Nurses are leading the way in getting the vaccine. As more and more people get vaccinated, we are closer to being able to return to a more normal life, protecting ourselves, our families and the economy.
Nurses as a group lead the way in getting vaccines. Although some still hesitate—particularly outpatient nurses—as a group, professional nurses continue to set an example of willingness to combat the epidemic by getting vaccinated themselves. Statistics are still being gathered but in March 2021, 64% of hospital nurses were already vaccinated. The effort to get that number to 100% is underway. How can we help our peers and our patients who hesitate about getting the vaccine?
Going the Extra Mile
Nurses have been heroes every step of the way. Nurse Vaccinator Jaquelyn Chartier stated in a New York Times article, “I saw on the news they were going to roll out these mass vaccination sites but they needed nurses because they were short. And I was, like, I gotta go. I gotta go help.” Her spirit echoes the voices and actions of so many nurses who have stepped up to the plate and gone the extra miles to help conquer this pandemic.
Working in health care, many of us have seen the worst of COVID: patients struggling to breathe, suffering a variety of maladies, and some even becoming “long haulers” finding themselves besieged by symptoms months after the disease should have packed up and left their bodies. Countering that are the 80% of people who have symptom-less or mild symptom infections of COVID-19 and recuperate uneventfully and quickly. The two extremes are hard to reconcile. We continue to have a lack of current science about what makes one person get acutely ill and another barely suffer a sneeze. Because of these disparities, we hear divided reports—everything from doomsday reports to a fantasy of denial. As nurses, we are sometimes stuck in between trying to educate people, help them understand, and lead by example.
Vaccine Risks vs. Deadly Virus Risks
The fact that vaccines have some degree of inherent risk is well-known and undisputed. But this risk must be weighed against the potentially much greater risk of severe illness from contracting this coronavirus. With a mortality of 1% (this number is still being determined), it is much deadlier than the flu (<0.1%), even after we have had over a year to develop strategies to treat it. All of us know of stories of young, healthy men and women becoming gravely ill, ending up on a ventilator and dying. Our stories in this country are numerous, but in other countries, the situation is becoming even direr. Globally, the pandemic has been devastating.
The risk of getting the vaccine is extremely small. Not getting the vaccine is also a calculated risk. It is important to understand this and to encourage our patients to consider that they are still taking a risk when they choose not to be vaccinated. The recent pause in the administration of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was due to blood clots in 6 persons out of 6.8 million (1/100th of the risk of getting struck by lightning).
Misinformation
Misinformation and outright lies about the vaccine are plentiful for those who are willing to read it and give it credence. The internet has an overabundance of bogus “information” about vaccines going into your DNA. “The truth is that the vaccines cannot modify anything in your embryo or your child.”
Miraculous Preparation for Such a Time as This
The scientific literature describing the development of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines with mRNA is fascinating and reads like something out of the future. The men and women scientists who were able to rapidly develop these vaccines for COVID-19 did not come upon this technology overnight. It had been in development for a number of years and was miraculously ready just when it was needed. According to associate scientist Katherine Calhoun, “Rarely do you work on something in the lab and go home and turn on your TV and see the top 10 headlines are about the thing that you were working on today.” The miraculous preparedness of the scientific community “For such a time as this” seems to have escaped our imaginations during the crisis of COVID-19. It may be time for us to step back and reflect on how fortunate we are that events in the cosmos came together to give us these tools to combat the infection.
Senior scientist Amy Barnes who is part of the development team for the Pfizer vaccine states: “This kind of reminds me of September 11th. It’s that same feeling of What were you doing at the time?”
Prevention - the Best Treatment
Prevention is the best treatment we have for COVID-19. Vaccines are our best hope for staying safe, keeping our families and patients safe, and preserving the economy. Like most viruses, it mutates and this one spreads aggressively. We have a short window of time to poke holes in its armor and then watch it crumble. If we work together, we can make it happen!
Mississippi’s state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said Monday in tweet.
The Delta variant of the coronavirus has been reported to have a greater effect on younger people, and the rapid spread of the variant is causing concern across the nation.
Last week, Dobbs warned Mississippians to prepare for a second wave of the coronavirus.
