#Coronavirus Awareness

[renthony]

[Image description: A photograph of a page from a spiral-bound sketchbook. The page has an illustration of the covid-19 virus and overlaid text that reads, "If I die of Covid-19 - forget burial - just drop my body on the steps of the C.D.C." A caption on the bottom of the page reads, "Ren Basel 2024. In memory of David Wojnarowicz and everyone killed by AIDS, COVID-19, and the government's negligence. Fight back!" End description.]

In 1988, AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz was photographed in a now-famous image, wearing a jacket that read, "If I die of AIDS - forget burial - just drop my body on the steps of the F.D.A.." I am far from the only person to adapt Wojnarowicz's words to COVID-19, but today I am feeling especially angry at the world. Holding the rage in my chest hurts--it hurts so fucking much--so instead, I've put it on paper.

Living through government negligence and community indifference during COVID-19 in 2024 fills me with rage and grief in equal measure, and as a queer person who studies queer history, I can see the echoes of AIDS in the way marginalized communities are being left to die.

As a disabled person who lives in a household that is very high-risk for COVID-19, the C.D.C.'s recent decision to shorten the COVID-19 isolation period feels like a slap in the face.

COVID-19 is not over, and it is vital to take steps to protect yourself and others. Please, follow the work of the People's CDC, an organization dedicated to COVID-19 safety, activism, and education.

Our government has failed us. Our communities have failed us. For those of us who are immunocompromosed or otherwise high-risk, we only have each other.

Remember us. Fight with us. Mask up, get vaccinated, get boosted.

Please.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Broadwaybabyto AKA The Disabled Ginger

If you see a mask - wear a mask. Better yet - wear a mask all the time and show us you understand that we're still IN a pandemic. We are depending on you to keep us safe - please don't betray that.

I’m dedicating this article to disability advocate and Long Covid patient Tinu - who passed away three weeks ago. Please read to the end for more information on her legacy and how to help patients like her. #ForTinu.

I was recently at the hospital (which is not an unusual occurrence for me) and wearing my N99 respirator like I always do. I’m the definition of a ‘high risk’ patient. I’m immune compromised, I don’t mount a proper response to vaccination and I have heart issues. A cold has put me in the hospital.

In fact - I masked prior to Covid during cold and flu season or in high risk situations like the ER. Healthcare workers intuitively put on a mask when they saw mine - a process we refer to as ‘mask mirroring.’ They recognized the risk any virus or bug posed to me and took steps to try and keep me safe.

During the first year or so of the pandemic - it was relatively easy to stay safe in the hospital. There were strict mask mandates in place (albeit with surgical masks) and many patients were being treated virtually to reduce the number of people in the hospital.

But as we rushed ‘back to normal’ - I noticed a perceptible shift in healthcare workers’ approach to masking. They very clearly didn’t WANT to do it anymore. Even in hospitals that had active mandates - I would encounter staff wearing their mask below their nose or chin - and they would sigh and huff at me if I asked them to put their mask on properly.

One time I was in the elevator when a woman in scrubs got on. She was wearing a hospital badge - clearly an employee and thus governed by the mandates the hospital had laid out.

Her mask was in her hand. I asked politely for her to wear it and told her I was immune compromised. She rolled her eyes - held it in front of her face (without actually putting it on) and then leaned right across me to hit the elevator button. There was another set of buttons on the opposite side of the elevator - and this move felt like a deliberate attempt to violate my personal space and ensure I knew just how unhappy she was that I asked her to mask (trust me - I knew).

As time went on and more and more people bought into the comfortable lie that Covid was over - it became harder to access safe medical care. Less and less staff were complying with mandates - and eventually they were dropped altogether in favour of a ‘mask friendly’ policy.

What exactly IS a ‘Mask Friendly’ Policy? “We respect the choice of all patients to wear a mask if they see fit. Hospital staff will decide whether or not a mask is required based on a number of factors. They will not tolerate any violence or abusive behaviour.”

