone he trusted! He was small. 12 years old and the weight of his actions settling in. This puts a strain on FLOWER’s relationship with him, leading to her hiding at college (& work over the summer,) to try and avoid her family. She still cares very deeply about her brother, but has extreme difficulty with grappling with what BASIL has done— a very painful emotion, in conjunction with her sisterly instinct to protect him. As a result, BASIL worries he’s been abandoned again by the person he trusted most, and continues his downward spiral.

DREAMWORLD;

FLOWER in HEADSPACE appears on the picnic blanket with MARI, offering compliments when spoken to- until BASIL disappears. Upon BASIL’s disappearance though— her initial reaction is a panicked response begging OMORI to find him. Past that though, pretty much the only thing she will say to the player is a simple “…”. The exception to this is that at the start of every picnic, you can interact with her- and she’ll tell you “It’s important to stay hydrated, OMORI…!” to which the player finds a new juicebox in their inventory. Once you get your juice though, she goes back to radio silence.

she misses her brother… she’s worried..

Although FLOWER may be silent, her BLACKSPACE counterpart most certainly is not. Dubbed ‘WANDERER’, this entity exists to FLOWER as STRANGER is to BASIL. WANDERER acts as one of many of the STRANGER-friends you find, but is plenty talkative! When she sees OMORI alone, she can often be spotted pacing not far behind. When interacted with, she tells him that he “ruined” her family- and that he’s sent a divide into all the families through his hiding, and needs to be held responsible for his actions. Whether WANDERER knows the truth or not is left unclear, she’s very insistent that OMORI is at the heart of the ongoing issues she’s noticed.

BASIL loves his sister a lot! He encourages her to play hide & seek with them at the start, but doesn’t mind when she declines- simply giving her a hug, and scampering off to his friends. When he shows off his garden, he’s proud to display his daisy patch, in which he tells others why they remind him of his sister. When fighting with OMORI in BOSS RUSH, he’s quick to run to FLOWER upon winning, and telling her all about how cool OMORI is in battle.

—“These are DAISIES! I know they’re simple and rather common, but they represent ‘pure love’! These remind me of FLOWER because she’s always there for me, and is the best sister I could ever ask for. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that she provides me with pure sisterly love, and I feel the same for her!”

KEL views her as an older sister figure, and asks her lots of questions. He treats her like a human-encyclopedia, (lovingly), due to her vast array of knowledge picked up from her books.

AUBREY will go to her for comfort, [as seen in scenes when BASIL first goes missing, and AUBREY runs to FLOWER for a hug], but is typically very blunt in regular conversation, making comments about “You’re so boring, FLOWER…” with a pouting face, when FLOWER declines the offer to come with on their adventure at the beginning, and other varied pieces of dialogue akin to this. She sees FLOWER as an older sister figure too, though more of the straight-man compared to MARI, and even HERO.

HERO is very cheery with FLOWER, often telling her about the groups adventures when tagged— trying to help take her mind off things. He and FLOWER are good friends, and it can be seen in the OMORI route, when the two often share witty banter regarding their favorite nerdy medias- or sharing cooking tips & tricks!

MARI is worried about FLOWER, but tries to cheer her up by dragging her along to each of the picnics, and lightly teasing her. MARI is the one FLOWER is closest too, and in OMORI route, you can find FLOWER dancing to MARI’s flute music, or playing small games like truth or dare with HERO. (…Though, she always seems to pick truth?)

OMORI isn’t one to really make a comment on anyone, but he’s typically polite & respectful to her all the same. She’s BASIL’s older sister, after all.

PHOTO ALBUM;

FLOWER appears in a handful of photos, but typically is partially out of frame, or hiding. she’s a bit camera shy…

(3-2-1 DAYS LEFT in game);

In the OMORI game setting, FLOWER can be found working the first few days in the FIX-IT'S garden section, where you can chat a little- and get some anxious rambled dialogue about her brother.

3 Days Left

“Oh..! Hey, SUNNY… I don’t know the last time I've seen you on your own…”

“Say, SUNNY… You don’t happen to know anything about how BASIL’s doing right now, do you?”

