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Dr. Jim Wade.
I have been distressed to see the plethora of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and myths on the internet and now in letters to the editor, which have contributed to an unacceptably low vaccination rate locally and across the country.
As of July 26, only 34.1 percent of Stephens County residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID.
Cases are again on the rise, and the new delta variant is more infectious, and causes a more severe illness.
We tend to forget that infectious disease caused 33 percent of all deaths in the U.S. in the year 1900, and I have never seen a case of diptheria, measles, or acute polio.
Why?
Vaccines!
Most individuals trust their physicians, so I thought it prudent to anticipate and answer some of your questions.
1. Is this disease worse than influenza?
Yes! What is different is that some COVID patients have no symptoms, or minimal symptoms.
However, in severe cases, COVID infects all five lobes of the lungs.
What I dread the most is hearing from a fearful patient with COVID are the words "I can't breathe."
In addition, patients can be sick and on a ventilator for months, not to mention heart failure, blood clots, and shock.
Some COVID survivors have required lung transplants.
The death rate for COVID is 50 times higher than for influenza.
As of July 19, Georgia has had 912,776 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 18,624 deaths, a death rate of 2 percent. The hospitalization rate is 7.2 percent.
In Stephens County we have had 3,051 cases and 80 deaths, with a death rate of 2.6 percent and hospitalization rate of 8.6 percent.
Hospitalized individuals are quite sick. I have personally seen extreme suffering and death from this virus.
2. Do the vaccines work?
Yes! The two-shot regimens have a 95 percent protection rate against symptomatic COVID-19, and a much higher effectiveness against severe disease and death.
The J and J (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine is only one shot, with a 72 percent efficacy rate.
The vaccines also work against the new delta variant of the virus.
3. Were the vaccines developed too quickly?
No. The messenger RNA technique has been developed over many years.
Now all that is required is knowledge of the genetic sequence of the virus antigen, in this case, the spike protein.
Vaccine trials began over a year ago, involving thousands of volunteers.
Following their development, these vaccines underwent the same FDA review steps that all drugs are required to go through, but the review process was quicker due to the urgency of the pandemic.
That is why they were approved as an Emergency Use Authorization. Full FDA approval will be shortly forthcoming.
4. Do the vaccines have side effects?
Yes. Common mild reactions are a sore arm, headache, body aches, and fever, usually within two days of getting the vaccine.
Rare reactions are allergy reactions and blood clots, both of which are exceedingly uncommon. (and which I have not seen).
5. How long does vaccine immunity to COVID-19 last?
We don't know yet, but the trial volunteers that were immunized a year ago still have protection.
However, the virus is mutating, and a booster shot may be necessary in the future.
6. I’ve already had the disease. Should I get the vaccine?
Yes. COVID-19 antibodies from the disease may not protect you as well from the new delta variant, but vaccination currently has good protection from multiple variants, including delta.
7. What does the vaccine NOT do?
It does not change your DNA, it will not give you COVID-19, it does not affect women's fertility, and it does not contain microchips and tracking devices.
8. I am young and healthy. Why should I get the vaccine?
COVID cases are again on the rise.
There is no guarantee that you won't get seriously ill.
You may transmit the virus to a loved one who subsequently dies.
COVID vaccines work, but COVID treatment regimens are woefully inadequate.
We cannot suppress this virus unless our vaccine rate goes up substantially.
We are all tired of this pandemic; let's end it.
Roll up your sleeves, Northeast Georgians!