Effectively - we’re not going to mask anymore but if you really want to - we won’t stop you. Stating that masks will be ‘respected’ infers that there’s something inherently wrong with masking. That people who do it are to be tolerated but perhaps also pitied. It’s the exact WRONG message to be sending in a hospital of all places.

That said - I knew my chart clearly documented my risk factors so I hoped that doctors would continue to ‘mask mirror’ for me. Unfortunately I was very wrong.

Since mandates have been dropped I’ve been accused of being “anxious”, scared of Covid, “difficult” and told I should “stop worrying so much.” I’ve had staff refuse to pull up a mask they’re wearing under their nose, repeatedly take their mask off and on during an appointment and a few have outright refused to wear one. It’s been absolutely exhausting - as I have to steel myself for each and every interaction as though I were going into battle.

For a Vulnerable Patient - the Hospital Feels like The Hunger Games May the odds be ever in your favour. We have to navigate so much risk. It’s not JUST the risk of Covid - it’s any hospital acquired infection. The pushback against mandates has caused an overall reduction in infection control. I’ve had staff try and start an IV without washing their hands - and get angry with ME for requesting they stop. It’s bleak for patients right now.

There’s also the risk of being psychologized or labelled anxious because you choose to wear a mask (or ask a healthcare worker to wear one for you). I don’t understand how we’ve ended up in a place where it’s considered ‘weak’ or a ‘flaw’ to want to protect yourself and others from a deadly and disabling virus. But it IS where we’ve ended up.

On one of my recent trips to the ER - I had an infuriating interaction with a doctor. It may not seem immediately obvious WHY it was so infuriating - but please read on and I will explain.

Doctor: Looks at my N99

"you seem anxious about Covid."

Me: "Not anxious - realistic. Please check my chart - colds have put me in hospital."

Dr: Checks chart.

"Oh sorry - you should definitely keep masking. Do you want me to wear one?"

My Plea to Maskless Healthcare Workers Please stop doing this to patients. While I'm grateful the doctor dropped the "anxiety" remark quickly AND checked my chart - they never should have commented on my mask. They should have been masking too. If they absolutely cannot or will not mask for themselves - they should ‘mask mirror’ when they see a masked patient.

This idea that ‘only the vulnerable’ need to worry is causing a tremendous amount of harm. I was ‘lucky’ in that my chart clearly states that I’m vulnerable - so the doctor didn’t push back. What about people with less obvious circumstances? What about those caring for a vulnerable person but who are healthy themselves? Would the doctor mask for them?

The only difference between me and everyone else is that I KNOW I'm vulnerable.

I might even be slightly less vulnerable by virtue of the fact that everyone else has had repeated COVID infections (which we know damages your immune system) and I'm avoiding infection.

If you know enough about Covid to agree that a vulnerable person SHOULD be masking - shouldn't you ALSO be wearing one? You obviously understand it's more serious than we're being led to believe - so why aren't you protecting yourself and others?

This is extra true if you're a healthcare worker. You can't tell WHO is vulnerable just by looking at them.

By the time the doctor had made the comment, checked my chart and offered to mask - we had been in close proximity for seven minutes. That’s more than enough time to infect a patient.

While I of course appreciate they made the offer TO mask - at that point the damage was done. COVID can infect in seconds. If you see a patient masking - the decent, caring and smart thing to do is to don one yourself.

We must also be cognizant of the fact that many patients don't feel comfortable questioning a doctor given the imbalance of power. So while they may WANT you to put on a mask - once you've accused them of "anxiety" they're going to shut down. They won't ask. They won't risk deterioration of care.

This interaction went as well as could be expected - and yet it still put me at risk unnecessarily. It still resulted in my being psychologized. It still left me with a lack of trust and faith in the medical system.

How Can I Have Faith in a System That Ignores the Science? A system that puts me - and others just like me - in harms way? A system that allows healthcare workers to refuse to acknowledge the critical role they’re meant to play in our lives.

