no they aren’t available at any pharmacy for free. They’re available at some pharmacies, if covered by insurance
"available at any pharmacy for free" definitely sounded too good to be true, especially considering it's the US we're talking about, thanks for confirming.
Of course it is if people don't know about it being available. or about the importance of having it (never mind the time and mental energy to get another task done when you're working 3 jobs and have kids to feed). Accessibility isn't just ramps. And the US isn't the only country in the world.
Yes, ant-vaxx propaganda is partly to blame, but this is a much bigger problem that is being deliberately neglected if not actively made worse by those in power for their own benefit.
It’s not just the disabled that are and always have been afterthoughts, it’s everyone. Covid’s lasting damage is well-known, but that’s your problem not theirs, they have mitigations in place for themselves and the best care available if needed.
Well said. Accessibility and inclusion of disabled and vulnerable people has always benefitted society at large, but people are put under such pressure to "win", never mind just survive, that they've completely lost sight of that (like you say - to their own detriment).
Thank you too for the link, the fact that wearing masks in the healthcare sector is even up for debate, never mind something that needs to essentially be begged for, is enraging, though you'd be relieved? to know that here in the UK they aren't mandatory either.. And the infection and deaths numbers show it. We're also expecting potentially the largest wave yet https://donotpanic.substack.com/p/four-years-later-two-million-infections?publication.
There honestly are no words to express the frustration..
Yup, covid really did ramp up the ableism in society to a whole new level..
It's not only that people think that because they didn't feel that bad or have long term side-effects, covid simply isn't that bad or have serious long term side effects, so in their own minds they not only don't need to make any effort to protect themselves, never mind others (mostly already marginalised people they prefer to ignore in everyday life, so why not now), they also have a new (and constantly growing) group of people to scapegoat and gaslight and tell it isn't really that bad because it wasn't that bad for them, and that they should just "suck it up".
I won't even start on the part capitalism and the governments and media who uphold and serve it have played in making it this way, and how a desperate and divided population benefits them, which is why they're never going to do anything about it..
Others are finding existing issues that were already hard to navigate become near insurmountable. Many of us haven’t had regular healthcare in years due to lack of covid safety or the system’s complete overwhelm
I am part of this group, I was already struggling to get the kind of in-home care I actually need (because social services are direly and deliberately underfunded), now I won't even risk it because I know people won't/can't avoid bringing that shit in to my space. And that's just to name one of so many impacts it has had...
Otherwise I agree with everything else you've said, except that the government is failing, but only because I think they're doing exactly as they want and expect to do, we're (we being not only those already most vulnerable in society and to covid, but by extension the rest of the working class) just an after thought and acceptable collateral damage.
I've been meaning to share this on its own, but it definitely belongs here too:
Just a reminder that not only is covid not over, but in many places infections are on the rise again and people are still dying, while vaccines become less and less accessible, no other official measures taken (like recommending masks on public transport), and more and more long term effects of infection come to light.
As a vulnerable person, the fact that people talk about it like it's in the past scares the shit out of me.
The implication of your comment being what - that people who live in places with an unstable grid, and who can't move (the Venn diagram there would be pretty much a circle), deserve what they get? Should fuck off and die?
Seriously, the privilege you must have and the sheltered life you must live to have come up with that for a reply is astounding..
This might not be the answer you're looking for but the way I see it, it's just another day, and we generally put far too much pressure on it and on ourselves on it, and that it's perfectly fine to not do anything special.
If for your own reasons you really do want to celebrate anyway, try and make/order your favourite meal, think of a good movie or two that always make you feel nice, and spend your evening enjoying those, but most importantly - don't feel down or bad for being alone, there's nothing wrong with that, and even if it feels like there is, this one night has very little significance in the grand scheme of things.
I don't make new years resolutions myself, but I just had to say your profile pic gave me a little giggle, thanks
(also really like the new veg of the month idea!)
Thanks for the informative reply! That doesn't sound too bad, I had pictured having to soak bits like you might with an oven roaster, and that's kind of hassle I don't need lol
I think after an imminent house move I might take the plunge and try one, everyone who has seems to only have good things to say (I have used a really old fashioned halogen one before they became trendy, so I know they can cook well, but I never had to clean that one haha)..
The levels of privilege and selfishness it takes to see the "benefit" for the American "middle class" (not a thing), while so willingly ignoring the cost that that came with to everyone else on the planet is both staggering and quite nauseating.