03/06/2024
Musings on COVID-19
This week Cindi and I were “privileged” to join the vast majority of Americans who have experienced the ”heartbreak” of COVID-19.
My otherwise extraordinarily healthy 99 year old dad suddenly fell ill last Tuesday. I came to his house to examine and help him to the bathroom. We ended up calling the squad, and he was admitted to Mercy with COVID. He’s still there and nearly back to normal, delighted with all the attention. Then Friday night I felt tired, and tested positive the next morning. Cindi followed suit, 2 days later. We’re both fine, though in infectious disease, it’s way better to give than to receive.
When this started we were (rightly) paranoid. Imagine, one million deaths! In my practice alone, I was losing one patient each week. Aside from distancing and masking (which certainly helped some), there was no effective treatment. And by the time an effective vaccine came on board, the country was embroiled in fake news, conspiracy theories, power politics and lies, which persist to this day.
One of my dad’s favorite jokes concerns a devout Christian who lives an exemplary life, and prays daily for a winning lottery number. When he finally meets the Lord, he pleads “You see that I have lived a righteous life; why haven’t you granted me that one wish?”
God replies, “First you need to buy a ticket.”
But things have certainly changed!
Despite the vitriol, the misinformation, the politics, eventually we got the message: In a very short time, modern science had come to the rescue. These vaccines work. Extremely well. And of last May, 81.4% of the US had the updated vaccine. That along with some degree of herd immunity (as most of us have had the disease), it has morphed into just another flu-like illness, though serious morbidity and death is still possible.
And with the addition of at least one very effective (but not-too tasty) antiviral medication, early use usually prevents serious complications. In my case, I felt better in 2 days.
Thankfully, 4 years later, most of have come on board.
There may be some sort of a message here. First, we have to be more proactive when the next pandemic arrives (which is certainly will). And we need to trust science, because it’s all that works. Next time around, please buy that ticket.