They're meant to HELP us. Not harm us.

I'm not a doctor. I can't treat myself. I can "just stay home" from almost ANY public setting - but I can't avoid the hospital. I'm not the only patient like this. We are all making huge personal sacrifices to keep safe in a world that has deemed us "expendable".

We're exhausted, angry, scared and frustrated. Yet despite how badly we've been treated and how much we've had to sacrifice - the place we go to GET BETTER is the place most likely to give us a deadly and disabling virus.

Does no one understand how backwards that is?

Now - we’ve all heard the tired argument ‘if your mask works why do I need to wear one’ - so let’s address the WHY and put that discussion to bed:

In a hospital setting - there are countless reasons a person might be unable to mask. In my case I have frequent anaphylaxis and when my airway is in jeopardy they must remove my mask.

People are vomiting, need oxygen, have dental emergencies or facial trauma. People have tracheostomies or sensory issues that make it impossible to mask. Babies and small children can’t mask. The list of people in a hospital who may be unable to mask is LONG.

These are sick people having a medical emergency and due to the nature of their condition - they can’t protect themselves. They are relying on others to protect them.

They have no control over other patients - but they should be able to expect that the staff they’re trusting with their life be willing to wear a mask for them. One way masking is good - two way masking is far better.

Disabled, elderly and vulnerable people are not expendable. We aren't "better off dead." We deserve safe access to all public spaces - but hospitals and medical facilities should be at the TOP of the list.

There's No Logical Reason to Oppose Mask Mandates In Hospitals It's where the sickest people are, they have no choice but to be there AND where the strongest bugs thrive.

Masking would prevent a great many nosocomial infection and it would SAVE LIVES.

Please - push for masks in healthcare. If you're a healthcare worker who sees a patient in a mask - put one on for them. Don't make them ask.

Don't psychologize them. Don't betray the trust they've shown you. They've literally put their lives in your hands. Don't take that for granted - it’s not an easy thing for many of us to do.

If you're a patient struggling because you can't access safe healthcare - know you're not alone. There are many of us struggling alongside you. Fighting for the respect and care we deserved. Saying proudly that we will not go gently to the wayside. We will NOT be expendable.

How Do Other Vulnerable Patients Feel? I posted on Twitter/X asking people if they would like masks in hospital. Asking if they had delayed or avoided care due to lack of masking. Asking healthcare workers to tell me why they did or didn’t mask.

The responses were overwhelming and demonstrated a very clear need for masking policies in hospitals. There were over a thousand replies from people who were either avoiding care and/or had been infected in a healthcare setting. There were actual doctors saying they’re not concerned with getting sick so patients can ‘mask if they want.’

There were heartbreaking stories of healthcare workers trying to protect themselves and their patients only to be told by administrators and/or superiors that they aren’t allowed because the masks remind people of the pandemic.

I’m sensitive to people who’ve gone through a trauma - but we are still IN a pandemic. If masks remind people of the pandemic - that’s a good thing. People need to know it’s not over and that they’re taking serious risks with their health.

If your trauma is so severe that you can’t mask for a vulnerable patient - or worse you lash out at a patient for masking - then you need to carefully assess whether you should still be in a patient facing role. There’s help for trauma - many chronically ill patients have been repeatedly traumatized in healthcare settings. We work through it as best we can - and for our sake (and your own) we need you to work through yours as well.

Given the sheer volume of responses - I’m going to turn this article into a series. This article will serve as MY plea to healthcare workers. Part Two will be a summary of the stories I received from patients who feel unsafe in healthcare. Part Three will be the responses from healthcare workers - including reasons WHY they mask and why they don’t.

My hope is that this series will encourage hospitals and governments to reconsider mandatory masking in healthcare. In the absence of a mandate - I hope people will send this article to any healthcare workers they know and perhaps it will convince them to do the right thing without waiting to be told.

Never forget - you have lives in your hands. You don’t need a mandate to mask up. The sooner we start masking in healthcare the more lives will be saved.

