Damn, blow, blast and bloody hell (76/365)

[white_hart]

I've been watching the rollout of the vaccine progress down through the age groups (T, in the 50-54 bracket, got the text inviting him to book his first appointment last week) and feeling relatively optimistic about my slot coming up soon. Clearly, this was a mistake, as one should never feel optimistic about anything to do with the UK government's handling of the pandemic, as it now appears that no-one under 50 is going to get vaccinated until May (other than those who are vulnerable for other reasons).

It's not as if I am particularly vulnerable; it's entirely possible that if I was to catch COVID, I would be fine anyway, but that's not a risk I want to take given the number of people under 50 I know who've developed long COVID without having had any pre-existing vulnerabilities. And it's not as if I had any plans to rush out and spend time in crowded indoor places, though I think there will probably be a push to move towards getting back into the office after Easter (and I was letting myself wonder a bit whether it would be possible to visit my parents for my mother's 70th birthday at the end of May). It just makes any end to this feel that much further away.

Of course, it's probably also hitting particularly hard given that today is the anniversary of the last "normal" day in the office (not that it was very normal, as it was mostly spent making desperate plans for moving to working from home). I'm glad I didn't know then that it would be over a year...

Comments

[cmcmck]

You get the impression of having been lied to- again!

[mrs_redboots]

So sorry! But if your mother has been vaccinated, you should be safe to visit her at the end of May. She won't be in danger from you, nor you from her.

[qatsi]

R (who is younger than me but has asthma) was vaccinated yesterday. Aged 49 1/2, I spent months being unclear about whether I would be offered a vaccine anyway, and now this :(

[nineveh_uk]

It's pretty dispiriting, isn't it. I try to tell myself that previously I felt lucky to think I could be vaccinated by September and that May is still soon. But having hopes raised and then dashed is always disappointing. Hope you can see your parents soon.

[clanwilliam]

The one tiny thing that might have caused a twinge of regret about my decision last year is no more. No regrets - apart from leaving love and friends.

[tree_and_leaf]

Yeah, it is gloomy news.

[danieldwilliam]

Aye, being in my mid-40's I was just eyeing up the vaccine slots approaching me and thinking "pretty close now, pretty close".

So very much agreeing with you.

[girlyswot]

I’m sorry. Moving goalposts are so hard to cope with.

I don’t know but I wonder whether I might have found this past year easier in some respects if I had known from the start how long it would be. Uncertainty has been one of the hardest things for me.

[muninnhuginn]

Definitely a blow. I hope at least that you won't be expected to return to the office before you're fully vaccinated.

[norfolkian]

I'm with you in that I don't want to risk long Covid. Having been ill for much of my mid-twenties with thyroid-related illness, I'd rather avoid other longterm illnesses if I can help it, thanks.

[crinolinerobot]

Yeah, it's an utter PITA. Everyone I know seems to be getting them - younger, older... I guess I'll just keep staying indoors.

But they will get round to us eventually.