2 Days Left

“SUNNY… could you drop a GINO'S order off at my house for me? I’m so busy with work, I might not be home to make BASIL dinner tonight…”

[*FLOWER gives you $25, but can be used for whatever. If you try to do as she says, you end up in the Pizza job mini game instead…. POLLY will make him something… probably.*]

1 Day Left

FLOWER can now be found inside her & her siblings home, cooking dinner with POLLY. If you try to talk to her, she mumbles something about her worries about BASIL, but otherwise incomprehensible due to sheer quietness.

(sprites by @/wario_car on twitter)

ENDINGS

FLOWER can be found in BASIL’s hospital room, lightly hugging her brother from beside the bed- very clearly worried.

Good (Secret) ending; With BASIL smiling, you are approached by your friends, and FLOWER wishes you goodbye with the rest of them. The forgiveness of BASIL allows her to move on as well :)

SUNNY route; After SUNNY reveals the truth, FLOWER leaves the room, and is not seen for the rest of the end. In an extended storyline she has gone into a mental spiral of sorts, but it’s not relevant to the game’s plot.

Neutral route; If BASIL dies at the sleepover, FLOWER is seen with her forehead pressed against his bedroom door and hand on the doorknob, crying and apologizing repeatedly.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

OMORI route; dreamworld FLOWER is talking again! She shows some of the ballet dance moves she’s been trying to learn to the group if interacted with on MARI's mat, and features little chime-ins to chat with her & her brothers’ friends. MARI teases her, and she’s more willing to play with the others. She can be seen in boss rush, where she cheers on all your friends from the sidelines. So long as BASIL is back, she’s happy!

more flower content here:

[specialagentartemis]

📂HEADCANONS

YEAH

Trying to think of ones I haven’t already talked about A Lot

Murderbot describes Preservation as "a complicated barter system" because it doesn't really have the words or concepts to parse what it's looking at: primarily a gift economy. An economy with a robust central government that does a lot of distribution of primary resources, and a social logic based more on providing than consuming. Farmers and agriculture techs don't produce food to then trade to other people, they produce food that's then re-distributed to everyone as needed by a central organization, and the farmers and ag-techs are given what they need and want by others who, y'know, eat food and express gratitude for Having Food. People don't trade for health care, doctors provide health care to whoever needs it because that's what they've trained and chosen to do and are given what they need by others for their service in providing health care.

Pin-Lee doesn't tend to have a lot to trade but she is a lawyer who keeps things functioning between Preservation and the Corporates, does the legal work that allows Preservation citizens to safely travel, and helps to maintain the contracts that prevent other more opportunistic planets fromtaking advantage of them. She provides this service to the planet and gets what she needs from other people who provide other services. Gurathin helps to maintain the university's database infrastructure, when he's getting coffee he doesn't need to offer to like, make a database for the coffeeshop, it's just understood that he's providing a service to society and partaking in another service to society. Arada and Ratthi are research biologists and their work is only tangentially productive to The Planet but I'm sure there's a public outreach or education aspect that's expected of a lot of researchers - learning without sharing what you're learning is socially unfair, even if their lectures are mostly only attended by students who are told by their teachers to go watch them. But it's kind of understood that by being an adult in the world, you are doing something that contributes to society and to others in some way, and as such are entitled to having your needs met as well.

It's a reciprocity-based logic of actions rather than commodity exchange, and honestly it works because 1) Preservation's population is relatively small, 2) there is a lot of bureaucratic organization work making sure everyone is getting what they need, the government is SO many committees 3) a whole lot of labor is done by machines (non-sentient robots) and bots (sentient robots). The reliance on bot labor is absolutely gonna be something Preservation has to think more about.

Citizens also every once in a while on rotation get called for a kind of labor tax akin to the way jury duty works, where every couple of months you have to put in a day working in the central town food court washing dishes or something. There are also Perks offered for jobs that might be a harder sell for people to do, like premium station housing.

Straight-up money that comes into the station from outsystem trade and travel mostly gets re-invested in supporting Preservation travelers off-planet into societies that do use money (like PresAux's ASR survey), or buying materials or machines that are hard to make locally (like ag-bots, or some spaceship or station parts for repairs).

