March 22
AstraZeneca has finally released its US trial results this morning. With 79% efficacy in preventing infection and 100% effective in preventing serious illness, the company will now seek emergency FDA authorization. The guess is roll out will occur toward the end of April. Since about 30 million doses are ready to be shipped, things are looking brighter for us in the USA.
We saw the first lupines on a morning stroll in our neighborhood.
This spring I can legitimately embrace the arrival of this joyful time of year. There is "bright light at the end of the tunnel" we keep hearing. While, for much of the past year the near future was uncertain, it feels fantastic to know that in late spring/early summer things will be significantly better than they are now. Unfortunately, this is only true of the USA and a handful of other countries. Europe, Latin America, much of Asia and Africa will struggle with Covid for many more months.
March 29, 2021
A big day for me. I got my first Pfizer shot! Five days ago, after Governor Newsom opened up vaccinations for 50+ starting April 1, and for every adult starting April 15, vaccine availability switched from scarce to plentiful. A mass vaccination clinic run by Santa Barbara County Public Health in conjunction with Federal institutions opened up on Sunday and when I looked for an appointment on the website I found I could have my choice of day and time. This week the clinic is held in Lompoc, an hour's drive from home. Daryl delighted in the opportunity to drive out of town and enjoy the transient beauty of the area while the fields are green and poppies and lupines are bursting into bloom. At the Senior Center in Lompoc I joined a long line of eager county residents awaiting the start of becoming inoculated against Covid. It all went smoothly and efficiently, volunteers well trained and polite, protocols adhered to by everyone. I did feel more of the needle prick than I'd expected, but, apart from mild localized pain, I'm feeling no side effects yet.
The timing is fortuitous. The expected Covid surge appears to have begun. Last week's new infections in the US were higher than the previous week. The increase is specific to certain states at this point. The new variants of concern, spring break vacationers, and easing of restrictions are blamed. The CDC director, Rochelle Walensky, and President Biden are again urging state leaders to enforce mask wearing and safer public behavior. Meanwhile, huge amounts of vaccines are becoming available and many more mass clinics are opening up around the country. Ideally, strict safety protocols for another month would reap incredible benefits. But, by now, I'm well versed with humans opting for selfishness and recklessness over safety. Thankfully, in California, our numbers are still on a decline.
Today, after my vaccine shot, Daryl and I took Highway 246 to Buellton. We treated ourselves to a restaurant lunch at the legendary Industrial Eats. Vadouvan roasted cauliflower and roasted chanterelles were as exquisite as we'd remembered and of course, we had to have a local wine - a red blend - for maximum enjoyment. We weren't brave enough to sit at an outdoor table since quite a lot of people (responsibly masked) milled around. We used the trunk of the Prius as a seat which worked well. After lunch we continued on 246, past the ostrich farm and then turned into a side street to check out Solvang. Perhaps we could find a cookie or Danish pastry? Astonishingly, the town was packed with tourists. It looked like pre-pandemic times. Where did these people come from? Ideal vacation weather - sunny and warm - played a role. It was immediately apparent that stopping the car and seeking out a bakery involved more risk than we were comfortable with. So we returned to 246, cruised past the casino which now towers over the area, and merged with the 154 for a scenic drive through San Marco Pass. As home drew closer we found ourselves discussing topics we'd avoided for a year. Travel destinations, trips to visit family, entertaining friends at home, etc.
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