By Eric Schoen
Let’s face it. We all have Covid fatigue. Just when we hear good news that things are getting better, we have searched the planet to obtain a Covid-19 vaccine and finally have obtained one and two weeks have passed since our second shot so we are at the point of maximum effectiveness, we hear the bad news.
A small number of Johnson and Johnson vaccine recipients have had blood clots after vaccination so the shot has been put on hold. Booster shots may be needed every six months or every year to take into account for new variants. New variants are being uncovered daily, and before I hit the gym my doctor tells me to pay particular attention to the South African variant. Heavens, he should know his family is from South Africa!
It’s enough to make even the healthiest, strongest, psychologically stable person go nuts. Good news after bad news after good news. And the news isn’t just even exclusively about the virus. Shootings, hostage situations, people with no shelter, food insecurity for so many, discrimination. A shooting at a grocery store on Long Island as we go to press.
We have to do something to lift our spirits. Get out of the house and get that fresh air pumping through our bodies. Exercise, healthy eating, breathing exercises are however just not enough. I propose that we try to do at least one good thing everyday for our fellow Americans.
I’ve tried it and it has lifted my spirits. The good deed doesn’t have to be just for someone you know. I was having coffee at a Panera in the area the other day. I received an email from County Executive George Latimer’s office that next day Covid vaccination appointments were available at Westchester Community College. All you had to do was sign up.
I was chatting with one of the nice employees and I asked her if she had received the vaccination yet. Here is someone who interfaces daily with the public running around both indoors and outdoors doing everything from taking orders to delivering food and beverages to people not part of her household ‘pod’ everyday. This is the type of person who should be at the top of the list for vaccination. She had not been vaccinated.
Though I couldn’t drag her to the vaccination site, I gave her the information and link so that she could make an appointment. All I can do is pray that she followed through. Another vaccine situation came up with a relative of someone I know.
This persons mom is on in years and has not left her apartment since the beginning of the pandemic. Thus she has not been vaccinated. I heard that the Yonkers Office for the Aging was offering a service where a nurse or someone authorized to vaccinate would come to the house of those home bound to deliver the Covid-19 vaccines.
So I provided the person I know with the Yonkers Office for the Aging phone number and the number of NNORC, a Yonkers agency that has been working to help the home bound get vaccinated. She was grateful, and hopefully some time soon this person’s mom will be vaccinated and be able to leave her home or at the very least receive family members knowing they are not a risk to her nor she a risk to them.
Good deeds don’t have to be vaccine related. It is the one year anniversary of the death of someone I knew. This person’s spouse lives all alone and my good deed was to visit her with some fresh fruit and healthy snacks to try to brighten up her day.
I have so many kind neighbors who help me dig my car out when it’s snowing or clear the snow off my car. My mother always believed In sharing our holidays with others helpful to us during the year who were not Jewish by bringing over a box of matzah and/or a can of macaroons for Passover. My sister delivers matzah to all of her neighbors.
Interestingly, I brought some macaroons over to a neighbor to thank her. She was so gracious and thanked me because she can’t consume milk and the macaroons did not contain milk so she could enjoy the treats. I told her when at the supermarket in the kosher aisle look for sweets marked Parve which do not contain dairy.
There are So many good deeds you can do. So many children have problems learning remotely and are falling behind in their school work. Many kids need extra tutoring during the course of the year, particularly with upset school schedules that have occurred during the pandemic.
There is a big need for adults who can help tutor these children. It might even be your neighbors child. Always check with your doctor to be sure it’s ok to interact and remind the child’s family to do the same.
Good deeds for you to do can fall right into your lap as they have for me. A friend of a friend not in this area had a school issue with his child. I gave him some advice how to approach the situation, and hopefully by the time this column reaches your hands the issue will be resolved. I think if you get into the habit of doing at least one good deed a day it will boost your mood and take you out of the ‘funk’ so many of us are in.
If you are ever in immediate crisis and feel the need for help dial 911. If you have health insurance check with your insurance provider about mental health services that are available to you. A lot of these services are due to Covid being done remotely so their is little or no copay. I can never understand people who have health insurance and don’t take advantage of it
NY Project Hope is New York’s COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline, helping New Yorkers understand their reactions and emotions during COVID-19. Through an emotional support helpline, educational materials, and referrals, NY Project Hope helps people manage and cope with changes brought on by COVID-19.
NY Project Hope Crisis Counselors understand what you are going through. Talking to them is free, confidential, and anonymous. Talk to someone who is trained, knowledgeable and never judges. Sometimes it helps to talk with someone you don’t know. The number to call for the Emotional Support Helpline is: 1-844-863-9314.
Some interesting statistics from government sources. The Chance of a vaccinated person getting Covid is 1 out of 11,000. Of the millions of people who have been vaccinated around the world only 5800 vaccinated people got Covid with symptoms far less than if they had not been vaccinated. 20% of older adults have not gotten vaccinated, a number way too high. 100 people die in car accidents every day, but less than 1 vaccinated person will die from Covid.
Unfortunately it will be sometime before that last number reaches zero. You can help by doing your part. Vaccinations are more readily available than before, even with the Johnson and Johnson glitch that should be resolved by the time this column reaches you.
Get vaccinated so you can hug someone. Have you done something good for someone today? I guarantee it will make you feel better!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
