Editing 2434: Vaccine Guidance

On the day this comic was published, the CDC released [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html new guidelines] relating to COVID-19, lifting many of the existing restrictions for people who have been fully vaccinated for two weeks. [[Megan]], speaking as a CDC announcer, is introducing these new guidelines over video conference. However, the other participants in the conference quickly start asking about [[2238: Flu Shot|actions that have little or nothing to do with the vaccine, some of which would be dangerous whether COVID-19 was a risk or not.]]

Blondie asks whether it would be okay to visit neighbors and drink milk directly from the carton. In most Western cultures, drinking directly from a container that could be shared with others (such as a milk carton) is considered unsafe, due to the risk of diseases being transmitted, and generally gross, as saliva and other biological material is passed that way. To drink directly from your own milk carton is considered crass, to do so with someone else's carton would be seen as unacceptable.  While these risks are arguably worse during the pandemic, it was unacceptable before the pandemic and will presumably be so afterward.  

Science Girl asks whether it would be okay to ride a bike down the stairs of a family member's house, which has a severe risk of injury{{Citation needed}} (and could damage the wheels of the bicycle, although modern bicycle wheels are [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfjjiHGuHoc surprisingly resilient]).

[[White Hat]] follows up asking whether he can get a horse, and whether it would help for both him and the horse to wear masks. In typical White Hat fashion this has basically no relation to anything else that was said (perhaps he was [[1086: Eyelash Wish Log|promised a pony]] when he got vaccinated). The CDC still recommends masks for humans when in public; however, face masks are not generally made for horses. Instead of answering, Megan hangs up.

In the title text, Randall mentions that when he is fully vaccinated, he will be able to text people in ALL CAPS. This is generally used to indicate that the typer is shouting, which can spread Covid-19 aerosol particles and cause infection when done in person. However, when texting, there is no risk of spreading diseases via the computer, so this is an unnecessary precaution{{Citation needed}} (although it could be a good idea to get in the habit of not responding to others angrily, both to be polite and to not spread respiratory diseases by shouting when meeting in person).

 

:[Megan is seen at the bottom of the panel with the CDC-logo slightly above her and to the left]

:[Blondie, Hairy and Megan are seen at the bottom of the panel in separate rectangular panels with Blondie and Hairy's panels being more squarish and smaller then Megan's. Blondie is directly above Hairy and both are to the right of Megan]

:[Science Girl and Megan are at the bottom of the panel in rectangular boxes, similar to in a video call.]

:Hairbun: I'm fully vaccinated. Can I ride my bike in my sister-in-law's house?

: Science Girl: Like, down the stairs.

:Megan: I guess? You should at least wear a helmet.

: Science Girl: Even if she's not high-risk?

:[Megan is off-panel; White Hat is in a rectangular box at the bottom of the panel.]

:SFX: Meeting ended by host.

[[Category:Comics featuring Science Girl]]