COVID-19 delta variant poses a threat to Tennessee, but vaccines will help | Opinion
As a physician and lawmaker, I am concerned. Safe and effective vaccines are available. It is imperative that we promote and provide COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible populations.
Over the last several weeks, it has been a joy to see the reopening of America as our economy rebounds, businesses open their doors, workers come back to the shops and offices, and the evening crowds populate the eateries.
A public event feels like a family reunion as we shake hands and hug each other. You see, I live in a small Southern town!
As a physician, I have promoted masks, social distancing, hygiene, hand sanitizers and vaccination over the last year and a half.
I made considerable efforts to balance the anti-vaccine sentiments of my legislative friends. I am grateful things got better. I am chagrined, and worried, that Tennesseans are among the least vaccinated in the country.
Although the pandemic decelerated, the increasing spread of delta variant, impels me to reexamine our efforts.
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Here's why the delta variant should worry Tennesseans
Mark Twain said the “numbers don’t lie.” They can be tricky, though. Current numbers for positive tests, cases, hospitalizations and deaths, mostly due to delta variant, appear small as compared to last year.
These numbers are significant, however, when we realize that they apply mostly to our non-vaccinated population. Let us consider that almost nearly 40%of Tennesseans are presently fully vaccinated, and some are immune due to previous infection.
Of the 60% of our population that is not vaccinated, 15% are below the age of 12 and are not yet vaccine-eligible. Therefore, the currently reported COVID-19 cases (mostly delta variant) are occurring in about 45% of our population.
Thus, the current threat is larger than it appears. This emphasizes the need for vaccinations.
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A paucity of balanced scientific interpretation of facts led us, and our leaders, to act on political intuition rather than logic. Human nature being what it is, our response to risky situations, also called uncertainties with negative consequences, is not always analytical.
Hence, the development of a spectrum of behavior among us into those who are concerned about or afraid of COVID-19 infection (pro-vaxxers), concerned about or afraid of vaccine side effects (vaccine-hesitant) and the I-don’t-care (anti-vaxxers). Social media has served to connect the like-minded and isolated us from free exchange of ideas and understanding.
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Here's how we know vaccines are safe and effective
The anti-vaxxer passion has labeled current vaccines as “not approved” or “experimental.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory process for approval of a therapy can take years. It is a very thorough process, as it should be.
To protect us, at this time of a public health emergency, an “Emergency Use Authorization” was granted. This provision exists for the very purpose that the words imply! The duty, and the mission, of the FDA is to assure safety and effectiveness of therapies for the American public.
For COVID-19, over 3.8 billion doses worldwide and 341 million doses in the U.S. have been given. Major adverse events occur in about 1 in 50,000 recipients.
Effectiveness is proven by the fact that of 160 million Americans vaccinated, only about 5,500 required hospitalization due to COVID-19. In addition, the severity of illness is markedly decreased among the vaccinated.
We face a larger-than-it-appears, and growing, threat of delta variant of COVID-19. As a physician, I am concerned. Safe and effective vaccines are available. It is imperative that we promote and provide COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible populations.
Along the way, I pray that we can unite, as Americans, to protect each other and our nation. God Bless!
Rep Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar M.D., R-Springfield, represents House District 66 in the Tennessee General Assembly.