Medical Discussion of Coronavirus

[Sampter]

No offense to anyone, but the only way the US is going to get the vaccine rate up at this point is for Fox News, Newsmax, and the fringe anti-vaccine Republicans to make a 180 and push the narrative that vaccines save lives, Trump is responsible for the vaccines, etc.

However, I am worried the damage has already been done and would be too late to make a meaningful increase in the vaccine rate.

[Tim]

No offense to anyone, but the only way the US is going to get the vaccine rate up at this point is for Fox News, Newsmax, and the fringe anti-vaccine Republicans to make a 180 and push the narrative that vaccines save lives, Trump is responsible for the vaccines, etc.

However, I am worried the damage has already been done and would be too late to make a meaningful increase in the vaccine rate.

I think a better answer would be to take politics or media out of it. Use the statistics available by zip code and county for vaccines and infections.
In a county that is heavily leaning to one side (read that as 100% of city, county, judges and president were of one party), the sources you indicate seem to have zero impact on the vaccine distribution. Just anecdotal observation of a major city. Uptrend, but not close to the bad times. I agree that sparsely populated areas will be a tough sell. Attack the issue with the most unvaccinated, not the politics or news source or geography.

[Sampter]

I think a better answer would be to take politics or media out of it. Use the statistics available by zip code and county for vaccines and infections.
In a county that is heavily leaning to one side (read that as 100% of city, county, judges and president were of one party), the sources you indicate seem to have zero impact on the vaccine distribution. Just anecdotal observation of a major city. Uptrend, but not close to the bad times. I agree that sparsely populated areas will be a tough sell. Attack the issue with the most unvaccinated, not the politics or news source or geography.

Sorry, for those of us who are physicians that practice in areas of low rates of vaccination, what I said before holds true. Its not "politics", it's the reality on the ground. Patients tell me to my face that is the reason they are not, nor will never get vaccinated. Vaccines are available in every CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, hospital, clinic.....anyone at this point can get a vaccine without trying very hard.

[Tim]

Sorry, for those of us who are physicians that practice in areas of low rates of vaccination, what I said before holds true. Its not "politics", it's the reality on the ground. Patients tell me to my face that is the reason they are not, nor will never get vaccinated. Vaccines are available in every CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, hospital, clinic.....anyone at this point can get a vaccine without trying very hard.

No disrespect intended. And what do the vaccinate patients say? My take is that I am aware of no anti vaccination news organization.
I am aware of anti mandate with the choice between the patient and physician that provides advice. Thank you for all that you have educated. A ton of hard to reach people. I still have extended family that don’t trust the “Trump vaccines”. Frustrating. I trust you to advise if the risk of vaccination is greater than Covid. Your patient. I wish this had not been politicized.

[burritos]

My daughter will get vaccinated when she turns 12 later next month. She also has had 12 flu shots already. People die of flu by the tens of thousands every year in the US. Shouldn't we push everyone with the same urgency to get flu shots as we do with the COVID vaccine?(rhetorical question of course. Never gonna happen).

[Tim]

My daughter will get vaccinated when she turns 12 later next month. She also has had 12 flu shots already. People die of flu by the tens of thousands every year in the US. Shouldn't we push everyone with the same urgency to get flu shots as we do with the COVID vaccine?(rhetorical question of course. Never gonna happen).

Measles?

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/12/texas-vaccine-exemption-rates-school-district-look-up/

Not a new issue. Unfortunately.

[StateOfMyHead]

Was discussing with spouse how it seems families are increasingly rude and argumentative recently in both our specialties and not just regarding COVID issues. Generally when I was called for consult the family was appreciative of the phone call and now it is as if any recommendations are met with outright contempt.

[Sampter]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/13/desantis-fauci-florida/

I rest my case.

[CordMcNally]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...fauci-florida/

I rest my case.

Perfect example of letting the people decide at the polls. Honest question because I don't know but are Florida hospitals overrun? I'd vote for more freedoms over lockdowns any day.

[Tim]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...fauci-florida/

I rest my case.

That Fauci is a humorous target? He might become a word.
“You have been Faucied”
Charles Ponzi level of fame. Of course, we don’t really know the extent .

“The WHO's Chief Says It Was Premature To Rule Out A Lab Leak As The Pandemic's Origin”

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Say that with a straight face in describing Fauci. I doubt we will ever know. Fauci has become a joke.
That is not anti vaccine, it is a complete loss of credibility.

[Jaqen Haghar MD]

Perfect example of letting the people decide at the polls. Honest question because I don't know but are Florida hospitals overrun? I'd vote for more freedoms over lockdowns any day.

In my opinion, Florida handled the pandemic correctly and it worked out well, probably by luck. They remained open for much of the pandemic and Armageddon never came. There was what seems like a combination of herd immunity and success with vaccinations, fairing better than many of the lockdown states.

Right now we are seeing an uptick in cases. I’m seeing a few new cases per shift, down from about fifteen+ from the peak, and up from the 1 every 2 weeks of the last few months.

The cases are split 50-50 I’d say. 50% unvaccinated, and 50% vaccinated that are now getting infected. Right now we are having a local outbreak of fully vaccinated patients getting infected. It’s probably the delta variant. We are now very, very busy with non-covid volume. ER volumes have rebounded well beyond preCovid numbers for a variety of reasons here. Covid volume remains low.

I assume this will become a pattern and news elsewhere, soon enough.

[Tim]

The cases are split 50-50 I’d say. 50% unvaccinated, and 50% vaccinated that are now getting infected. Right now we are having a local outbreak of fully vaccinated patients getting infected. It’s probably the delta variant.

I assume this will become a pattern and news elsewhere, soon enough.

The “news” I have seen is that infections are heavily tilted towards unvaccinated. 50/50 is a huge departure from either the news or messaging.

[Jaqen Haghar MD]

The “news” I have seen is that infections are heavily tilted towards unvaccinated. 50/50 is a huge departure from either the news or messaging.

It’s a small, anecdotal sample size from a clustered area of infections, so take it as you will. I don’t think it will fit the narrative, so you may not hear about it a lot. We are seeing multiple daily cases of vaccinated patients now. Pfizer is now looking to be mid 60% effective for the delta variant, and we may be seeing that play out now.

[Hatton]

It’s a small, anecdotal sample size from a clustered area of infections, so take it as you will. I don’t think it will fit the narrative, so you may not hear about it a lot. We are seeing multiple daily cases of vaccinated patients now. Pfizer is now looking to be mid 60% effective for the delta variant, and we may be seeing that play out now.

Are these infections in the fully vaccinated sick enough for hospitalization?

[CordMcNally]

Are these infections in the fully vaccinated sick enough for hospitalization?

Not in my experience. A large majority of patients who are vaccinated and test positive have very mild symptoms (cough, congestion, no difficulty breathing).