Booster Club

I'm not talking about college alumni.

The federal government is now encouraging booster shots of the COVID vaccine - a third dose for Pfizer and Moderna recipients, a second for Johnson & Johnson recipients - to better protect Americans against this damn virus.  The delta corona has made it desirable - essential, even - to get extra protection, as more "breakthrough" infections - still rare - are reported among the vaccinated.

Well, the folks at the World Health Organization went all potty (pardon my French) over this decision, saying it was selfish of rich countries like the United States (and Israel) to start giving booster shots to their citizens when much of the Third World (notice how no one calls it that anymore? political correctness) goes unvaccinated.  U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy shot back at the complaints, saying that the U.S. needs to give Americans booster shots and give the Third World (he did not actually use that term) inhabitants first and second doses.  His attitude was, "Who says we can't do both?"  The World Health Organization, apparently, as do scientists who say it's premature to be giving them right now.  These scientists also agree with the World Health Organization that it's logistically impossible to give Americans booster while still trying to vaccinate everyone in developing countries.  It's "either/or"  - not both, they all say.  If the Biden administration can satisfy the needs of both Americans and the rest of the world, what it pulls off will more than make up for what's happening in Afghanistan right now.

Incidentally, Americans become eligible for booster shots eight months after receiving their last doses.  As I got my last dose on April 24 of this year, I become eligible on . . . Christmas Eve.

The good news?  I can wait a few weeks to get the booster, so the holidays won't be an impediment for me.