June 26, 2023

Which epidemic?

Yes, I know it’s been months since I’ve posted anything. No excuses. I’ve been working with a writing group focused on past experiences, memoir type writing. It’s been eye opening and intense to review the past so closely. I’ve learned so much, but I miss writing about the present! My goal is to restart regular weekly updates so that I can integrate the two. The past informs the now and vice versa. It also informs the future.

We have all survived the great pandemic. At least so far. Hopefully without too many scars or long term effects. We are moving on with our lives after such a long time, many giving up precautions like masking. Others continue to be cautious and wear masks, getting out more than they were. That's good. We all need more community and connection. If masking helps them feel safer, that’s OK. Infections are the lowest since the beginning. People can choose for themselves. The rest of us should support their choices.

People are still catching COVID, some re-infected, others for the first time, most do fine. Still 600 or so are dying weekly. A friend’s neighbor died last week from COVID. Being immunized helps and getting Paxlovid helps too. The risk of long COVID goes down with those. However, caution is advised if there is immunocompromise.

Somehow, I’ve managed to avoid it. Today I finally got my second Omicron booster, prepping for a summer of music gatherings. I am excited to go and be with friends, play music knee to knee, visit and eat together. We all deserve some joy and pleasure!

Other epidemics continue. We are dealing with several. Diabetes, gun deaths, substance abuse, on and on. I plan to give regular updates about them, probably weekly. Unsubscribe if you don't want to read them. My feelings won’t be hurt.

The main pandemic concern for me right now is disinformation, especially about vaccines. If anything, anti-vaccine fever has gotten worse. The consequences are dangerous and deadly. One on-line debate right now whether an expert in vaccines should debate an Anti-vaxxer.

Probably not a good idea. Dr. Thomas K. Lew in USA Today wrote this,

“Well therein lies the problem – the whole premise that scientific data needs to win over the masses to be true is flawed. Science is science, and objective data that can be reliably reproduced is true whether people believe it or not. Vaccines have been studied rigorously, and there is no reproducible data that it causes autism, as RFK Jr. believes.”

The difference is between a physician’s approach vs an attorney’s approach. An attorney tries to sow “reasonable doubt.” Physicians, except for occasional outliers, follow data and recommendations that emerge from the data. Important to look at the quality of the study and be open to new findings, but in general, the data informs our choices. Study after study shows the effectiveness of COVID vaccines in preventing deaths and hospitalizations, so I recommend it to my patients. I’m not going to confuse them with “debate.”

The biggest worry for me is that loving parents get confused, choosing to no longer immunize their kids. They wrongly think they are opting for the safest thing. Already, outbreaks of measles and whooping cough are affecting them.

We have some messy conversations coming up with skeptical friends and family. “Debating” scientific facts vs “questions” is a no win situation. Reliable sources are key. I wish it was easier.

Stay safe, get your boosters, wash your hands (yes it helps), and get your Paxlovid if you test positive.

And finally, my caveat is that this is my experience and my opinions, which are subject to change as more information is available. Thanks for reading.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/06/25/covid-precautions-summer-vaccines-deaths/

https://news.yahoo.com/rfk-jr-wasnt-campaigning-anti-221731113.html

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autism.html

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/06/robert-f-kennedy-jr-vs-peter-hotez-would-not-be-a-debate.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/opinion/rfk-jr-joe-rogan.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/06/25/rogan-debate-challenge-shows-why-covid-misinformation-thrives/70347479007/

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-06-22/column-responsible-scientists-must-refuse-demands-to-debate-antivaccine-quacks-heres-why

https://time.com/6289037/robert-f-kennedy-jr-wrong-about-vaccines/