Debra L. Glasser, M.D.

PHOTO BY GLORIA TOWNE

Government representatives, both elected and appointed, including those in science, have much room for improvement in communicating scientific messages to the public. I applaud the efforts of Thurston County Health Department. In particular for their communication thru the pandemic and this winter’s catch-up respiratory infections.”

Attachments

Dr Debra's Covid Pandemic Reflections Checklist

A JOLT OF HEALTH

Pandemic, Tripledemic, Epidemic Oh My! Part 2

A JOLT OF HEALTH

Pandemic, Tripledemic, Epidemic Oh My! Part 1

A JOLT OF HEALTH

How to navigate a doctor visit after a diagnostic test

Summer is here (albeit in spring) and the end of the pandemic has been declared!

I would like to share some reflections on Covid-19. Two research studies, a book, and a concert experience (Emerald City Music debut on May 13 at Minnaert Center of Seven, a cello solo composed to honor the pandemic experience in New York City), have been inspirations.

Two scientific studies and the book: 

States and pandemic policies and resulting death rates

Assessing pandemic policies and behaviors between states and their effect on death rates; https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2823%2900461-0

This was a population study that looked at Covid19 outcomes in each state based on pre-Covid factors. There were up to 4-fold differences in Covid19 death rates across states (adjusting for age and co-morbidities – things that are known to increase death risk with Covid, such as age, diabetes, and male gender). This kind of research is key to understanding the past and how to plan for future pandemics. What made a difference, what didn’t and how can we do a better job next time? It is not always true that what makes sense intuitively corresponds with the science.

Factors associated with higher death rates were: population of minorities (Black and Hispanic specifically), level of poverty, income inequality, percent of those without health insurance (a key measure of access to healthcare), those who voted for the Republican presidential candidate in 2020, and higher employment rate (associated with lower closure mandates).

Decreased death rates were associated with increased years of education, the mean level of personal trust* (see more below), healthcare system capacity (a second key measure of access to healthcare), vaccine mandates for state employees, and vaccine coverage of the population.

Surprisingly the study showed no association with death rates by public health spending or number of employees in public health nor did the political affiliation of the state’s governor affect death rates. Interestingly, the intensity of infection protection policies (e.g., physical distancing and mask mandates) was associated with lower infection rates but not deaths.

Doctor holding a small globe with a small medical mask on it representing the Covid 19 Pandemic.

The Psychology of Pandemics

*I am fascinated to read (but not surprised based on how this pandemic played out) that Interpersonal Trust played an outsized role in outcomes. Early in the pandemic, I read The Psychology of Pandemics by Steven Taylor, Ph.D., a Canadian psychologist. It was published in 2019 and very accurately predicted the challenges the world would face with Covid19 a year later. He emphasized the importance of scientific sharing, public messaging, government intervention, and trust for effective pandemic response.

Where scientific uncertainty is great, public confidence is easily undermined. Many countries worldwide fought widespread rejection of vaccines and the willingness of so many to believe non-science as well as try unproven and potentially dangerous remedies.

Trust motivates people to protect others and reduces the fear of being misled or exploited. In the future, clear, transparent, and timely communication can help build public trust in a crisis.

Hospitalizations study

Canadian Study of Hospitalizations in Canada Quantifies Benefit of Covid 19 Vaccine to Reduce Death, ICU Admissions – a summary published in Medscape – May 8, 2023

In a study of tens of thousands of Canadians, unvaccinated patients were found to be up to 15x more likely to die from Covid 19 than the unvaccinated. In the later waves of infection (when more people were vaccinated), the proportion of adults admitted to ICUs was significantly lower (8.7% vs. 21.8% early in the pandemic) though there was a greater number of infections with Covid19 than earlier which still posed significant demands on the healthcare system.

David Fisman, M.D.’s commentary (professor of epidemiology in Toronto) on this research was that Canadians could not understand in real-time (i.e., when it was happening) what was going on nor what they were paying for with this surveillance system research. This is verbatim what occurred in our country. There was much research going on during the pandemic, most of which was not shared with the public. This knowledge gap undermined trust.

Finale: Dr. Debra’s Reflections on the Three-Year Pandemic

Mask up when ill with a respiratory illness

What to do when you’re sick and how to create the best outcomes

1. Stay home when you are sick to take care of yourself and not infect others. Stay there until you are no longer infectious. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor.
   ~I look forward to better solutions than current employment policies (that are not abused by employees or employers) that support workers staying home when they are ill
2. If you must go out when you are ill (or even suspect you are infectious), wash your hands frequently for all infections, including those causing diarrhea, and wear a mask if the infection is respiratory (runny nose, cough, congestion). Most of us have an abundant stash of masks by now, so use them when you are ill!
3. Be covered by health insurance – private, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, anything!
   ~what society does to solve our health insurance coverage, cost, and access crisis on a myriad of levels remains elusive as do solutions for the effect of poverty and race on illness. May some solutions be found by the next pandemic.
4. Get vaccinated and boosted for all the infectious diseases vaccines available. Vaccines have been developed to keep humanity from dying, transmitting, and suffering from deadly infectious diseases. Think polio and smallpox.
5. Learn about and respect science. Continue to educate yourself about science - read science journalists and listen to scientist reporters and podcasts. Lifelong learning is good for your health and your brain!
6. Know what sources of science and health information you can trust. This does not include Facebook, now known to be rife with misinformation from sources seemingly beyond the site’s control. There are myriads of conspiracy theories and much fake news including science out there. Be discriminating.
7. VOTE, and in particular, vote for science and representatives that understand, support, and respect science. Vote for representatives that you trust and whom you can trust to be transparent and honest in a crisis.
   ~Government representatives, both elected and appointed, including those in science, have much room for improvement in communicating scientific messages to the public. I applaud the efforts of Thurston County Health Department. In particular for their communication thru the pandemic and this winter’s catch-up respiratory infections.
8. Build your interpersonal trust. Being educated, informed, and having the background to follow emerging science and/or those writing will help. Trust helps you make good choices for both yourself and the greater good. It will reduce your fear of being exploited.
   ~I look forward to those responsible for building corporate trust in modern society, in particular pharmaceutical companies’ ethics and profit margins. We need to trust them. They pulled off a most remarkable feat in developing the Covid19 vaccines in record time using new and sophisticated techniques.
9. Remain vigilant and informed to make good health choices in the future. Pandemics and epidemics of infectious illnesses occur in cycles and scientists expect another in less than 100 years.
10. Breathe a sigh of relief that this season and pandemic are declared over. Though Covid19 will be with us for the long haul, it is no longer an epidemic.
11. Reflect on who and what was lost in this pandemic, what you learned about yourself, and your priorities. Some learned they liked to be less busy and social. Others that they wilted without social activity.

Click here for a copy of this list in a printable list. 

Dr Debra's Pandemic and infectious illness list

I am grateful to move on, watch the kids return to school and each other, make up for lost learning and connections, and for all of us to arrive at this pandemic-free life with each other at long last!

Debra L. Glasser, M.D., is a retired internal medicine physician who lives in Olympia. Got a question for her? Write drdebra@theJOLTnews.com