In Loving Memory of Tinu Lastly - I want to end this article with a tribute to disability advocate and Long Covid patient - Atinuke Abayomi Paul (Tinu). Tinu had cancer AND Long Covid and spent the last months of her life advocating for Masks in Healthcare. She was undergoing chemotherapy and most healthcare workers REFUSED to mask for her. Her first Covid infection left her with devastating disability. She was the definition of ‘high risk’ given she had cancer and was undergoing chemo - and still they refused to protect her. Unsurprisingly - she caught Covid again.

This should NEVER happen. Patients like Tinu deserve to be safe in healthcare settings. We all do.

She also spent a great deal of time trying to raise money to afford her chemotherapy - and spearheaded a number of mutual aid campaigns on social media. If you ever needed help, a boost, a share etc… you could count on Tinu. She understood the harsh realities of living with chronic illness - namely that you’re abandoned emotionally AND financially and often have to rely on crowd funding for support.

Her death has been a devastating blow to the disability community - and I hope that this article can serve as a reminder of what’s at stake when you choose NOT to take precautions in healthcare settings. Mask up for Tinu. Mask up for me. Mask up for yourself.

The community is raising funds to support Tinu’s family and pay off medical debt - if you’re in a position to help - you can access the Go Fund Me here: www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-tinus-legacy-with-compassionate-support

[gumjrop]

The Weather

Amid the CDC’s COVID-minimizing and dangerous rollback to isolation guidance, a new Pew Research poll shows that 27% of Americans are very or somewhat concerned that they will get COVID and require hospitalization, and 40% (nearly half) of Americans are very or somewhat concerned that they will unwittingly spread COVID to others. This number rises substantially for low income brackets, and Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults. Concern about hospitalization was highest in adults with a high school education or less. Despite efforts by the CDC, the Biden Administration, and corporate media to downplay the public’s concern about COVID, these numbers show that a substantial proportion of Americans care about protecting one another.

A popular program providing free rapid antigen tests through the USPS ended on March 9, 2024. Despite the limitations of rapid antigen tests, these home tests continue to be a vital way to quickly identify COVID cases, both to prevent further onward spread as well as to identify the need for treatment with Paxlovid. You can use our letter campaign to let your elected officials know we still need free rapid home tests.

COVID wastewater levels are decreasing, with no states registering “Very High” levels as of 3/15/2024. Eight states are currently at “High” and 15 are at “Moderate” levels of SARS-CoV-2 detected in wastewater.

Wastewater levels show a downward trend in the provisional data (gray shaded area) in all regions. The national wastewater levels are overall indicated as “Low.” Lower wastewater activity is an indication of lower overall viral spread, which is certainly a good thing. However, the “Low” designation is not a representation of low risk in our day-to-day lives, and continued masking and multilayered precautions continue to be necessary to protect ourselves and our communities. State and local trends can also provide additional information, where available.

A recent Axios article highlights the expanding broad utility of wastewater testing for COVID and other infectious diseases, as well as the uncertain footing of the funding and infrastructure for this essential surveillance tool. We encourage you to write your elected officials to let them know you want to keep and expand wastewater testing in your area and nationally.

Wins

On March 13, the People’s CDC hosted a press conference to push back on the CDC’s elimination of COVID isolation guidance and demand accountability to the public (watch the video or read the press release). The online publication (pre-proof) of the People’s CDC External Review in the peer-reviewed scientific journal American Journal of Preventive Medicine Focus was also announced, which is an important authoritative resource highlighting both shortcomings of the CDC’s approach and recommendations for a more transparent, effective, and equitable pandemic response going forward. The full External Review report can be found on the People’s CDC website.