However where barter comes in is on a more interpersonal one-on-one level, more similar to commissions. You grow a lot of carrots while my grapefruit tree is producing a lot more fruit than I could possibly eat, want to trade? You make ceramics as your primary Work, I'll trade you something if you make me something specific I have in mind. Can you help me fix my roof? I'll get you some good wood when the lumber trees are mature next year. Developing skills for these kind of interpersonal more-specialized trades is a significant motivation, too. And different skills and jobs inevitably attract more status and impressiveness than others. But it's not barter exactly so much as reciprocity, a strong culture of civic duty, and a highly organized government.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Hello lovely,

What are the pros and cons of pursuing a diagnosis?

I think I have autism (32 on the AQ, 139 on the CAT-Q, 157 on the RAADS-R, and 133 on the Aspie Quiz v5) but I'm a very high-masking gifted/honors/AP girl and I worry it will have more cons bc of poor societal acceptance then it will have pros : (

I mentioned my concerns to my primary care doctor and she really quickly dismissed them (I didn't mention the tests I did, just that I had a lot of traits/issues typical of autism) and I'm worried that trying to get help or anything will be a long hard uphill battle. Fortunately I am getting seen for sleep issues soon which are my worst problem but yeah

Thanks for your counsel

- 💙🌹

Hi there,

There are many pros and cons when it comes to getting an autism diagnosis. Here’s some from helpfulminds.co.uk

Advantages of Adult Autism Diagnosis:

1. Self-understanding and identity: Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult can provide a profound sense of self-understanding. It validates personal experiences and challenges, helping individuals make sense of their differences. It offers a framework through which they can explore their unique strengths, interests, and areas of difficulty, leading to greater self-acceptance and personal growth.

2. Access to appropriate support and accommodations: An adult autism diagnosis opens doors to various resources and support services. It enables individuals to access specialised therapies, counselling, and tailored interventions. It may also qualify them for workplace accommodations, such as flexible schedules, task modifications, or a supportive work environment. These support systems can enhance well-being, foster independence, and improve overall quality of life.

3. Connection and community: Obtaining an autism diagnosis can provide a pathway to connecting with others who share similar experiences. Joining support groups, online communities or participating in autism advocacy networks can foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation. These connections often offer invaluable emotional support, shared experiences, and practical advice.

4. Enhanced relationships and communication: Understanding one’s autistic traits can lead to improved personal and professional relationships. It helps individuals communicate their needs and preferences effectively, reducing misunderstandings and promoting better understanding among friends, family members, and colleagues. With increased self-awareness, individuals can build stronger connections and cultivate healthier interactions.

Disadvantages of Adult Autism Diagnosis:

1. Emotional impact: Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult can trigger a range of emotions, including relief, validation, but also grief or regret. Some individuals may experience a sense of loss for the opportunities they feel they missed or the difficulties they faced due to a lack of understanding. The process can be emotionally challenging and require support to navigate.

2. Stigma and societal perceptions: Unfortunately, despite growing awareness, Autism is still surrounded by stigma and misconceptions. Disclosure of an adult autism diagnosis can lead to potential discrimination, prejudice, or social exclusion. Society’s limited understanding of Autism may hinder employment, education, or social integration opportunities. This lack of acceptance emphasises the need for broader awareness and education.

3. Limited diagnostic resources and accessibility: Obtaining an autism diagnosis as an adult can be challenging due to limited diagnostic resources and professionals specialising in adult assessments. Waiting times and financial constraints may present significant barriers for those seeking a diagnosis. This lack of accessibility may lead to delayed self-understanding and hinder access to vital support services.

Seeking an autism diagnosis as an adult has advantages and disadvantages. While the diagnosis can offer self-understanding, access to support, and a sense of community, it may also evoke complex emotions and expose individuals to societal stigma. It is important to weigh these factors and consider personal circumstances before pursuing a diagnosis. Regardless of whether one receives an official diagnosis, fostering acceptance and embracing neurodiversity can contribute to a more inclusive and understanding society.

