I had a call from my old friend yesterday for a catch up - not that there's much to catch up with at the moment is there. I mean, if you're not going out and not seeing people! G was the girl I met at the hotel my first night in Geneva when our employer flew us both out on temporary contracts. She stayed with our employer for a couple of years and then moved to the World Health Organisation, from where she retired a few years ago. She had gone ahead and requested French citizenship way before me and had her final interview about 18 months ago so I asked if she had had any news. She said not (not that that's surprising at the moment as everything is delayed), but said "she was slightly concerned about the proposal to make the new covid vaccine mandatory and how it might affect future administrative decisions"! Say what? I hadn't heard that, but then again I don't have French TV so ... again, no surprise there. When she asked how I felt about that I said I wouldn't like it at all. Heck I never got the annual flu vaccine which was offered free at work because it's just not my thing. Thankfully I've only ever had the real flu once in my life so maybe that's why. So I looked it up, and apparently a French politician has proposed making it mandatory and has received support from several others. When I started reading about it, for me personally, I think the French will have another revolution if they try to make it mandatory and I honestly don't see it going too far. I mean, Liberté, égalité, fraternité starts with "liberté" doesn't it! So I asked G why she felt the same way. She said that when she retired she had been working in one of the "vaccine units" of WHO and knew that it took two to three years for the side effects of such vaccines to be known! And I'm with her on that one. So I mentioned it to André (who had already heard) and he said "yeah, that's why the CEO of Pfizer sold off over 60% of his stock when the vaccine was heralded a success"! Make of that what you want - and I'm not saying anything negative about it - it's just that I feel it's too much of a new vaccine for me to want to rush to the front of the queue to get it as yet, even if it means continuing to live the way I live for a while longer!
https://www.businessinsider.fr/us/pfizer-ceo-sold-stock-6-million-30-percent-compensation-vaccine-2020-11
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| From today's Sky News |
Yet again last night André forgot to lock the door when he came in from outside so yet again I told him we could have been "murrrderred" in our beds. At that he did his impression of Private Fraser from Dad's Army. I can't win with this kid!
There's a big hoo-har in France right now about whether we wait until 1 December to ease the restrictions, because businesses are pushing back, saying that they would at least like to be given the chance to make some money from Black Friday if they can - although I never thought Black Friday had caught on much over here. Well it certainly hadn't when I was in Italy this time last year. Aaahhh Italy - seems like a dream to me now! I know what I want to get for the kids for Christmas so I'm looking forward to being able to go out and get that sorted, plus I want to get myself a chainsaw at the local DIY place before my 10% discount offer runs out. But more than that, what I really want to go out and buy is new socks. Mine have pretty much had it. The thin ones aren't suitable for walking and the thicker ones are all starting to look like this (the legs too)! Never thought I would get so excited about the prospect of buying socks!
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| Picture courtesy of Dreamstime.com |
I made garlic mushrooms yesterday and as there are some left I'm going to use them up to make stuffed baked potatoes for lunch. After that off for my walk and I'll try to do a bit of sewing, although I really have lost my mojo there. There's bugger all on TV that interests me so I might sign up for Netflix in order to watch The Crown, and other than that I'm back to reading and trying out new recipes. Even Words with Friends on Facebook is getting a bit boring for me now as all I seem to get is a load of vowels. E-I-E-I-O! Pity that isn't really how you spell "farm" isn't it!
Like you I never had a flu shot in my life. My doctor never suggested I should and whenever I asked specifically, he said he really did not believe theye were helpful and he never got it himself either. I would hate to be forced to have a vaccine. I am generally not against vaccines. As a child I had many vaccines like polio, tuberclosis, smallpox etc. However, like your friend I want to be sure of the side effects first. As for Black Friday, believe it or not it has become a thing even here for several years now and since Friday is supposedly a holy day for Muslims, it had been frowned upon. Eventually, the industry decided to call it fantastik friday or wonderful friday and other names that are more innocent. It is not just for a day either. Rolling eyes...
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way. I'm not against vaccines at all, but mandatory no way. I'm a bit surprised that Black Friday is taking off in Turkey too, but then I guess the businesses need to make money where they can don't they!
DeleteI don't know how I'd feel about a mandatory vaccine either but I'm pretty sure that any governing body who mandated that here would soon be out of work. We have SO many anti-vaxxers here, to the point of ridiculousness. And also, to the point of the spread of diseases that we thought were almost completely eliminated. I'm sure you know all this. But there is the problem that this particular vaccine has no doubt been rushed. I don't know. I suppose if Dr. Fauci takes it, I will too.
ReplyDeleteIf you get Netflix, be sure to watch The Queen's Gambit.
And the thing I want to shop for? Cloth napkins at thrift stores. Isn't that crazy? I think of all the people clearing their houses out during these down-times, finding napkins they were gifted with years ago and saying, "We've never used these. Donate them!" Lovely linen and cotton napkins that I would adore.
