Tough conversations about COVID-19 vaccine
Q: What should you say to someone who doesn’t plan on getting the coronavirus vaccine?
A: There are now safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19. The first two, Moderna and Pfizer, had to be shown to be safe for tens of thousands of participants in a clinical trial. What is amazing is the vaccines were 94% to 95% efficacious in preventing disease.
Now, tens of millions more have received the vaccines in the U.S. since the vaccines were cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. There are still no major safety concerns. Serious allergic reactions are very rare.
Masks, social distancing and quarantine are not enough to get back to normal. The more people who are immune, the fewer can get infected and spread COVID-19 to others.
— Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, medical director, infection control and prevention, Edward Hospital, and Annemarie Schmocker, infection prevention manager, Elmhurst Hospital
A: For anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers, risking your own life is one thing, but to put someone else in harm’s way is another. You can make the right choice to get vaccinated so we can achieve immunity for the collective good.
Here are a few tips:
1. The vaccine is free.
2. If you travel for work or vacation, many airlines and countries will require proof of vaccination.
3. COVID-19 can kill. If you’re not worried about yourself, think about your family and friends.
4. You may experience side effects from the vaccine, such as flu-like symptoms, but isn’t that better than being on a ventilator?
—
Whether it’s the result of record snow storms, wild temperature swings or a solid case of COVID19 fatigue, many of us are ready for a change of scenery. Even if it’s too soon for your family to travel, putting a plan in place can raise spirits all around. Here are ideas to consider:
Make a plan: Picture yourself on a sandy beach, in a cozy mountain cabin or a vast desert landscape. Ponder future family commitments and schedules and consider your options. Browse the websites of your favorite resorts, mountain towns or desert destinations to review deals, protocols and possibilities. Discuss the options with your family.
Bucket lists: Now is the time to create a thoughtful bucket list for the long term. Doing so can make it easier to plan for meaningful vacations. Ask yourself what aspects of the world — geographically, spiritually and culturally — you want to share with your children and grandchildren. Think about which destinations you hope to visit while your children are in the nest and which might best be saved for later.
Connect with family and friends:
Is it too soon to expand your pod or reconnect with those family members and friends with whom you’ve only visited via video chat? Consider checking in with your clan and craft a plan to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or to honor a family member’s special achievement.
We’ve missed the chance to celebrate many family touchstones. But is it ever too late to celebrate those moments? At the same time, who needs an official event to enjoy the company of your loved ones?
Q: Is there anything that can help my son, who complains that his eyes hurt after a long day of virtual learning?
A: Children spend more time than ever staring at digital screens — on computers, tablets, TVs, smartphones and other devices. All that screen time can take a toll on children’s well-being, including how their eyes may feel.
Research shows that children begin zooming in on digital media devices, such as their parents’ tablets or smartphones, as young as 6 months old. By their teens, studies have found, kids spend nearly seven hours a day using screened-based media, watching TV, playing video games, and using social media. Especially if they’re having fun, children might keep playing and watching to the point of eye-rubbing exhaustion.
Amid the pandemic, children are spending even more time on their laptops and computers if they are doing virtual learning.
Staring at a screen for long stretches without taking breaks can cause symptoms such as:
Eye fatigue. Muscles around the eye, like any others, can get tired from continued use. Concentrating on a screen for extended periods can cause concentration difficulties and headaches centered around the temple and eyes. Children may also use screen devices where lighting is less than ideal, causing fatigue from squinting.
Blurry vision. Gazing at the same distance for an extended time can cause the eye’s focusing system to spasm or temporarily “lock up.” This condition, called an accommodation spasm, causes a child’s vision to blur when he or she looks away from the screen. Some studies also suggest computer use and other close-up indoor activities may fuel rising rates of myopia (nearsightedness) among children, although this is not yet proven. More time playing outside may result in healthier vision development in children.
Dry eyes. Studies show that people blink significantly less often when concentrating on a digital screen, which can leave eyes dry and irritated. Desktop and laptop computer use can be especially tough on children’s eyes, because they’re usually situated higher up in the visual field than a book, for example. As a result, the upper eyelids tend to be open wider — speeding up evaporation of the eye’s tear film.
Parents can do the following things:
Monitor screen time.
Two especially important aspects of this are making sure screen time doesn’t cut into exercise and sleep.
Urge children to take frequent breaks. Children should walk away from the screen for at least 10 minutes every hour.
Remind them to blink. Your pediatrician or eye doctor may recommend moisturizing eye drops or
a room humidifier if your child continues to be bothered by dry eyes
Position screens correctly. Make sure the screen on your child’s desktop or laptop computer is slightly below eye level.
Improve the lighting. Ideally, it should be roughly half what it would be for other activities such as writing on paper or
working on crafts.
Get regular vision screenings. If your child is having blurry vision or similar eye problems, he or she may not speak up. That’s why regular vision screenings are important.
If you have any questions about keeping your child’s eyes and vision healthy during the pandemic, talk with your pediatrician.
Dr. Geoff Bradford is a professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at
West Virginia University, where he also serves as the residency program director and vice chair for education in the Department of Ophthalmology. For more information, go to HealthyChildren.org, the website for parents from the AAP.