The generation that invented rock and roll is ready to dance again thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Being among the first group to be vaccinated, boomers could be seen happily sharing information about the best places to book their shots and enthusiastically posting Facebook photos of the shots.
Tired of being stuck at home, binge-watching Netflix movies, stress eating, and pursuing new hobbies, many boomers were ready for a late comeback in life.
Before vaccines became widely available, many who got a vaccination appointment said they felt like winning the lottery when visions of hugging grandchildren, booking trips to faraway places and making hair appointments danced on their faces. heads.
Many feel like blogger Terry Cryer, who wrote on her blog, “I opened my laptop and stared at the screen in disbelief. There, in bold, was a message from our local health department confirming that I had been approved to receive my first COVID Vaccination the next day. I knew that none of the other ‘1-Bs’ in my Illinois social circle had been successful in securing one of these ‘golden tickets’, which is the most current media slang for a vaccine’ win.’ I leaned forward, unable to recall scoring anything bigger than a penny-store pie pan at a county fair, and read the message twice more.”
Boomer Ruth Pennebaker wrote in an article for Texas Monthly: “Ever since Texans 65 and older became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, my friends and I have been feverishly exchanging emails and text messages with links to vaccine registry sites, cheering each other on and reporting which sites are working and which aren’t. Online, it’s mass frenzy and competition. My friend John says he hasn’t been this distraught since he was trying to get tickets to “Hamilton” But we’re not just losing our minds about getting the vaccine, we’re also making big plans for our future.”
At 60 years old, I recently joined the older boomers and am now fully vaccinated. However, after that first wave of excitement and receiving my second shot, I wasn’t sure what to do next.
Is it really safe to “get the party started” and “boogie down”?
The good news
So here’s the wonderful news: A couple of weeks after the second shot, boomers who were at the front of the line for shots are 95 percent immune to COVID.
Since older people are more susceptible to severe illness and death from the coronavirus, this is great news.
While he remains cautious about social distancing and masking in public, my blogging colleague and author Cat Michaels admits that getting the vaccine was a comfort. “Getting the vaccine was THE most fantastic and huge relief,” she said. “Literally, my neck and shoulder muscles have finally relaxed, plus I’m sleeping better. It’s like my fairy godmother beat the evil dragon, which had been threatening my every move. I even went to a grocery store (! I gasp!) for the second time in 12 months and I now run quick errands without fear or anxiety.”
The bad news
Now, here’s the bad news: While boomers are among the first in the country to be fully vaccinated and eager to get back out into the world, experts warn safety precautions still need to be taken.
After all, these vaccines are not 100 percent effective, much of the country has yet to be vaccinated, and more contagious and deadly variants are appearing with some uncertainty about the effectiveness of vaccines against these new strains.
Fortunately, there is growing evidence that people who get vaccinated do not transmit the virus, but scientists are still trying to understand how long the vaccine’s protection lasts.
So while some boomers have a carefree attitude, others feel more cautious. They are still reluctant to eat in restaurants or visit bars where people are not likely to socially distance or wear masks. I am certainly among that group.
And while some are making travel plans, most boomers aren’t booking travel for 2021. “We’ve seen an increase in inquiries about 2022 and 2023,” Gary Pollard, CTC, president of Ambassador Tours said in an interview with TravelPulse.com. . “Most of the confirmed bookings are from clients who were going to go in 2020, then in 2021 and now they are looking beyond.” Some in the travel industry have noted that some of their older clients have opted for domestic vacations in 2021.
In other words, there is still some confusion about what is and isn’t safe after getting fully vaccinated.
That’s why so many boomers are taking a step back and asking, “Now what?”
What the experts say
According to the latest guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fully vaccinated people (two weeks after their second dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or two weeks after a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine) may:
* visit other fully vaccinated people, as well as unvaccinated people (including those precious grandchildren) who are at low risk for severe illness from COVID indoors in small groups without wearing masks or physical distancing
* participate in outdoor and recreational activities without a mask, as long as they are not in crowds
* resume domestic travel
Additionally, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to self-quarantine or be tested after travel or exposure to COVID, if they are asymptomatic.
On the other hand, public health officials stress that even if a person has received both doses of the vaccine, basic health guidelines still apply. Vaccinated people should wear face masks in public, physically distance themselves, wash their hands frequently, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
What does this mean to me?
Like other boomers, I felt immense relief and I am not as stressed when I go to the supermarket or run errands. Plus, I was comfortable going to the dentist, optometrist, and hairdresser (wearing a mask, of course), all of which I had put off for over a year. A checkup with my doctor is next on the list.
Best of all, I was finally reunited with my youngest son and his wife, who are also fully vaccinated, and hugged my 3-year-old granddaughter after more than a year. Absolutely priceless!
My husband and I also purchased a camping trailer with plans for domestic travel.
But I still plan to be cautious. I honestly don’t mind wearing a mask in public places, physical distancing, washing my hands and avoiding crowds.
Perhaps boomer Helen Anders said it best in the Texas Monthly article: “We’ll still be wearing masks. But underneath them, rest assured, we’ll all be smiling.”