March 15 was Long COVID Awareness Day, and Senator Bernie Sanders along with six cosponsors (Tim Kaine, Edward Markey, John Hickenlooper, Tina Smith, Robert Casey, and Tammy Baldwin) introduced Resolution 590 to formally recognize March 15 as Long COVID Awareness Day. You can ask your senators to support this resolution using this letter campaign. Senator Sanders released a video promising legislation to increase funding for Long COVID research and clinical care, as well as emphasizing the importance of prevention, including vaccination and masking. For more info on Long COVID Awareness Day, see the “Long COVID” section below.

When we make our voices heard, whether with the press, with scientific publications, or with elected officials, we win.

Variants

In the CDC’s most recent Nowcast predictions, JN.1 continues to be the most prevalent variant in the United States (86.5%), with a predicted decrease in JN.1 and sublineage JN.1.13 increasing (9.5%).

Vaccines

The CDC has recommended spring boosters for people age 65 and older, at least 4 months after the previous updated dose. As of 3/2/2024, only about 42.4% of adults age 65 and older had gotten an updated vaccine, and many who were vaccinated in the fall may not realize they are eligible for another dose. 

In addition to the spring boosters recommended for people aged 65 and older, immunocompromised people are eligible for more frequent vaccination. The CDC states, “You can self-attest to your moderately or severely immunocompromised status, which means you do not need any documentation of your status to receive COVID-19 vaccines you might be eligible to receive.”

As a reminder, the currently available COVID vaccine formulations (2023-2024, first available in fall 2023) are effective against the JN.1 variant, with about 54% protection against symptomatic disease. For people of all ages, immunity wanes after 6 months, and, although current eligibility is more limited, we continue to support access to vaccination at least every 6 months for all ages.

If you have not received one of the updated COVID vaccines released last Fall, you can use this tool to find local vaccine providers that are Bridge Access Participants. The Bridge program is currently available through December 31, 2024. 

COVID in Kids

In a recent report in the CDC’s MMWR publication, cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in 2023 were highlighted. MIS-C is an inflammatory response to a COVID infection that usually occurs 2-6 weeks following an infection. MIS-C may be serious and can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal tract. Although rates of MIS-C have slowed since 2020-2021, 112 cases were reported in 2023, with 82.1% of those occurring in unvaccinated children. Among cases in vaccinated children, 60% occurred in children who had not received a booster within the last year. As of 3/2/2024, only about 13.5% of eligible children aged 6 months to 17 years have received a 2023-2024 COVID vaccine. More info on Long COVID in kids is presented below under “Long COVID.” 

It is clear that kids need protection from COVID, and current efforts are inadequate. We demand that public health authorities take action to protect our children. You can find more information to support protecting kids in our Urgency of Equity toolkit.

Long COVID

March 15 marked the second annual International Long Covid Awareness Day. Across the globe, Long Covid survivors, their allies, and the community fight for increased research, treatment, and visibility for people living with Long Covid. 

Searching #LongCovidAwarenessDay on most social media platforms will connect you to posts from people all over the world describing their experience navigating their ongoing symptoms while trying to educate others about the barriers they face in seeking accessible and effective treatments.

Up to 5.8 million children in the US may be affected by Long COVID. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that vaccination reduces the risk of Long COVID in children by about 40%. 

Take Action

Super Tuesday has come and gone with nominees in most parties now established for races at the local, state, and national level later this year on November 5th.

People’s CDC wants to remind you that regardless of the outcomes of these elections, we must always continue to organize and fight back against the state’s abandonment of science in favor of corporate interests.

We urge you to use and share our letter campaign demanding that elected officials renew and expand programs to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs). You can also continue to urge elected officials to support maintaining and extending COVID isolation guidance via our letter campaign. Over 13,000 letters have already been sent, and you can use the same template to send follow up letters.

Whether it’s joining a local mutual aid organization or fighting for increased accessibility measures (required masking, improved air quality, and multilayered precautions) in groups you are already part of, your actions can make your communities safer for all people.