The full article will be below. There are even more pros and cons, so those are just examples. I recommend researching for more to make up your mind.

I hope this helps. Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ♥️

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Hannah Langenfeld

Some American University students say they will get vaccinated against the coronavirus and the flu this winter, but have varying reasons for doing so.

Over four years since the COVID-19 pandemic hit cities and college campuses across the world, false rhetoric continues to spread about COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated information on its webpage this October to encourage children and adults to get a COVID-19 booster as new strains of the virus emerge. However, some students fear President-elect Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services as secretary could harm vaccination efforts.

Maya Kaufman, a sophomore at the School of International Service, said that she was raised in a “non-religious household” and that scientific information holds a lot of value in her family, shaping her opinions toward vaccinations.

“I'm totally knocked out by COVID booster shots but I still do it because I think it is important,” Kaufman said. “It has taken decades upon decades for a lot of vaccines to be developed and we got a vaccine for COVID very quickly so I think that people need to take advantage of that to help continue to contain it.”

Similarly, Melissa Patten, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a public health major and her mother is a nurse. Patten said that both have influenced why she is a “firm believer” in getting vaccinated this season.

“I think everybody should get vaccinated against COVID since it’s as simple as getting the flu shot — which I think everybody should also get,” Patten said. “Do your research and understand that COVID is a bigger issue and the only reason why we were able to end the pandemic quickly is because of vaccinations.”

COVID-19 has become a “deeply politicized” issue, said Lexington Allen, a junior in SIS, sharing his issue with Kennedy being picked to lead HHS.

Kennedy, a known skeptic of vaccines, founded the anti-vaccine nonprofit group Children’s Health Defense. Many public health experts have raised alarm bells over this potential appointment.

“The fact that RFK Jr. has such extreme opinions against vaccines really concerns me because [HHS] is now going to have less support for COVID care and prevention than before,” Allen said. “It really scares me that a Trump-led administration has consistently denied the existence of the pandemic and prevention toward another.”

Kennedy is “not interested in following the science,” said CM Heinrich, a senior and double major in public health and health promotion. Heinrich said one of their primary concerns is that, despite comments from Kennedy that he would not take away vaccines, he won’t “stick” to his words. Heinrich said with other respiratory viruses and monkeypox spreading now and in the future, in addition to COVID-19, they believe there could have been “more qualified individuals” nominated for the HHS Secretary position.

Heinrich added that conversations within their public health classes and the field writ large revolve around a lack of pandemic preparedness under a second Trump Administration and a Kennedy-led HHS.

“We're not set up to handle another virus of that magnitude, regardless of how it spreads,” Heinrich said. “The biggest thing that worked out for COVID is that we were able to very quickly get a new vaccine made and it was revolutionary.”

Heinrich explained that during the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine, there was a use of high-end, new technology and the ability to work through a “very effective and safe” vaccine approval process. As a result, vaccines were distributed in the U.S. quickly to meet the emergency demand. Their concern is what could happen with future vaccine creation.

“I’ve seen that RFK has been adamant about trying to lengthen the process and do more testing,” Heinrich said. “And in theory, that's a good idea, but we already have very good standards for vaccine safety and I think we’re kind of going to see progress being slowed in that regard.”

“Getting vaccinated against even something like the flu is important and it provides herd immunity” Heinrich added. “Getting vaccinated helps society because it means that we are not able to get infected as easily or not going to infect [immunocompromised] people easily.”

Allen said that if his doctor approves it, he will receive the COVID-19 vaccine this year because vaccinating against it is a necessity for him. Allen said that he continues to wear a mask while in classes because he understands how complex COVID-19 has become.

“I am disabled and immunocompromised, so for me, vaccines are a very important way to make sure I don't go to the hospital,” Allen said. “It's complicated because, on one hand, COVID is becoming less deadly, but it’s also becoming more transmissible. I think COVID is still a very disabling illness and can cause long COVID side effects.”

Kennedy made a speech at a ‘Latino Town Hall’ event this past June where he said people who take stimulant drugs or antidepressants could choose to go to “wellness farms” if they want.

