Garth Rattray | What is the alternative?

When it comes to the life and death of human beings, no matter how few, it goes without saying that I strongly believe in doing everything possible to save lives and to protect health. However, there is an indeterminate number of people who believe that the natural development of this pandemic should be allowed to run its course and, in the indelible words of some of our well-known and admired entertainers, “Who fi dead, dead; and who fi live, live.”

Given that the kill rate of this virus is two to four per cent, many believe that inconveniencing everyone is not only wrong, but stupid. They believe that closing borders, curfews, lockdowns, curtailing economic activities, having to cover their nose and mouth, distancing themselves from others, sanitising, and (God forbid) vaccinating should never occur, no matter how rampant the virus becomes. They vehemently believe that the world should simply go on as usual and write off the loss of lives as, “minuscule”.

To them, it doesn’t matter that the so-called ‘minuscule’ number of fellow human beings (fathers, mothers, children, spouses, siblings, friends, neighbours, and co-workers) killed by COVID-19 is 5.6 million (so far). It doesn’t matter that, of the known and documented 360 million infected (so far), an unknown number have, and are still experiencing, some of the unpleasant sequels of the viral infection. When statistics quote the number of people who ‘recovered’ from the virus, they are only telling us the number of those who survived the original infection. Recovering from COVID-19 is another thing entirely. Several people end up with ‘long COVID’ – inflamed hearts, damaged lungs, damaged kidneys, hypertension, strokes, dangerous clots, circulation problems, chronic pain, chronic bowel problems, skin conditions, brain fog, fatigue/malaise, anxiety/ depression, and even PTSD.

SOME FORM OF LONG COVID

In fact, recent research has indicated that up to 25 per cent of people infected with COVID-19 end up with some form and some degree of long COVID. If you remember that 360 million people have been documented as COVID-19 victims, 25 per cent of that figure is 90 million. However, try not to forget that the true number of people infected by COVID-19 is much greater than the documented figure. Additionally, we have found that even the totally asymptomatic can develop symptoms attributable to long COVID. And, since most infected people are completely asymptomatic, but can still suffer the long-term effects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, we must consider not only the immediate effect of COVID-19, but also the long-term community health aspect of this pandemic.

There is much talk of herd immunity – a term coined by the WHO in the 1960s. Their original strategy was called ‘ring immunity’, an attempt to “vaccinate everyone in and around the pocket of transmission”. The term evolved into ‘herd immunity’. In our case, herd immunity is the immunity of the population provided by the vaccination or previous infection of individuals within the population. However, there are problems here, too. We have heard figures stating that we need 75 per cent of the population either infected or injected to achieve herd immunity. We have also heard that we need 85 per cent. I have seen figures speculating that, with this pandemic, we need 95 per cent infected or injected to achieve herd immunity. It seems to be a moving target (as with so many other things regarding COVID-19).

But there is a huge problem here. Sadly, we know that getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 or getting vaccinated does not confer lasting immunity. That, too, is another moving target. I have not seen any solid time for immunity – some say three, five, or even eight months. In other words, even with the raging arguments about natural immunity lasting longer than acquired immunity/vaccination or vice versa, expecting (temporary) herd immunity to end this nightmare seems iffy to me. The consensus is that the virus will eventually become less deadly but endemic, just like the flu virus. However, unlike the growing belief that this is a ‘bad flu’, currently, SARS-CoV-2 is far worse and must not be trifled with.

REMAIN SHOCKED

Throughout all of this, I remain shocked that so many people are actively opposing any and all efforts at protecting the health and lives of others. When I pen articles about COVID-19, there is always a pack of nasty trolls who pounce and seek to shred whatever I write to pieces. Their personal attacks reveal very dark individuals, warped by their own delusion of self-importance and false (Internet) bravado. Their comments betray their inner void and their futile effort to tear down others in order to feel elevated (somehow). Their most egregious and disrespectful comments (so far) were regarding my friend and patient who died from COVID-19 complications, despite his best efforts at avoiding the infection, and early and proper care when he became infected. They wrote, in the blog, that I infected and killed him, or that he killed himself with poor lifestyle choices.

You could allow the pandemic to run rampant, mutate and continue damaging and killing your fellow human beings by doing nothing to fight back, and heeding the negative, destructive, fearmongering, pseudo-science, and fake news. Or, you could make healthy choices, wear masks appropriately, distance, sanitise and vaccinate. And, if despite everything, you feel ill, quarantine, test, isolate if necessary, and seek early medical intervention. Together we can beat this scourge.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.