[nylarac]

if you don't have insurance you can still get the newest one for free through the bridge access program! (if u live in the us)

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[vertexmediaus]

"Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Infographic Presentation Template" 🌍🦠

Are you looking to create an engaging and informative presentation on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Our COVID-19 Infographic Presentation Template is designed to help you effectively communicate vital information with clarity and impact. 📊✨ This customizable template features eye-catching visuals and well-organized layouts that simplify complex data, making it easier for your audience to grasp critical insights about the pandemic.

Key Features:

Visually Appealing Design 🎨: Capture your audience's attention with stunning graphics and an intuitive layout.

Comprehensive Data Representation ���: Present statistics, trends, and guidelines related to COVID-19 in a clear and concise manner.

Easy Customization ✏️: Tailor the template to suit your specific needs, whether for educational purposes, health seminars, or community awareness campaigns.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, educator, or community leader, this template is an essential tool for spreading awareness and fostering understanding about COVID-19. 🌟 Download the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Infographic Presentation Template today and make your presentations impactful!

[jcmarchi]

Protecting the rights of internet users, in Mexico and worldwide

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/protecting-the-rights-of-internet-users-in-mexico-and-worldwide/

Protecting the rights of internet users, in Mexico and worldwide

After the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement, a single Tweet or Facebook post was able to mobilize thousands in a matter of hours. In 2012, protests came to the streets of Mexico as young people demonstrated against the results of the general election.

A recent college graduate of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mariel García-Montes had classmates who were nonviolently participating in the protests. One was arrested and jailed, and as García-Montes pored over online surveillance videos and photos to help free her, she was struck by the power of the tools at her disposal.

“Videos and maps and photographs placed her at a different location at the time that her arraignment said,” García-Montes says. “When she was able to walk out of jail partly because of technological evidence, I thought, ‘Maybe this is a window of opportunity to use technology for social good.’”

Over a decade later, García-Montes is still looking for more of those windows. She first came to MIT in 2016 to pursue a master’s degree in comparative media studies and is currently working with Professor Eden Medina on a PhD thesis in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society, which will chart the history of technology’s influence on surveillance and privacy, particularly in her home country.

“I would love for my work, theoretical and practical, to build into these global movements for necessary and proportionate surveillance,” she says. “It needs to have counterweights and limits, and it needs to be really thought through to preserve people’s privacy and other rights, not just security.”

“More broadly,” she continues, “I would love to be part of a generation thinking about what technology would look like if we put the public interest first.”

Growing up alongside the internet

García-Montes has been thinking about justice and the public for much of her life, thanks in large part to her mother, who taught philosophy at the university level.

“She was the ultimate professor for me,” she says. “She provided me with a moral compass and intellectual curiosity, and I’m grateful I get to live her dreams.”

Her mother was also instrumental in piquing her interest in the internet. As a professor, she had access to the internet at a time when few Mexicans did, and set García-Montes up with an email account and allowed her to use the computer at the university when she was a child. The experience was formative, as she noticed the “vast difference” between those who had access and those who did not. For example, she recalls learning online about a devastating tsunami in Asia, while none of her peers had any idea that it was happening.

As time passed and more and more people did gain internet access, the online landscape changed, particularly for young people. García-Montes quickly realized that someone needed to take responsibility for keeping those young people safe and internet-literate, and she worked with a number of organizations that did just that, such as UNICEF and Global Changemakers. The issues have only compounded since then, but she isn’t letting up either.

“There’s no silver bullet,” she says. “We need to rethink the entire ecosystem. We cannot put it on parents to teach their kids. We cannot put it on teachers. We cannot put it on online users. Instead of only centering profit and only centering page views or engagement, we need to also center pro-social behavior and the public interest.”

Raised by women — her mom, her aunt, her cousin, and her grandmother — García-Montes incorporates the feminist ideals of her upbringing into her academic work wherever she can. In 2022, she helped write a paper with MIT associate professor of urban science and planning Catherine D’Ignazio that examined the ways activists around the world are trying to address the deficiencies in government data on gender-related violence against women. The data are often absent or incomplete, so she and her co-authors highlighted the vital work being done to fill in the gaps.

