The news is buzzing about the increase in COVID-19 cases. This is happening for several reasons. The omicron variant is much easier to transmit from person to person than previous variants. The weather has turned cold, and people have moved indoors where they are more likely to pass the virus from one person to another. We can’t directly affect the creation of new variants or the weather, but we can do something about the third reason why cases are climbing…the number of people who have not been vaccinated.
Two people died at GBMC earlier this week from COVID-19 and they had not been vaccinated. As I write this blog, we have 10 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with COVID-19, and none of them have been vaccinated. Of the other 28 people sick enough to be in a hospital bed, only five have been vaccinated. We know that vaccination is the single best strategy to prevent death and serious illness from COVID-19, but we still have too many people who have not been vaccinated. Not only are they putting themselves at risk, but they are putting everyone at risk and they are creating bottlenecks in the healthcare system that are hurting their friends and neighbors, while they are also exhausting nurses and physicians. It is time for the unvaccinated, without a valid medical exemption, to realize that they are part of the problem.
In addition to getting vaccinated, it is important for people to get their preventive medical care to keep from getting sick. Everyone should have a primary care provider. They should contact their primary care provider for help when they are sick and only go to the Emergency Department when they truly have an emergency.
If you know someone in our region who needs a primary care provider, please ask them to contact GBMC Health Partners.
Protect yourself and your loved ones against COVID-19 and the flu through vaccination, wearing a mask, keeping social distancing and washing your hands. These actions will help our healthcare system to preserve valuable resources to provide care for those who need it. Remember we are all in this together!
I want to extend best wishes for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season for those celebrating Christmas or Kwanzaa. Enjoy your time with family members and think about the things that are important in your lives. For those staff members working during the holidays, a special “thank you” for serving others.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking time to read "A Healthy Dialogue" and for commenting on the blog. Comments are an important part of the public dialogue and help facilitate conversation. All comments are reviewed before posting to ensure posts are not off-topic, do not violate patient confidentiality, and are civil. Differing opinions are welcome as long as the tone is respectful.