I'm pretty sure any government that tried to push through a mandatory vaccine would be shown the door here short shrift too - which would then open the door to Marine Le Pen and her far right party. I'm not against vaccines at all. Of course I'm not. I actually had measles as a child and almost died. Even though I was little I remember how ill I was - but I caught it because I hadn't yet been given the jab because I was too young. But like you I think this vaccine has, of necessity, been rushed and would like to think I have a choice in the matter. Hell even if it means I have to stay home with a mask for the next how long! And thanks for the tip on Netflix. I think I'm going to sign up in a minute. Regarding the napkins, I was given a bag of beautiful linens about a year ago by a lady at my patchwork group. Her mother had died and she asked me if I would like them. You can tell real quality. I just have to get my sewing mojo back!
DeletePersonally. They can have my arm at the earliest opportunity, but I am always willing to get a shot vs disease be it the flu,pneumonia, shingles, whatever. The only way the pandemic will ever slow down is if people get the shot.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course getting the shot should be your choice, not because it was mandatory. I would like to think we can slow/stop this thing without the shot ever becoming mandatory. I don't see "mandatory" ever happening anyway. I guess we have to wait and see what happens next!
DeleteI read somewhere that vaccinating some 70% of the population should be sufficient to enable the resumption to normality and control of the disease. The take up of flu vaccine over here this year by the over 65’s has been so overwhelming that the promised delivery to the 50-65 age group for the most part isn’t forecast to take place until next month. When I was at work, I can recall declining it in favour of the thought of a few days in bed. Once I retired though I was hit hard by a nasty bout and when I later qualified for the annual shot because of an immunosuppressant I was having to take, I was there in the queue. Whilst I’d like some more reassurance/information about this vaccine first, I’m pretty sure that when offered I’ll take it, comforting myself with the thought that if I grow two heads so will everyone around me!
ReplyDeleteIt's a very difficult dilemma isn't it. It's just the "mandatory" bit that sticks in my craw. I might well choose to have it anyway if offered, but I want it to be my choice!
DeleteI know exactly. At present we have a draconian law which begins with something along the lines that: No person may leave their home without a reasonable excuse and goes on to make it a crime if you do. I have no wish to venture far under the present circumstances but the fact that it is a criminal offence to do so is galling, restricting, as it does, fundamental rights and freedoms. However, when you are reminded that those freedoms are dependent on the laws of the society of which you are a part, it almost makes sense.
DeleteWe've got the same draconian laws going at the moment - get caught out without a "valid" reason AND written permission and the starting fine is €135. But I do agree that society has to have laws of course. The next few months should be "interesting"!
DeleteI have had the flu jab every year for the past 10 years. I had pneumonia in 2010 and it knocked me for six and the first 2 lots of antibiotics did nothing, then I was tested and they found the right antibiotic for the bacterial pneumonia. Since having the jab I've never had a cold and even if I get a sore throat it lasts hours and not days. I am in favour of the vaccine but I'm against anything being made mandatory. It's certainly interesting about the CEO selling his shares!
ReplyDeleteI think they've done a wonderful job producing the vaccine so quickly - don't get me wrong, and if this pandemic goes on and I'm offered it I will most likely take it, but .... As for the CEO, my first thought was wow, he's raking it in at the moment but cashing in "just in case - you never know what is coming down the line in the future"!
DeleteI hope people will get the shot after it goes through all three phases of testing, but I do not like the idea of it being mandated. That is too close to big brother for me.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly - you put it better than I ever could!
DeleteI agree.
DeleteI always get a flu shot and I can honestly say I have never had the flu in my entire life. My front door's usually locked, but the back isn't, but then again I got big, big dogs.
ReplyDeleteI know I had the flu once about 30 years ago so I guess you can see why I've never been particularly interested in it. Maybe that will change - who knows. Since I live on my own I like to have my doors locked but it's not exactly the Bronx round here either!
DeleteI know a ton of folk who would not get the flu shot, even after all these years - and they will not get the covid shot either. A mandatory shot is too far, but folks are going to have to take the first shot if they really want to see changes!
ReplyDeleteI never got the flu shot because I just didn't see the need - and I never got the flu. I have different feelings about the covid shot - I can see a very great need for that, but like you say, mandatory - never!
DeleteI get the flu shot every year. I started when Miss Katie was very sick one winter, 11 weeks, not in a row but sick still the same, so we started getting her vaccinated. I still get the flu from time to time because what they put in the vaccine is only their best guess of what will be circulating that year.
ReplyDeleteAs for the COVID vaccine, I'm going to do my research. Once it's available, I wouldn't be allowed to work without being vaccinated.
You're in a different situation with Miss Katie being medically fragile of course. I think I never got the shot because I didn't want "a flu I wouldn't have gotten if I hadn't had it injected into me" - if that makes sense. As for the covid vaccine, I get that essential workers would need to have it, and like I said, I'm not saying I wouldn't get it anyway, it's just that I would want it to be an option, not some Orwellian dictat!
DeleteYou're in a different situation with Miss Katie being medically fragile of course. I think I never got the shot because I didn't want "a flu I wouldn't have gotten if I hadn't had it injected into me" - if that makes sense. As for the covid vaccine, I get that essential workers would need to have it, and like I said, I'm not saying I wouldn't get it anyway, it's just that I would want it to be an option, not some Orwellian dictat!
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