“​​When Catherine started to work with feminicide data activists, I knew a bunch of them because I had worked with them previously,” she says. “I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, the day has finally come that these people can have the prominence that they’ve long deserved.’ The hours of work that they put in and the emotional toll it takes on them is just outstanding, and they weren’t really getting the recognition for that labor and their technical expertise.”

Her dissertation is a study of the history of surveillance technologies in Mexico. Specifically, she is looking at the ways contemporary debates on information technologies, such as spyware and facial recognition, interact with existing governance and infrastructures.

The future of privacy and community

Her thesis research has instilled in García-Montes a deep concern for where things are headed for the average citizen.

“Different types of data collection continue to be developed because of the data broker industry,” she says. “Your power bill can be an instrument of surveillance, and facial recognition has been appearing in airports. The forms of data collection are becoming much more nuanced, much more pervasive, and much harder to evade.”

This pervasiveness has led to a general acceptance among the population, she says, but she’s also encouraged by the advocacy groups that have continued to fight on. She agrees with those groups that it should not be left to individuals to protect their own data, and that ultimately, there needs to be a legislative and cultural environment that values the preservation of privacy.

“The awareness of fights that have been won is rising,” she says. “The awareness of the loss of privacy is also rising, and so I don’t think that it’s going to be a clear win for privacy-violating companies.”

While her studies at MIT fill most of her time, García-Montes also finds purpose participating in community life in her Greater-Boston neighborhood. During the coronavirus pandemic, García-Montes and her neighbors forged bonds as they provided mutual aid for the essential workers and vulnerable people of their neighborhood. The camaraderie they developed persists today.

Whether online or in real life, “There is joy in community,” she says. “At the root of it, I want to be around people. I want to know my neighbors, and being able to use technology to solve some of our mutual aid needs helps me feel good.”

[thoughtportal]

Opinion Here’s how to get free Paxlovid as many times as you need it

When the public health emergency around covid-19 ended, vaccines and treatments became commercial products, meaning companies could charge for them as they do other pharmaceuticals. Paxlovid, the highly effective antiviral pill that can prevent covid from becoming severe, now has a list price of nearly $1,400 for a five-day treatment course.

Thanks to an innovative agreement between the Biden administration and the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Americans can still access the medication free or at very low cost through a program called Paxcess. The problem is that too few people — including pharmacists — are aware of it.

I learned of Paxcess only after readers wrote that pharmacies were charging them hundreds of dollars — or even the full list price — to fill their Paxlovid prescription. This shouldn’t be happening. A representative from Pfizer, which runs the program, explained to me that patients on Medicare and Medicaid or who are uninsured should get free Paxlovid. They need to sign up by going to paxlovid.iassist.com or by calling 877-219-7225. “We wanted to make enrollment as easy and as quick as possible,” the representative said.

Indeed, the process is straightforward. I clicked through the web form myself, and there are only three sets of information required. Patients first enter their name, date of birth and address. They then input their prescriber’s name and address and select their insurance type.

All this should take less than five minutes and can be done at home or at the pharmacy. A physician or pharmacist can fill it out on behalf of the patient, too. Importantly, this form does not ask for medical history, proof of a positive coronavirus test, income verification, citizenship status or other potentially sensitive and time-consuming information.

But there is one key requirement people need to be aware of: Patients must have a prescription for Paxlovid to start the enrollment process. It is not possible to pre-enroll. (Though, in a sense, people on Medicare or Medicaid are already pre-enrolled.)

Once the questionnaire is complete, the website generates a voucher within seconds. People can print it or email it themselves, and then they can exchange it for a free course of Paxlovid at most pharmacies.

Pfizer’s representative tells me that more than 57,000 pharmacies are contracted to participate in this program, including major chain drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens and large retail chains such as Walmart, Kroger and Costco. For those unable to go in person, a mail-order option is available, too.

