Properly Subversive/Sherman R. Frederick
‘Tis the season … to get sick. The Marin County Health Department is doing its best to warn residents that the worst is yet to come as the flu, COVID and RSV bear down on the Bay Area.
Thanks to the federal government’s missteps and ever-changing proclamations on COVID – who can forget President Joe Biden repeatedly telling the lie that if you get the vaccination you won’t get COVID – the booster rate this year looks like it is going to be very low.
In late October, the vaccination rate for COVID was 7%. The CDC called the rate “on target.” PBS called it “abysmal.” In late November, only 15.7% of adults had received the newest COVID shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax.
In the last Marin County health data dump, the COVID risk is medium. I wasn’t able to find our latest vaccination rate here, but I’d suspect it is slightly higher than the 15.7%. Selling the COVID vaccine is a hard sell, not only for the reasons above, but also the anecdotal evidence peppering social media.
For example, here’s a report last week from a friend of mine on Facebook: “So 9 people in Mom’s Memory Care have COVID. I find it interesting that they received their COVID booster on Nov. 15. I didn’t authorize Mom to get one. She is negative for COVID. So approximately 30% of the residents have COVID now that received the recent booster. This is not good.”
I’ll say it’s not good. If you’re on the fence about any of the seasonal vaccinations, talk to your doctor.
CARDS & LETTERS
I received this letter from a reader who liked last week’s column. I thought it was important to share:
“I don’t know if you’re Jewish or not but it’s really rare for a non Jew these days to stand up for us Jews! We do feel that it’s a little bit like Germany —1932. People voice very strong opinions, but hugely lack knowledge of the history and the facts of the Middle East and Jews in general.”
(Thanks for the note. I am not jewish but I know we live in scary times with the thinnest of veils separating good from evil. It is always imperative to stand against hate.)
STRAY NOTES
– Realtor.com reports that the median amount paid for a down payment on a house in Silicon Valley is $235,183. Why so much? Homebuyers are trying to make their mortgage payments more affordable.
– More Bay Area neighborhoods are applying for historic status to thwart state rules that force affordable housing on communities. H/T San Jose Merc News.
– Apartment rent prices continue to drop in San Francisco and will go lower, the SFChron reported last week. Why? Because fewer people are looking for apartments in the city.
ONE MORE THING
— The inventor of the Wind Chill Factor died this year. He was 79, but felt 68.
Until next week avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
“Properly Subversive” is written by Sherman R. Frederick you can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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