After a review of the day’s news reported in THE AUGUSTA PRESS as well as news reported today in other on-line publications, I would like to offer the following comments. I am a physician for over 55 years and am not currently clinically active, but have maintained an active interest in and review of basic science and clinical reports concerning the current pandemic. I am basing these comments on my understanding of the reports as well as my previous clinical experience. I must add that these comments and opinions are solely mine and are not based on any affiliation with a group or organization.
In Augusta today our health systems are under tremendous pressure to provide care to patients infected with COVID-19, particularly the virus with the Delta variant. THE AUGUSTA PRESS reported this morning the first death of a pediatric patient from Covid in the CSRA. It further reported that in the AU Health System that there were 128 patients hospitalized with COVID of whom 121 or almost 95% were not vaccinated. Of the 128 patients, 54 were in an ICU and of these only 2 or 3.6% were vaccinated. Similarly of the 38 patients on ventilators, 37 or almost 98% were unvaccinated. There are similar statistics from the other hospitals in the area but what this clearly demonstrates is that the vaccine is effective in reducing disease and extremely effective in preventing serious disease. What it also shows is that it is the unvaccinated population which is causing this disastrous need for hospitalizations and use of intensive care unit beds. If one goes to the Georgia Public Health website, one will see that Augusta is not unique. I also read this morning in a report from the Georgia Hospital Association that Governor Kemp had asked the Sheriffs and Police Chiefs in the State to provide protection for mobile vaccination units so that their work would not be impaired.
Everyone is tired of this pandemic and wants to return to our pre-pandemic lives and restore normality to our lives and our economy, but if we do not stop this virus from spreading, more lives will be lost, and there is a danger that the virus will mutate and may become resistant to our current vaccines and treatments.
We have the ability to stop this pandemic, save lives, and began the trek back to normal, but to do this we need:
- For everyone without medical or religious reasons to be vaccinated and
- For everyone to wear masks according to CDC guidelines.
The vaccines, particularly the Pfizer and Moderna, are safe with over 200 million doses given with a minimal number of side effects. Although not 100% effective, as witness the “breakthrough” infections, the vaccines are extremely effective in preventing serious illnesses including hospitalizations and deaths
Hopefully, the vaccines will be approved for our children in short order and the tragedy reported in today’s THE AUGUSTA PRESS will not be repeated. Until then, we need to make sure that our children are protected by making sure all who are eligible for the vaccine and who are in contact with them are vaccinated. We also must follow the CDC guidelines for the wearing of masks. The masks are effective in preventing the spread of the virus, particularly the Delta variant which we know can be carried by the vaccinated population, even when they are asymptomatic.
Together we can end the pandemic if we vaccinate our population and wear masks as advised until the pandemic ends. Put bluntly, the unvaccinated and unmasked are fueling this pandemic,
Get vaccinated, wear a mask, and stay safe.
William P. Kanto, Jr., MD
