I got my third Covid booster today at a Walgreens pharmacy. It was the new dual action booster that protects against original Covid and the newish Omicron variant that's highly contagious.
It's been over five months since my last booster, so I was due for an antibody rejuvenation. Overdue, actually, since the newest booster is recommended for anyone who got their previous booster or initial two shots at least two months ago.
I also got a flu shot at the same time. So today's pharmacy visit worked out well. Laurel, my wife, was scheduled to get her Covid booster yesterday, but when she went to Walgreens they didn't have the vaccine.
Today they did. Thanks for that Walgreens, along with Pfizer, which manufactured what went into my left arm this afternoon.
While waiting for my name to be called, I had time to read a sign displayed at the pharmacy.
I recall it said that masks don't have to be worn everywhere in the Walgreens, but a mask should be worn when talking to pharmacy staff, while waiting in line at the pharmacy, and one other instance that I've forgotten.
Observing people at the pharmacy, about half were wearing masks. Which left half maskless. That struck me as selfish.
Obviously people at a pharmacy aren't there for the fun of it.
Most are there to pick up a prescription for some health problem. Others are there to get a vaccine so they don't acquire a health problem. Either way, wearing a mask in a pharmacy in these still Covid-dangerous times is the courteous and right thing to do.
When I went to get my Covid booster and flu shots, I mentioned to the guy who gave me the shots that I hadn't gotten Covid yet, though most people I know have come down with it.
I asked him if he'd had Covid. "Yes, twice" he said, "I work in a risky environment." I mentioned that several people in line at the pharmacy weren't wearing masks even though a sign said they should.
"We can't tell them to wear a mask," he replied. "Some people get angry if you do that. They'll throw things at you. Or do something worse."
I thought, Geez, what kind of a country have we become where asking someone to simply wear a mask for a few minutes is viewed as an infringement on their freedom? What about the freedom of Walgreens employees to work in the pharmacy and not get Covid?
It's really sad that two and a half years after Covid reared its ugly head, with over a million deaths in the United States, so many people are still rejecting commonsense measures to protect themselves and others from being infected.
I told the Walgreens guy that I wear a mask while exercising at my athletic club. If i can do that for 30 minutes while on an elliptical trainer, and another 20 minutes while lifting weights, other people should be able to do it for a few minutes while standing in line at a pharmacy.
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