‘Medical decisions must always be based on objective, scientific, and factual information, not on baseless subjective or misinformed personal sentiment, which could endanger the lives of our precious children, our priceless gems.’
THE US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “has no plans to ease up on COVID-19 restrictions anytime soon,” since there are more than 120,000 daily new cases of COVID-19 (much underreported), almost 500 COVID-related deaths every day on average, and more than 453,000 hospitalized on average daily.
In the Philippines, there are more than 2,700 COVID-19 cases a day, with almost 38,000 active cases. Public education is fundamental to protect the health of the people.
Vaccinations, masking, and social distancing are still vital, more than ever before. While BA.5 is usually milder, deaths are not rare, even among non-seniors. The new BA.2.75 subvariant is on the sidelines, being monitored.
In view of the still significant daily COVID-19 statistics, it is obvious that those who are not vaccinated are the major victims because they are not protected. It is sad that in the United States there are only 67 percent fully vaccinated (with second booster) and less than 65 percent in the Philippines.
Lowering our guards too soon, which we have done since May 2022, or earlier, has resulted in nearly 500 COVID deaths a day, about 15,000 a month. Much too high. Every single life is precious.
In spite of the fake news in the social media, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and masking and distancing are effective in protecting against COVID-19.
For those who had tested positive for COVID-19, isolation should be done to protect family members and others for at least five days, followed by masks at home and social distancing in indoor public places through the 10th day. There are rare cases where the recovered individual was still infectious after 10 days.
Reinfections are not rare. US President Biden and Tesla-famed billionaire Elon Musk both got reinfected twice. So, even those who had their second booster should be vigilant and careful because natural immunity (conferred by previous infection) and immunity from the vaccines wane after 4-6 months.
Parents refuse vax
A study conducted a month after the FDA granted emergency use authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to 4 years of age showed that 43 percent of parents stated in July that “they will not be getting their children in that age range vaccinated.”
As a parent myself, I truly understand the concern of parents for the safety of their children. However, in this day and age of information and advances in medicine, it is best to have all the data reviewed in order to have all pertinent information before making a decision. The quintessential query should always be: Considering all medical data available, which is more dangerous or the greater threat to the life for our children, the vaccines or COVID-19?
If the studies showed the morbidity and mortality of those vaccinated were higher than those unvaccinated who eventually got infected, the decision is obvious: refuse the vaccines. Since the data have so far shown the vaccines are effective and safer compared to the COVID-19 infection and its long-term complications, it behooves society to listen and follow science over medically-unsupported personal biases of lay people.
Medical decisions must always be based on objective, scientific, and factual information, not on baseless subjective or misinformed personal sentiment, which could endanger the lives of our precious children, our priceless gems.
Let us take advantage of the great advances of our available state-of-the-art medical science and technology (which, unfortunately, many other countries do not have) to help assure the good health of all of us, especially our children, who are helpless and totally dependent on our wisdom.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
