Covid-19 Vaccine Prevents Death and Serious Illness

COVID-19 SURGE

We are facing another surge of COVID-19 cases with most occurring in the unvaccinated population. This rise in cases is likely due to several factors: the delta variant which currently accounts for 83% of the cases in the United States, the resumption of travel and group activities, the reduction in masking and physical distancing, and the pockets of unvaccinated patients in areas in the United States. The number of new COVID-19 cases are rising and areas with the lowest vaccination rates are seeing the biggest jumps.

VACCINATIONS PREVENT DEATHS

As per the CDC 99.5% of all deaths from Covid-19 are in the unvaccinated. In other words, out of the last 10,000 deaths only around 50 occurred in the vaccinated population.

In January New York was averaging over 195 deaths daily. Thanks to a robust vaccination program that number is now less than 10. Vaccination is the most effective weapon we have at present to defeat this monster.

We all are hearing reports of vaccinated people who are developing COVID-19 infection, but these are still uncommon, and the symptoms are usually mild. However, if you are at high risk for complications from COVID-19 or you are immunosuppressed and may not have had a robust immune response to the vaccine, you should still be cautious, especially in crowds or around people who have not been vaccinated. 

DELTA VARIANT

The delta variant of COVID-19 is significantly more transmissible than the other strains and, as stated above, currently accounts for 83% of the cases in the United States.  Patients who are fully vaccinated have good protection against the delta variant.  If you have not received your vaccine, please get vaccinated as quickly as possible. Many local pharmacies have the vaccine in stock. You may visit https://www.vaccines.gov/ to help you locate a vaccine near you.  If you have questions about the vaccines, please call 914-245-5400 or 845-278-2720.

SYMPTOMS, TESTING, AND TREATMENT

Symptoms of the delta variant are slightly different than the previous variants.  The initial symptoms can be easily mistaken for a common cold. The most common symptoms are headache, sore throat, runny nose, and fever.  Many patients do not have a cough or loss of smell.  If you develop cold symptoms, whether you are vaccinated or not, please get tested and stay home until you get the results. Please do not put other people at risk.  Our office continues to offer testing with same day results. Please contact us if you need to schedule a test. High risk patients who test positive, regardless of vaccination status, remain candidates for monoclonal antibody therapy which can decrease the severity of the illness.

Our office continues to require masking to protect our patients and our staff.  Please keep your mask on at all times when you are in our office.