The time is always right to do what is right.
-The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hi everyone,
This weekend, all my MICU patients have COVID. They’re different than the COVID patients we typically see. Usually, few to none are vaccinated, but this weekend, they’re all vaccinated and several are boosted.
All the patients have underlying conditions, like asthma, emphysema, ILD, stroke, HIV, and vasculitis. Instead of severe ARDS, most have patchy pneumonia and thick secretions. Reports that omicron is “mild” offer little comfort to those on ventilators.
We seem to be entering a new phase of the pandemic now that much of the population has immunity. COVID remains as dangerous as ever for the unvaccinated, but it’s equally lethal for those with underlying conditions, who remain susceptible despite vaccination, even with masks and social distancing. These patients need our help. They need everyone to get vaccinated, wear masks, and behave responsibly.
Healthy vaccinated people have little to fear from COVID, especially if they’re boosted; but the lives of those with underlying conditions depend on the choices others make. The months ahead will test whether those fortunate enough to be healthy are willing to help the less fortunate. The pandemic is far from over, and people with chronic conditions need our support to stay safe. As Dr. King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Take care, everyone. I’ll be in the SRC MICU the rest of the weekend with my friends in YPC and Med-Peds.
Yours,
Mark