Lily Tierney, a senior in the School of Communication, said that she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and takes medication to help manage it. ADHD medications such as Adderall are classified as stimulant drugs. Tierney said that Kennedy’s rhetoric “scares” her because it reflects how he may run HHS if he is confirmed as the next secretary.

“I am extraordinarily fearful, but one of the main things that scares me is the fact that he wants to put people who take stimulants in camps,” Tierney said. “RFK Jr. is someone who’s such a denier of real scientific things like vaccines and he terrifies me all around.”

Students interested in receiving the flu or COVID-19 vaccines can do so at the Student Health Center, and at locations near campus such as the CVS Minute Clinic in Tenleytown and the Walgreens on New Mexico Avenue.

This article was edited by Samantha Skolnick, Tyler Davis and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Ella Rousseau, Ariana Kavoossi and Sabine Kanter-Huchting. Fact checking done by Luna Jinks and Hannah Paisley Zoulek.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

From: Department of Health and Social Care

Published: May 29, 2024

The government has today introduced regulations to restrict the prescribing and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones, known as ‘puberty blockers’, to children and young people under 18 in England, Wales and Scotland.

The emergency ban will last from 3 June to 3 September 2024. It will apply to prescriptions written by UK private prescribers and prescribers registered in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

During this period no new patients under 18 will be prescribed these medicines for the purposes of puberty suppression in those experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence under the care of these prescribers.

The NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blocker treatments to under-18s following the Cass Review into gender identity services.

In addition, the government has also introduced indefinite restrictions to the prescribing of these medicines within NHS primary care in England, in line with NHS guidelines.

The new arrangements apply to gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues - medicines that consist of, or contain, buserelin, gonadorelin, goserelin, leuprorelin acetate, nafarelin or triptorelin.

This action has been taken to address risks to patient safety.

Patients already established on these medicines by a UK prescriber for these purposes can continue to access them. They will also remain available for patients receiving the drugs for other uses, from a UK-registered prescriber.

Patients seeking more information should speak to their clinician.

==

Gender cultists are mad about this because they know that when kids go through puberty as normal, the overwhelming majority of them are likely to desist and become comfortable as regular young adults.

Puberty is the cure for their distress, but activists don't want well-adjusted, biologically intact kids. They want gender unicorns.

[aihoshiino]

Number 24, for Ai!

so this was originally a simple answer to the simple question of "What characters from your other fandoms remind you of [this character]?" and in the process of my writing spiraled into an essay beyond my control but at this point everyone is here to listen to me go insane about themes and narratives. So. Let's talk about Coffin Girls.

COFFIN GIRLS: FUTURE (HOPE) AND FUTURELESSNESS (DESPAIR)

Using the original question as a starting point here - I absolutely can't answer it without starting with Yuuri Wakasa from School-Live!, both because she was the big Brain Melting Blorbo before Ai and because the Yuuri Wakasa to Ai Hoshino pipeline is so direct it's kind of hilarious.

While on page they play out as very different characters, once you start really digging into them the similarities jump out: they are both young women suffering adultification in situations where their survival relies on their being about to match these adult standards. They're both maternal figures and, most important of all, both of them are primarily defined by the roles they assigned themselves that go on to completely control their lives.

While these are both pretty different roles, they are both defined by a lack of weakness, vulnerability and humanity rather than the creation of new, ingenuine traits. The major divergence is their motivation in creating these masks and how they go on to affect their relationship with other little people.

Ai created her mask in the hopes of presenting a version of herself that could love and be loved by other people. Yuuri's was a matter of survival: she creates an unshakable, reliable, invincible version of herself to ensure she and the others have the strength to endure the situation they're in, bottling up her feelings because letting herself be compromised by then could very literally end in someone being killed. Both of them desperately maintain these masks long past the point of it being detrimental to them because they fear what will happen and what pain they will face when it comes down.

