To Take or Not To Take: There is No Question
2020 has been a unicorn of sorts. Some might even call it the most volatile year of our nation’s history. But, within the past week Americans have chattered over the news of something that has the potential to dramatically alter the trajectory of the next month, and God willing the next year.
The death toll from COVID-19 has been tremendous, and rates of infection nearing 10% worldwide according to the CDC. Moreover, countless families and communities have not only lost loved ones, but also their senses of livelihood. Though no single measure could make up
for all that has been sacrificed over the past months, a vaccine is the most promising option we
have to pave the way towards a brighter future and a return to normalcy. Now we can finally say that this option is no longer simply a hope, but a reality thanks to the work of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
Despite the seemingly clearcut solution to the present pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination has become the center of much controversy. It would be misleading of me to indicate that a vaccine would provide 100% protection for its recipients, however vaccination significanlty decreases the spread of diseases and protects immunocompromised individuals. Vaccination provides what is known as herd immunity: a phenomenon where once the majority of a population has developed immunity (50-90%), protection is given for those who are not immune to the disease. In the case of COVID-19, once the majority of the US population has been vaccinated, illness due to COVID-19 becomes increasingly rare.
Historically, vaccines have been key to categorizing many diseases as preventable such as measles, smallpox, polio, and the flu. Herd immunity was key to making these once common diseases rare. In the case of the flu, studies have shown that vaccination decreases risk of illness by 40-60%. During the 2017-2018 flu season, 40% of Americans received vaccination averting 6.2 million flu illnesses, 91,000 hospitalizations, and 5700 deaths according to the CDC.
Through extensive clinical research and pilot studies, both Moderna and
Pfizer-BioNTech have demonstrated promising results in regards to their COVID-19 vaccines, with roughly 95% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 for both.
With all of this information, it is imperative we fact-check our assumptions, listen to research and not rumors, and act in ways that help ourselves and local communities.This vaccination now gives our societies an opportunity to change our originally defensive tactics against this virus to offensive ones. Officially, the ball is in our court. What will you do with that opportunity and privilege?
For more information about the currently available vaccines, please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html
https://scdhec.gov/benefits-risks-vaccines
Dr Joseph Taiwo
HOW WE KEEP YOU SAFE!
When you visit 1st Class urgent care , your safety is our number one priority .
All our staff wear full PPE (protective personal equipment) masks, gloves and we have routine cleaning according to CDC guidelines
We have also made changes to our waiting room to accommodate more spaces for social distancing to minimize contacts.
Also while you are in the exam room being tested or examined, our providers wear protective clothes mask and face shield when they collect the samples.
Joseph Taiwo MD
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