Tag Archives: public health

Ed Yong Made Me Cry

Posted on September 17, 2023 by Jennie Spotila

There I was, reading Ed Yong’s latest newsletter, and wondering if I had the energy to go downstairs for a cup of coffee. Near the end, Yong listed his upcoming appearances along with an invitation: Come say hi; please wear … Continue reading →

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Vaxxed Part Two

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

On Friday, I got my second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine side effects were definitely more intense this time, but not unmanageable. I am so glad I was able to be vaccinated, and I am documenting the … Continue reading →

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Vaxxed Part One

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

I got my first COVID-19 vaccine dose!! Since so many people with ME have legitimate concerns about the vaccines, I thought it would be helpful to share my own experience. Two weeks ago, I described the melee competition for vaccines … Continue reading →

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Vaccine Melee

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been uneven, to put it kindly. In my home state of Pennsylvania, it’s been a mess (that’s also putting it kindly). The actual situation has a lot more in common with a Black Friday scramble … Continue reading →

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Vax Me

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

There is nothing I want more than to be vaccinated against COVID-19. I know many people in the chronic illness community, particularly people with ME and/or mast cell activation syndrome, are apprehensive about the COVID-19 vaccines. I feel the opposite: … Continue reading →

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How Pandemic Response Measures Harm People With Disabilities

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

The coronavirus pandemic is reshaping all our lives. With more than six million confirmed infections in the United States, we are living through a seismic cultural event impacting how we work, learn, socialize, and function. For people with disabilities, like … Continue reading →

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How To Stay At Home

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

One thing I have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic is that people with chronic illness have a lot to teach healthy people. We have the skills and hard-earned experience of coping with social isolation and restrictions on what we want … Continue reading →

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Safety In Isolation

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded dramatically in the last two weeks. I won’t attempt to summarize everything that has happened; there’s too much. Instead, I have gathered some information that I hope will be helpful to people with ME and … Continue reading →

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A New Virus and ME

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

Updated: March 3, 2020 There is a new coronavirus circulating the globe, and there are quarantines of different sizes in multiple countries. This has led to great anxiety in financial markets, the media, and in communities. And you might be … Continue reading →

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