Even though much of the nation has made progress with vaccinations, Mississippi lags behind most other states. The percentage of the state’s population that is fully vaccinated is 33.4 percent, according to Our World in Data....
Dobbs tweeted on Monday that almost all current COVID-19 cases in Mississippi are the Delta variant, and that he’s worried that seven percent of recent COVID deaths were vaccinated people....
My goal at this point is to encourage people to look at what’s really happening, not just listen to main stream media, whose objective is to spread fear. In some places Covid cases are going up—BUT—hospitalizations & deaths are down. Our goal was never “no Covid deaths ever”, it was “flatten the curve so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed & we don’t run out of ICU beds or ventilators.” To get the facts, start by googling your area & “ICU bed availability and Covid cases” Here’s the link to thenChicago area, which I randomly chose. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/latest-data.html
Study the graphs. Look at how the cases & deaths are DOWN. Look at how many ICU beds & ventilators are available (hint—plenty)
You can check out data for all the states here. For the entire United States, the last 14 days show that cases are up 94%, but deaths are DOWN 14%. There is An average of just 250 deaths/day in the entire United States. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html
maybe this is due to vaccinations, maybe we’re close to “herd immunity”, maybe it’s burning itself out. The point is it’s going DOWN. I’m not basing my decision to get vaccinated on something that is simply not happening right now.
Despite the continued high pressure to get vaccinated, it is a fact that the first vaccine was given in March of 2020. The “long-term” evidence about this vaccine is only 17-18 months old. There is NO LONG TERM evidence of ANYTHING—positive or negative—about this EXPERIMENTAL vaccine that is only authorized for emergency use. I have done a ton of research, and there are genuine concerns about potential long-term effects of the vaccine. My sources include the CDC, NIH, and the websites of the vaccine companies. Study the studies. Look at the actual numbers. Maybe these won’t turn out to be actual adverse reactions—but maybe they will.
*Here's your short term adverse reaction,
DEATH OR DEBILITATING ILLNESS WITH POTENTIAL LONG TERM EFFECTS!
Your educated & informed decision was to get the vaccine…my educated & informed decision was not to.
I am so very tired of the debate about whether or not to get the vaccine. I am so very tired of snarky remarks that imply I don’t care about my residents or others, or want to make others sick, if I choose not to get vaccinated. I am tired of being told that as an infection control nurse I should not think for myself but automatically get the vaccine. I am tired of the acknowledgement of the “right to make my own decisions” — unless I decide not to get vaccinated. I am so tired of the implication that vaccination is the one and only solution & anyone who doesn’t agree is somehow lesser or uninformed.
* You are dead right! There are TWO SOLUTIONS! VACCINE OR INFECTION!
Apparently, over 600,000 deaths or realistically, 700,000? isn't very convincing to you?
It's almost mind bogglingly incredible, that an infection control nurse is an anti vaxxer! Do you smoke out the infections you see? Or prayers? How about exorcisms? Possibly, bleach injections or infused sunlight?
It's very likely that you are infected by extremely poor education and judgement, maybe this will reverse that deficit
Wonder if the vaccine had anything to do with the outcome?
It is not! We all have access to the same information—it’s how deeply we choose to study it & the conclusions we draw from it—which are NOT just black & white. You know my reasoning, I know your reasoning. I’m done discussing it. I respect your decision. I respect MY decision. I encourage you to check out the links above & look at the original studies about the vaccines.
My goal at this point is to encourage people to look at what’s really happening, not just listen to main stream media, whose objective is to spread fear. In some places Covid cases are going up—BUT—hospitalizations & deaths are down. Our goal was never “no Covid deaths ever”, it was “flatten the curve so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed & we don’t run out of ICU beds or ventilators.” To get the facts, start by googling your area & “ICU bed availability and Covid cases” Here’s the link to thenChicago area, which I randomly chose. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/latest-data.html
Study the graphs. Look at how the cases & deaths are DOWN. Look at how many ICU beds & ventilators are available (hint—plenty)
You can check out data for all the states here. For the entire United States, the last 14 days show that cases are up 94%, but deaths are DOWN 14%. There is An average of just 250 deaths/day in the entire United States. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html
maybe this is due to vaccinations, maybe we’re close to “herd immunity”, maybe it’s burning itself out. The point is it’s going DOWN. I’m not basing my decision to get vaccinated on something that is simply not happening right now.
