Fighting quarantine fatigue with yet another newsletter. I love all of your emails, links and memes –you can find them in my  past newsletters . I’m also thrilled to hear that people are forwarding this along – if you’re new, join my  mailing list . And, as always, thanks for protecting yourself and others by staying home when you can, washing your hands slightly obsessively, and masking up!
 
Starting off with gratitude. Not just for the Mother’s Day wishes – those were awesome – but also for the forwards. I read every link you send and laugh at (almost) every meme and gif. No fewer than half a dozen of you sent me this article on Saturday, which is no wonder because it is   one of the best reads on the math of coronavirus . Even if you’re not one to click on links, read this one.
 
On a related note… What’s the connection between porn and coronavirus? Nope, not increased screen time. (Okay, well maybe yes that’s true, too – but not the connection I am going for today.) Two decades ago,  HIV forced changes within the porn industry , driving STI testing and the development of private databases. Now, some public health officials are looking to this as a model for managing the spread of COVID.
 
Another approach to slowing the spread of the virus is the development of an effective, safe vaccine. But there are some mounting (false) hopes about just how fast one will make it to market. This STAT piece offers up a realistic version of  when people might be able to be vaccinated , even in the best-case scenario.
 
And until there is a vaccine or effective therapeutic, we’ll need to double down on testing. Maybe it’s more like quadrupling down. Are you game to get a  Health Pass ? Or will privacy concerns stand in your way? 
 
A couple of kid-specific reads before I wrap up this newsletter. First, and unsurprisingly, when coronavirus appeared, most people steered as far away from doctors’ offices as possible. Which wasn’t just reasonable, it was recommended. This included pediatric visits for routine immunizations. Now, pediatricians are sounding the alarm because some of the vaccine-preventable  diseases that we have kept at bay for years (decades even) are primed to return  unless parents take their kids in for overdue shots. Pediatricians have worked hard to make sure they have safe spaces for healthy kids. Don’t be part of the resurgence of measles or pertussis in the middle of a pandemic.
 
And finally, this one is both about kids and by one – an incredibly  powerful, beautiful essay written by a 17-year old  about depression and suicide in the time of coronavirus (and before).
 
I lied – one more thing. One of my favorite people is Vanessa Kroll Bennett, founder of Dynamo Girl and puberty teacher extraordinaire. I literally never get tired of listening to her. If you’d like to see what I am talking about, Vanessa and I are doing a Zoom this Wednesday at 5pm pacific/8pm eastern as part of her series Quarantine Conversations.  Register here to join us!
 
Okay, that’s really it for today. You get dessert. I mean a video. Is it only Monday?!