More Crumblin' Down: New CDC Guidance on Outdoor Activity for Fully Vaccinated People

Just a couple days after I wrote "When the Walls Come Crumblin' Down" about starting to return to normal— old normal— patterns of socializing with people, the CDC today issued new guidance that shows the walls crumblin' down even further. They now say it's safe for fully vaccinated people to engage in small-group activity outdoors, even with people who are not fully vaccinated. In larger, dense settings such as outdoor concerts and stadium sports, everyone should continue wearing masks. Example coverage: Washington Post article 4/27, CNN.com article 4/27, CNBC article 4/27.

Sniffling, Sneezing, Sore Throat, Achy, and Tired

Recently I've been sniffling and sneezing, and have had a sore throat and felt achy and tired. If I didn't know better I'd worry I have Covid-19. Except I do know better. I have allergies. I know because I've had them a few months a year every year of my life.

After taking allergy pills for a few weeks earlier this month I felt like I'd gotten past the allergy season. I stopped taking the pills... and within 36 hours I started feeling sniffly, sneezy, sore throat, achy, and tired again. Back on the sauce! Fortunately allergy pills are easy to buy nowadays.

Allergy medication used to be prescription-only. Now I can buy if over the counter in this handy, It's-going-be-a-shit-year size bottle.

When I first got a prescription for allergies the drug widely used was Seldane. And yes, it was a prescription. Over-the-counter drugs back then didn't do anything for me. Benadryl, for example, mostly just made me tired without helping with any the symptoms. I do take Benadryl occasionally nowadays... as a sleeping pill! But oh, what relief I felt the first time I took Seldane. It wasn't 100% relief, mind you. It was only about 90% relief; but even that was 1,000% better than suffering without help.

A few years later Claritin replaced Seldane. It, too, was prescription at first. Then it went OTC. Oh, how nice that was, being able to buy simply relief for a common, chronic ailment without having to keep visiting a doctor.

Then came Allegra, then Zyrtec. Now all three (including Claritin) are OTC and have generics. It's never been easier or cheaper to medicate my allergies!