AUGUST 2022 SCIENCE FICTION MICROSTORY CONTEST (Comments only)

[Justin]

Paula wrote: "Oh dear--I do hope you are in touch with your doctor's office and/or know where to get the paxlovid or other antibody treatments if you get any symptoms. Yes, sleep, rest, eat carefully but well. W..."

Hi Paula,

In case you haven't seen your email, I've narrated your first three stories. I'd like to get the other two as well. I'm only going to do some light editing, removing breaths and tightening up pacing.

[Kalifer]

If you've been vaccinated and boosted it should be an almost non-event. In my case minor symptoms for a couple of days, then nothing. Maybe I should clarify "nothing". I mean no symptoms, not oblivion.

[Paula]

I thank you so much, Jusrin. My friend will be so happy! Justin wrote: "Paula wrote: "Oh dear--I do hope you are in touch with your doctor's office and/or know where to get the paxlovid or other antibody treatments if you get any symptoms. Yes, sleep, rest, eat careful..."

[Jot]

I got the initial two doses and later boosted, which I believe kept me from getting in at xmas, but by June, it wore off and I got my ass kicked by the bug. Of course, the booster shots haven't really been geared yet toward all these variants.

[J.F.]

A couple things I heard about Paxlovid: it knocks out the symptoms after 24 hours, so it's a good thing to ask your doctor about, and despite CDC guidelines, which were meant to preserve supplies for higher risk groups, doctors are nonetheless prescribing for lower risk patients because there's enough supply available.

[Greg]

Yes. Vaccines are helping. I've had 4 in all, as part of a clinical trial. My last one, selected at random, was nicknamed "the mother of all shots" as in contained 3 variants and the maximum dose for each. I was quite tired the next day, but now glad I got it.

Covid presented as a cold, and I almost didn't do the test. But, as soon as I did, I knew I needed to isolate as fast as possible.

So far, no one I was in contact with (before I knew) has had symptoms or positive test, so no worries there.

One bizarre twist: I don't qualify for any of the therapies (Paxlovid, monoclonal antibodies, etc.) as my symptoms are too mild to justify the "emergency use" clause.

So, feeling stronger every day, to quote Chicago (the band, not the city).

And holding out for two negative tests in a row so I can go out into the world again.

[Paula]

So glad you had those 4 clinical-trial vaxxes including the mega (multi-variants) one, Greg! Also, that you're holding out for the 2 neg tests before going out around others, in spite of all the "oh it's nothing," "no more than a cold," "don't worry--be happy" voices filling the voice-waves. Feel well soon!