Despite the continued high pressure to get vaccinated, it is a fact that the first vaccine was given in March of 2020. The “long-term” evidence about this vaccine is only 17-18 months old. There is NO LONG TERM evidence of ANYTHING—positive or negative—about this EXPERIMENTAL vaccine that is only authorized for emergency use. I have done a ton of research, and there are genuine concerns about potential long-term effects of the vaccine. My sources include the CDC, NIH, and the websites of the vaccine companies. Study the studies. Look at the actual numbers. Maybe these won’t turn out to be actual adverse reactions—but maybe they will. Your educated & informed decision was to get the vaccine…my educated & informed decision was not to.
I am so very tired of the debate about whether or not to get the vaccine. I am so very tired of snarky remarks that imply I don’t care about my residents or others, or want to make others sick, if I choose not to get vaccinated. I am tired of being told that as an infection control nurse I should not think for myself but automatically get the vaccine. I am tired of the acknowledgement of the “right to make my own decisions” — unless I decide not to get vaccinated. I am so tired of the implication that vaccination is the one and only solution & anyone who doesn’t agree is somehow lesser or uninformed. It is not! We all have access to the same information—it’s how deeply we choose to study it & the conclusions we draw from it—which are NOT just black & white. You know my reasoning, I know your reasoning. I’m done discussing it. I respect your decision. I respect MY decision. I encourage you to check out the links above & look at the original studies about the vaccines.
Thank you for posting this. I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
How long do you think it will take for us to achieve herd immunity to this virus if 50% of the American population avoids vaccination because of misinformation and elevated nonspecific fears?
Per the NY Times today, cases are up 111% , deaths are up 5%. This seems to follow the past trends of the death rate rising about 2 weeks after case rates increase.
How long do you think it will take for a new variant to emerge? So far, the vaccines have been effective against known variants, but let's keep on replicating that bad boy and see what happens!
I agree with the majority of your post except this. When using the actual Google search engine you will only see what Google big tech wants you to see. They put the info upfront they want you to see first and the vast majority of people will not even go beyond page one and they know it and totally take advantage of it. Big tech has been censoring what they deem as "misinformation" and kicking people off their platforms who they do not agree with politically. Unfortunately the MSM and big tech have a liberal agenda and feel free to politicize anything and everything including the covid pandemic.
1 hour ago, love2banurse89 said:
I know I'm not the only one out there who feels this way! I appreciate your comment!
You are not the only one! Most people just get tired of arguing with those who blindly follow the MSM and "experts" who clearly have allowed their judgement to be altered by their politics. Just sad all the way around, IMO.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Google reflects the media preferences of the user...if you Google and visit crazy right wing sites then Google will feature those sites and that content for your consumption on your next search. You choose the type of information and content that you enjoy and Google will find and promote that type in your feeds. It works essentially the same way for FB and Youtube...that's why so many who are afraid of these vaccines rely on the same misinformation. We call this phenomenon going down the rabbit hole...like a greyhound chasing a fake rabbit that it will never catch.
Maybe someone could tell us what that "liberal agenda" of MSM and big tech involves relative to vaccination during a pandemic...or maybe it's just a feeling that social "conservatives" have...kind of like that feeling that the covid vaccine might be more dangerous than the disease.
These figures are well-known to both researchers and the social networks. They include anti-vaccine activists, alternative health entrepreneurs and physicians. Some of them run multiple accounts across the different platforms. They often promote "natural health." Some even sell supplements and books.
Many of the messages about the COVID-19 vaccines being widely spread online mirror what's been said in the past about other vaccines by peddlers of health misinformation.
Some of that misinformation has been shared and defended in these threads, the activity is ongoing. AEB this very thread.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
4 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:
Nope!!
It is obvious to anyone who truly looks at the situation from an objective point of view and gets info from many sources.
Not going down that rabbit hole with you!
What is objective about your point of view? If I'm not mistaken, you are the member commenting broadly about the liberal agenda of MSM. Perhaps you believe that comment conveyed an impression that you consider a wide and varied compliment of "sources". It doesn't.
NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN
10 Articles; 19,177 Posts
Miss. Sun Herald 7/13/21
Current situation in Mississippi:
