Ok. I admit it. I love January. I typically do not head out for a cross country ski during a snow storm but I am a bit desperate this year.
Exercise is my anti-anxiety/ anti-depressant drug of choice. Snow storm or not, I need that drug everyday so, I bundled up and headed out late this afternoon. Nothing better than a fresh January snow.....my opinion, you can shoot me if you'd like but there is something magical about fresh, sparkling, crisp snow and that blue, grey January sky.
And tonight? A clear sky with those ghostly, magical shadows dancing off the snow. I love it.
I find my mood dips quite low at certain points of the day. It takes a good bit of thoughtfulness and mindfulness to control it. We are living through a very tough time. The chronic, pervasive and collective stress and the fact that what might happen next week or next month is up in the air, is certainly taking it's toll. Calls are rolling in from patients of mine who are suffering in this regard. They a very wise to reach out. Help is out there and reaching out is half the battle.
So, here is what I recommend this evening. Stay focused.
There were 1740 new cases today. We have not seen cases this low since December 2nd. The 7 day rolling average continues to decline.
Jan. 10 3945
Jan. 11 3555
Jan. 12 3523
Jan. 13 3480
Jan. 14 3452
Jan. 15 3273.
Jan. 18 3035
Jan. 22 2703
Jan. 23 2359
And today......2346
We are succeeding at our job which is to adhere to the public health guidelines during this provincial emergency order.
Let's worry about our job and let our leaders and all the very smart healthcare and public health experts with their very smart scientist colleagues make the tough decisions. Trust them. Vaccines will come regardless of protectionist and political posturing. Today I read headlines about delays in the Pfizer roll out and the EU posturing to limit the export of the Pfizer vaccine and I panicked.....but only for a brief second. Then I reminded myself that there are 100 ongoing vaccine research trials, eleven that are ending phase 3 after which they are ready for review, approval and distribution.
Your federal government has purchased hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines.
The Moderna vaccine will start to arrive in large quantities next month.
A Canadian company is now working on an mRNA vaccine which is ready to begin human trials ( phase 1) with phase two expected to begin in May. If approved it will be manufactured in Canada. A domestic manufacturing source will ensure that Canada has a constant supply of vaccines. That doesn't mean that we will have to wait months before a significant number of vaccines are available to Canadians. It means that there are many players in this game with many vaccines on the horizon from different companies.
We are watching a miraculous and unprecedented global effort unfold. We are human. It is going to look messy and uncertain at times but that does not change the fact that the spread of COVID 19 will be controlled by this effort.
You have a marvellous provincial and local team of dedicated people who are preparing for mass vaccination clinics. Be ready. These vaccines will change this game and move us slowly back to a normal life.
Slow but sure. There is no doubt.
Anne-Marie
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For mental health support here:
For local assistance with anxiety and depression:
CMHA WW Website: www.cmhaww.ca
Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE-247 or www.here247.ca.
And for post-secondary students, Good2Talk
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And if you'd like to help Bracelet of Hope work towards making sure that Lesotho has access to these vaccines, donate here:
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