The generation that invented rock and roll is ready to dance again thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Being among the first group to be vaccinated, boomers could be seen happily sharing information on the best sites to reserve their shots and enthusiastically posting Facebook photos of how they were jabbed.
Fed up with being stuck at home, watching endless Netflix movies, stress eating, and pursuing new hobbies, many boomers were ready for a late comeback in life.
Before vaccines were widely available, many who got a vaccination appointment said they felt like winning the lottery as visions of hugging grandchildren, booking trips to far away places, and making hair salon appointments were dancing in their homes. heads.
Many feel like blogger Terry Cryer, who wrote on her blog: “I opened my laptop and stared at the screen in disbelief. There, in bold, was a message from our local health department confirming that I had been approved to receive my first COVID shot the next day. I knew none of the other ‘1-Bs’ in my Illinois social circle had managed to get one of these’ golden tickets’, which is the most current media lingo for ‘victory. from a vaccine. ” I leaned forward, unable to recall marking anything larger than a cake pan from a dime store at a county fair, and read the message two more times. “
Boomer Ruth Pennebaker wrote in an article for Texas Monthly: “Since Texans 65 and older became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, my friends and I have been feverishly exchanging emails and text messages with links to websites. vaccination record, urging each other on and reporting which sites work and which ones don’t. Online, it’s a massive rave and competition. My friend John says he hasn’t been so distraught since he was trying to get tickets for “Hamilton” But we are not only losing our minds about getting the vaccine; we are also making big plans for our future. “
At age 60, I recently joined the older boomers and am now fully vaccinated. However, after that first wave of excitement and getting my second shot, I wasn’t sure what to do next.
Is it really safe to “start the party” and “dance”?
The good news
So here’s the wonderful news: A couple of weeks after the second injection, the boomers who were at the forefront of the vaccine line are about 95 percent immune to COVID.
Given that older people are more likely to become seriously ill and die from coronavirus, this is really great news.
Although I am wary of social distancing and public masking, my blogging friend and author Cat Michaels admits that getting the vaccine was a comfort. “Getting the vaccine was the most fantastic and huge relief,” he said. “Literally my neck and shoulder muscles finally relaxed, plus I’m sleeping better. It’s like my fairy godmother defeats the evil dragon, who had been threatening my every move. I even went to a grocery store (gasp! !) For the second time in 12 months and now run quick errands without fear or anxiety. “
The bad news
Now here’s the bad news: While boomers are among the first in the country to be fully vaccinated and eager to join the world, experts caution that safety precautions still need to be taken.
After all, these vaccines are not 100 percent effective, much of the country has yet to be vaccinated, and more contagious and deadly variants are emerging with some uncertainty about the effectiveness of vaccines against these new strains.
Fortunately, there is growing evidence that people who are vaccinated do not transmit the virus, but scientists are still trying to understand how long the protection of the vaccine lasts.
So while some boomers have a carefree attitude, others feel more cautious. They are still reluctant to eat in restaurants or visit bars where people are not likely to distance themselves or wear masks. I’m certainly among that group.
And while some are making travel plans, most boomers are not booking trips for 2021. “We have seen an increase in inquiries over 2022 and 2023,” said Gary Pollard, CTC, president of Ambassador Tours in an interview with TravelPulse. .com. “Most of the confirmed bookings are from customers who were going to go in 2020, then 2021 and now they are looking further afield.” Some in the travel industry have noted that some of their older customers have opted for domestic vacations in 2021.
In other words, there is still some confusion about what is and what is not safe after being fully vaccinated.
That’s why so many boomers are taking a step back and wondering, “Now what?”
What the experts say
According to the latest guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fully vaccinated people (two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or two weeks after a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine) can:
* Visit other fully vaccinated people, as well as unvaccinated people (including those precious grandchildren) who are at low risk for serious COVID illness indoors in small groups without wearing masks or physical distancing.
* participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, as long as they are not in crowds
* resume domestic travel
In addition, fully vaccinated people no longer have to be quarantined or tested after traveling or being exposed to COVID, if they are asymptomatic.
On the other hand, public health officials emphasize that even if a person has received both doses of the vaccine, basic health guidelines still apply. Vaccinated people should wear masks in public, physically distance themselves, wash their hands frequently, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
What does this mean to me?
Like other boomers, I felt immense relief and I’m not as stressed out when I go to the grocery store or run errands. Also, I was comfortable going to the dentist, optometrist, and hair salon (masked, of course), all of which I had put off for over a year. A checkup with my doctor is next on the list.
Best of all, I was finally reunited with my youngest son and his wife, who are also fully vaccinated, and hugged my 3-year-old granddaughter after over a year. Absolutely priceless!
My husband and I also purchased a camping trailer with plans for domestic travel.
But I still plan to be cautious. Honestly, I don’t mind wearing a mask in public places, physically distancing myself, washing my hands, and avoiding crowds.
Perhaps the boom Helen Anders said it best in the Texas Monthly article, “We will continue to wear masks. But underneath them, rest assured that we will all be smiling.”
