Don’t feel bad. We had to look up the meaning of “palaver” too.
As a noun, Oxford Languages defines this as an “unnecessarily elaborate or complex procedure” or “an improvised conference between two groups, typically those without a shared language or culture.” But when it’s used as a verb it means to “talk unproductively and at length.”
Either way, it perfectly defined the spirit of the third episode of our podcast – Possible Post-Pandemic Palaver –and we totally love the alliteration our prolific podcast producer (see what I did there?) Ryan Evon came up with for its title.
This was a very real topic for Dan and me. After all, I just yesterday received my second Moderna vaccine shot and should be ready to go in resuming a life closer to what we once considered normal pre-pandemic.
Even with the vaccine, I still am leery.
This is precisely what we addressed in this recent episode. Dan summed it up perfectly when he asked the question, “Everybody is so focused and wanting to ‘return to normal.’ If we were given the green light today, what would that look like and would you feel safe? Would you be willing? Are you ready to do that?”
So, are you?
In addition to the post-pandemic, uh, palaver, we address the MS-related reality that is standing in Dan’s way of getting his COVID vaccine. Long story short, he is in the middle of switching his Multiple Sclerosis disease-modifying therapy from Betaseron to Ocrevus. He’s crafting his own essay about this (stay tuned to our blog for more!), but here is the issue in a nutshell:
He will go from taking a subcutaneous injection every other day to getting an infusion twice a year. Pretty sweet, huh? But in switching to Ocrevus, it is recommended that he waits 12 weeks from his infusion until he gets his vaccine. Check out the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website to read more about the guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines and people living with MS.
To clarify a point I make in the podcast concerning B-cells and Ocrevus, an article in multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com states that, “Ocrevus is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody which works by targeting the mature B-cells which contribute to demyelination and damage to nerve cells. Most MS medications currently available work by targeting T-cells. This is one of the only medications that attacks these specific B-cells.”
And I have merely scratched the surface here in everything we talk about in this episode of our podcast. This leads me to think that the verb definition of “palaver” is null and void in describing what we address. Give it a listen, and provide a review to let us know what you think!
Listen to it on our website or through your favorite podcast app. Here’s how to you can subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and can write a review to let us know how we’re doing and what you’d like us to talk about:
• Apple
• Spotify
• Stitcher