GRIM MILESTONE.
According to a number of different reliable sources, the US has now surpassed 1 million Covid related deaths. What can you say about that other than it’s pretty sad.
Of all the facts, figures, statistics, predictions… there is one thing that is abundantly clear. Vaccines save lives, minimize disease and are our best bet at having some kind of “normal” life.
Given the history of this pandemic and the massive outbreaks of the BL2 Omicron variant around the world, I am shocked at how many physicians I encounter who make comments about how we may be past this pandemic. I don’t think so. Every previous outbreak in Europe was followed up within a few weeks by an outbreak in N. America. I hope I’m wrong with this one, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
In N. Korea, initially held up as a model of how to deal with this pandemic, they have a huge outbreak. The same goes for Hong Kong, also held up as a model of pandemic control. With this present outbreak however, N.Korea continues to have a very low severe disease and death rate while in Hong Kong, theirs is 10x higher. The difference is vaccination. N. Korea has an overall 75% vaccination rate with over 90% of their elderly being vaccinated while the overall vaccination rate inHong Kong is only 30%. The same goes for Europe where despite significant Omicron outbreaks, death rates are low, proportionate with vaccination rates.
In the US, we hit the wall with ~65% vaccination but less than 30% boosted. We are essentially in the same state as Hong Kong is right now, just without the outbreak. That is likely coming, especially with all the loosening of restrictions. Despite our low case rate, deaths are still occurring, but we have become numb to it. Certainly the invasion of Ukraine, appropriately dominating the headlines and news, has become a distraction. At least it has for me.
With over 11 billion doses given, the vaccines we use have been well vetted and are safe. Safer than most drugs people don’t even blink an eye about taking every day like statins, aspirin, acid reducers or even the chemical laden foods they eat.
If you have not done so yet, please get yourselves and your children vaccinated and if you are more than 6 months out from your “full” vaccination dose, get boosted. I just checked my antibody levels and 6 months after my booster, they are still very high. The third dose really matters.
In addition, please continue to mask appropriately and distance in questionable situations and keep working on getting healthy.
Also remember that grim milestones are occurring daily in Ukraine, with every bomb, missile and gunshot resulting in someone’s death and destruction of a beatyful country.
Appreciate all that you have, pray for Ukraine and donate in whatever way you can.
🇺🇦 Слава Україні 🌻🇺🇦
Stay safe and be well.
AC