As if the new directive rolled out by the CDC yesterday isn’t enough: “If fully vaccinated you no longer need to wear a mask!!” we now have competition for our deltoids: A chance at $1 million, free doughnuts, free beer! After months of queuing up, frustrating hours to find shots in at least a nearby county, people in cars for hours, wearing diapers, others flying to Florida to grab a dose. We now find ourselves begging the non- vaxers to get the shot. We had a call from a doc down the hall yesterday that they had extras doses if anyone still needed one, and I still could not talk a few patients into going. I will tell you now, have faith in the vaccine. I have said it for months. I have advised you to get the first available, It is safe. And for those of us who did, the sense of relief is indescribable.
Charlie is only considering now because of the free beer, but Rosie says absolutely not- there isn’t enough data. What?? People who never even used the word before are holding it up as a banner. Stop it. I mean it.
Of the hundreds of people I have seen this year, those who died with or from covid did so before vaccination. We have not seen one single person die of covid here in my practice since the vaccines are done. Unfortunately we are seeing life ended because people didn’t get screened, cared for or are in a back log for primary care visits.
If you have a problem and cannot get to see a doc, call a cancer center, we have been open every single day through covid. Tele-medicine doesn’t work in this field. We will see you, work up the problem and care for you asap. Today when Marsha said she came in because she can’t get to her primary care for another 6 weeks, but has had symptoms for a year, the cancer needs attention now. Unfortunately, that is what I have seen this week. Patients with late stage diagnosis.
Take your life back. You don’t need a donut. You have a million incentives to be strong and healthy. If you are vaxed, the next step is getting your routine visits. I know that I am also late for my 10 year colonoscopy, medicare visit and mammogram so I will be there with you. Let’s do this. The incentive for each of us is a long, happy, healthy life. No sense ending the mask mandate if we have to wear a respirator. I am not kidding. Get the vax, get your kids vaxed (remember that Jonas Salk founded polio vaccine and tested it on himself and family first, there were no thousands in a trial) Today we rarely ever see polio.
Be strong and brave and encourage your loved ones. Offer to buy them a doughnut, beer or lottery ticket if that’s what it takes. We are over this; lets move on with being healthy. Too many succumbed to this horrible virus. Too many children are without parents and grandparents. You owe it to them to live your best life. Now take off that mask and lets see your smile!