The program works a little differently for patients with commercial insurance. Some insurance plans already cover Paxlovid without a co-pay. Anyone who is told there will be a charge should sign up for Paxcess, which would further bring down their co-pay and might even cover the entire cost.

Several readers have attested that Paxcess’s process was fast and seamless. I was also glad to learn that there is basically no limit to the number of times someone could use it. A person who contracts the coronavirus three times in a year could access Paxlovid free or at low cost each time.

Unfortunately, readers informed me of one major glitch: Though the Paxcess voucher is honored when presented, some pharmacies are not offering the program proactively. As a result, many patients are still being charged high co-pays even if they could have gotten the medication at no cost.

This is incredibly frustrating. However, after interviewing multiple people involved in the process, including representatives of major pharmacy chains and Biden administration officials, I believe everyone is sincere in trying to make things right. As we saw in the early days of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, it’s hard to get a new program off the ground. Policies that look good on paper run into multiple barriers during implementation.

Those involved are actively identifying and addressing these problems. For instance, a Walgreens representative explained to me that in addition to educating pharmacists and pharmacy techs about the program, the company learned it also had to make system changes to account for a different workflow. Normally, when pharmacists process a prescription, they inform patients of the co-pay and dispense the medication. But with Paxlovid, the system needs to stop them if there is a co-pay, so they can prompt patients to sign up for Paxcess.

Here is where patients and consumers must take a proactive role. That might not feel fair; after all, if someone is ill, people expect that the system will work to help them. But that’s not our reality. While pharmacies work to fix their system glitches, patients need to be their own best advocates. That means signing up for Paxcess as soon as they receive a Paxlovid prescription and helping spread the word so that others can get the antiviral at little or no cost, too.

{source}

[inniave]

it's estimated that right now in the united states there are 1 million people catching covid every day. please wear a mask & encourage everyone around you to do the same. write & call your reps and urge them to put covid precautions back in place!

US Americans, please visit the link below to write your representatives & urge them to push back against mask bans!

We all deserve to have the basic freedom to protect ourselves from airborne diseases. If the government won't protect us, we must protect ourselves.

[agronayurveda]

Buy online #Cufhit Honey #Cough syrup at #AgronAyurveda.

Cufhit Honey Syrup is a Herbal cough syrup for fast relief from acute cough and #throat infection.

COD AVAILABLE

No side effect.

Shop Now - https://www.agronayurveda.com/Cufhit-Honey-Syrup

CALL - 8859000627

#Bulk#Stockist#Distributors#PCD#OTC#Offer#Best Deal

#coronavirus#coronavirus#awareness#stayhome

[13thpythagoras]

patents are papal edicts

[alexsmithson]

Fragments of Reflection!

The past three years have made me reflect on how fragmented life has become.

The past three years have made me reflect on how fragmented life has become. The global pandemic in 2020 shut the world down and left us all uncertain, and, for a time, we could travel only from home to work and back. 2021 slowly reopened the world as the third lockdown marked the end of 16 months of three eventful lockdowns that massively impacted mental health, hospitality and all job…

[dakakaruna]

Week 3 - Daka's Message: Who are you? What can you become?

Become a Patron of Homoerotic Tantra℠:Mascul-IN-Touch℠ on Patreon! Click here: Become a Patron! An Official Site of Homoerotic Tantra:Mascul-IN-Touch℠ This is Daka’s Message for Week 3 of Meditation/Reflection Meditation and Reflection is a Discovery Process As I compose these meditation and reflection installments I am learning so much simply by reflecting on what I feel might be of interest…

[banner123]

https://bannerhouse.com.au/product/covid-banners/

Stop the Spread of Coronavirus. The best way to prevent and slow down/decrease the transmission of COVID is to be well informed about Covid-19 virus. Convey the right safety information in a format that can be absorbed and easily understood by the people. Spread the awareness among people with our Custom Designed Covid Banners. Banner House is a leading supplier of Custom COVID banners in Australia.