The primary difference is that while Ai is more straightforwardly a victim of circumstance, Yuuri is much more directly the author of her own misery. This is obviously not to say Yuuri is to blame at all for her situation but that this is one of the major points of difference between her and Ai;

Ai's fear of rejection is learned, entirely founded in the very real and persistent abuse and rejection she has suffered her whole life. She is, quite frankly, correct that people prefer the flawless and inhuman "Ai of B-Komachi" over the real Ai who is in pain and suffering. Since the moment she was born, she has never been afforded love or acceptance and even being treated with basic kindness and decency has been conditional, predicated on the doctoring of her honest self into a pretty, socially acceptable lie.

Yuuri's fear of rejection hues closer to a sense of duty - her mask is a responsibility she imposed on herself and so too are the supposed consequences of failure. Yuuri has the unconditional acceptance Ai has searched for her whole life - she is surrounded by people who love her, who would accept her as she is and help her every step of the way if she faltered but at every opportunity she has to reach out to them, Yuuri cannot bring herself to do so. She defines herself so strongly as a caretaker that she cannot conceptualise of allowing someone to care for her in return. She must be strong because if she is weak, then that's all good as completely losing her place in the club in her mind.

This is because, for all their similarities, Ai and Yuuri are driven by entirely opposing cores; hope and all consuming despair.

Ai is a person driven by desperate, unwavering hope. Everything she does is in service of creating a future for herself where the things that she lies about can eventually become true. She wants to be happy - she believes she eventually, one day, will be happy and fights with everything she has, against every possible obstacle in her way, to achieve that promised happiness. She hates herself and so works toward creating a version of herself that even she can eventually love. Even if she can't imagine it ever happening, she wants people to know who she really is, she wants to be seen as the dirty, hopeless, irresponsible Hoshino Ai and accepted as such. She unfailingly believes in the future.

Yuuri, by contrast, is defined by despairing resignation. She cannot affect meaningful change, only hold the line in hopes of maintaining the status quo. She lives in a state of futurelessness, content with occupying an eternal present, chained inescapably to the past. She has no hope. She doesn't always want to continue living. She just doesn't want to die yet. She takes responsibility for everything, hates and blames herself for things completely out of her control because she has no control. The trauma that consumed her life is so unimaginably huge and she is so, so small that even the guilt and self loathing are preferable to surrendering this final scrap of agency to it.

Ai wants people to accept her weakness; Yuuri is too ashamed of it. Ai wants to be seen; Yuuri abhors the idea. Both of them climbed into their own coffins and pulled the lid shut but Ai left hers open just a crack so that anyone who wanted to find her could open it and pull her out. Yuuri nailed hers closed from the inside.

As you can probably guess by my talking about coffins all of a sudden, I am definitely channeling Anthy Himemiya from Revolutionary Girl Utena as well lol. I don't necessarily think that Ai or Yuuri are like Anthy (though Ai does have a teeny bit of Anthy DNA imo), it's more that Anthy is the queen of a character archetype that both Ai and Yuuri fall into that for the purposes of this post I'll call Coffin Girls. I fully expect that to make no sense to anyone who isn't me but this post by @metanarrates about sums it up.

That said, while this post uses gender neutral language, when I talk about Coffin Girls I am very specifically talking about Coffin Girls. What makes a character a Coffin Girl to me is when her struggles are distinctly feminine - not wholly defined by but nevertheless inextricable from her womanhood and her place as a woman in patriarchal societies. Societal and social roles and emotional labor that is considered traditionally "feminine" is weaponized against her as violence. A Coffin Girl must be a Coffin Girl because her abuse and exploration has roots in purity culture, misogyny and hostile masculinity manifesting in violence against her.

All of this is true of Ai but what makes her unique as a Coffin Girl is her determination to not be a Coffin Girl. I want to make it very explicit that this is not victim blaming in any way: it's just that what defines a Coffin Girl is resignation and powerlessness, born from an inability (either literal or emotional) to change her situation. Again, Ai is unique in this regard. No, she can't change the idol industry or the misogyny that perpetuates it but she can affect change in herself. She may be resigned to her current lot in life but she rejects the soul deep helpless despair that defines most Coffin Girls. She has hope - she has left her coffin open. All anyone would need to do is pull her out.