Please note that both News and Editorial can be found below. Both are clearly marked, indicating which is news and which is my personal opinion.
Please also note that my personal opinion is simply that – opinion.
Please also note that while our opinions may (or may not) differ, I respect your right to yours; AND would never insult or disparage anyone because they expressed an opinion that was different than mine.
News
C|Net and other news publishers are reporting that Apple will be delaying its return to the office, originally planned for September 2021 then to October 2021, and now to January 2022 at the earliest.
Citing both WHO and CDC websites, Apple informed its staff that they will delay the planned return to the office – originally planned for September 2021, then pushed to October 2021 – until at least January 2022 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, and hospitalizations due to the original novel virus and at least 2-3 variants.
Apple’s official stance has been that they want everyone back in the office 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) with everyone remote Wednesday and Friday.
Apple employees have been very vocal about their concerns regarding the health and safety of employees during the pandemic and made their feelings known to management via an open letter.
Apple’s response has been to say that they look forward to seeing everyone back in the office via the hybrid on-site/remote schedule when it opens back up.
Editorial
Oy! What a mess!! So… to be honest, I saw this one coming from a mile away.
I also wanna say that I saw this one coming from a mile away too (the recommended need for COVID vaccine booster shots). Biologically, the COVID-19 virus is the same type of virus as the common cold, which is (seasonally) related to the flu, WHICH you get a vaccine for EVERY flu season… Sooooooo… yeah. You didn’t need to be a genius to reasonably suspect that one series of shots wasn’t going to satisfy both the biological need for a booster or Big Pharma’s need for big profits.
My guess is that after the pandemic is “officially over,” we’ll need boosters every year until we reach some sort of herd immunity and/ or the vaccines get smarter than the bug, and we as a “herd” retain antibodies required to keep the virus at bay.
OR
Like the flu, we’ll simply need to get annual boosters or vaccinations that include all previous and this year’s coming attraction’s antibodies.
Had Apple’s employees kept it together long enough to let this play out a bit, they would have seen the trend on the COVID numbers on the rise and wouldn’t have needed to petition management as strongly as they have. Politically, I think many of them have likely “committed [political] suicide,” meaning their careers are likely over at Apple, regardless of how much good they have done while there. I’m not certain – nor do I think anyone involved is certain – how this will or will not affect Apple in the long run.
However, Apple’s employee problems only seem to be beginning as a number of sites, including AppleInsider, are reporting on a number of different cultural issues at the world’s most valuable company. Dubbed #AppleToo, and with over 500 different stories and claims of discrimination, racism, and sexual harassment – among other things – Apple’s problems just went from bad to really screwed up in under four (4) days since the movement started.
This particular issue may – and likely will – outshine the remote work issue. When the dust settles, Apple will likely wish that it only had the remote work issue to address. This issue is going to be in the news and spotlight a lot over the next few weeks and really deserves its own coverage. As such, I’m not going to address it any further here, except to say, watch this space. I’m certain I’ll cover it in the coming weeks.
As far as getting the shot is concerned, I have specific opinions that I will share, below, but I want to clarify the following at the outset:
- I respect your opinion and your choice regarding vaccination.
- I expect YOU to grant me the same courtesy – respect my opinion and choice regarding vaccination.
- I will NOT get into any kind of political, Civil Rights, Constitutional, scientific, or other debate – with you or anyone – about this.
- If you attempt to engage in any kind of debate – respectful or otherwise – I will simply thank you for your opinion and not respond.
So, how do I feel about the current vaccinations? It’s really very simple – I think everyone should get the shot, unless your doctor tells you not to.
When it came to smallpox, rubella, measles, polio, and other diseases, at the outset, people didn’t have a choice. Kids were marched into gymnasiums at their schools in the ’50’s, ’60’s and ’70’s, lined up, and given the vaccines. Kids are required to receive vaccinations and booster shots to return to school OR must specifically and purposefully obtain a medical exemption from their doctor, and then provide proof of either vaccination or exemption from vaccination to their school district.
Get the shot.
With as many doses given and monitored, and the pandemic still raging via the Delta, Gamma, and Lambda variants, ignoring the need for the shot OR its safety and efficacy, is foolhardy, in my opinion.
As I recall, most objections started with the shortened development and FDA sanctioned bypass of the normal clinical trials and process to prove safety and efficacy. This was done due to the public need for a vaccine. Let’s not forget that no one has natural immunity to COVID-19 or any of its variants. No one.
Get the shot.
Objections to safety and efficacy should be eliminated by now. With Pfizer receiving approval for its COVID-19 vaccine, it’s now seeking approval for a booster shot. Enough people have had it worldwide to demonstrate safety and efficacy. At this point, many might think that the emerging variants may require a different vaccine or an additional vaccine altogether. They may be correct. They may not be. Time – and data – will make that clear.
Governmental mandate to get the shot has not been issued as yet. No one is intruding on anyone’s personal liberties.
To boot, a new study finds that the severity of breakthrough COVID infections is GREATLY reduced in those that have taken the full course of shots.
Get the shot… and don’t whine about it.