I've been in Beijing since the pandemic started and was glad to get vaccinated with Sinovac every chance I got totaling three. My wife and I (over sixty) are just exiting a mild bout with Covid that's been pretty much like a cold or the flu. Couple of days with a mild fever and still coughing a bit but preetty much back to normal. Personally, I felt the traditional vaccine was safer than something that's just appeared on the scene and I think it's done us well. Also willing to get a booster next time I'm given the chance. Most of the people in our neighborhood have caught what seems to be a pretty mild case of Covid so far and most are getting or have got through it pretty well, Mike Liston
Apropos of the opening paragraph, the societies in the industrialized West have been grappling with a huge epidemic of chronic diseases of prosperity (for example, in the US, where I was born and grew up, obesity has exploded in the forty or so years. Americans used to be skinny!). As China continues to urbanize, industrialize, and its massive middle-class grows, it will face this challenge as well, but I'm convinced that because it is a society that isn't afraid of taking proactive measures, understands the need for prevention (diet and exercise) and long-term thinking, that the Chinese will learn how to combine prosperity and good health, and in due time will export this knowledge and expertise to the rest of the world (insofar of course as the latter is open to it) to everyone's great benefit. One country in particular comes to mind, namely neighboring India, where something like a quarter of public is insulin resistant, which of courses presents a massive future burden to the healthcare system (diabetes is of course very debilitating).
On a personal note, I'm pursuing from afar something of my own Chinese-style long-horizon health and well-being strategy in the form of weekly Tai Chi/Chi Kung class. At home I try to do a few minutes of Chi Kung exercises every day. So far so good!
Check out 'Healthy China 2030'. Its goal is zero child obesity by the end of this decade, reduced video gaming (already fixed), and exercise facilities within 10 minutes walk of everyone..
I've been in Beijing since the pandemic started and was glad to get vaccinated with Sinovac every chance I got totaling three. My wife and I (over sixty) are just exiting a mild bout with Covid that's been pretty much like a cold or the flu. Couple of days with a mild fever and still coughing a bit but preetty much back to normal. Personally, I felt the traditional vaccine was safer than something that's just appeared on the scene and I think it's done us well. Also willing to get a booster next time I'm given the chance. Most of the people in our neighborhood have caught what seems to be a pretty mild case of Covid so far and most are getting or have got through it pretty well, Mike Liston
Thanks, Mike. I'll pass that on. Update me if anything changes.
Apropos of the opening paragraph, the societies in the industrialized West have been grappling with a huge epidemic of chronic diseases of prosperity (for example, in the US, where I was born and grew up, obesity has exploded in the forty or so years. Americans used to be skinny!). As China continues to urbanize, industrialize, and its massive middle-class grows, it will face this challenge as well, but I'm convinced that because it is a society that isn't afraid of taking proactive measures, understands the need for prevention (diet and exercise) and long-term thinking, that the Chinese will learn how to combine prosperity and good health, and in due time will export this knowledge and expertise to the rest of the world (insofar of course as the latter is open to it) to everyone's great benefit. One country in particular comes to mind, namely neighboring India, where something like a quarter of public is insulin resistant, which of courses presents a massive future burden to the healthcare system (diabetes is of course very debilitating).
On a personal note, I'm pursuing from afar something of my own Chinese-style long-horizon health and well-being strategy in the form of weekly Tai Chi/Chi Kung class. At home I try to do a few minutes of Chi Kung exercises every day. So far so good!
Exactly.
Check out 'Healthy China 2030'. Its goal is zero child obesity by the end of this decade, reduced video gaming (already fixed), and exercise facilities within 10 minutes walk of everyone..
excellent writeup Godfree...Cheers, Mario