Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week. This morning I met with the Rotary Club in town and was asked — “how do you stay positive knowing all that you know?”
Given that I’ve been trained to see disease transmission in my mind’s eye and that my brain is set to piece together puzzles related to disease spread, disease prevention, diagnoses and treatment of disease, and how we can slow or stop a disease from occurring — sometimes (especially during the past four years) it has been hard (really hard) to not see sickness, pathogens, and death everywhere.
But — in reality — I can stay positive for three reasons…
First, I am forever grateful for and take advantage of all the technologies and strategies available to prevent disease spread.
I am pro-vaccine, pro-cancer screening, pro-quarantine and pro-isolation (when appropriate), pro-sick leave, pro-antibiotics, pro-health education, pro-sex education, pro-healthy environmental, pro-building community to ward off social isolation and loneliness, and pro-healthy behaviors (e.g., eating the rainbow, not smoking or vaping, limiting alcohol consumption, etc…).
Second, I recognize that despite all my efforts to prevent disease, I am still going to get sick. Nothing — no vaccine, health education program, mandate to mask, or isolation protocol — is perfect. Pathogens, like the SARS-CoV-2 virus or influenza, are sneaky little buggers and sometimes they outsmart us and get past our very best prevention strategies. I do NOT take getting sick as a sign that prevention is worthless or vaccines do not work. I take it as a sign that the pathogen has outsmarted my defenses and I need to work harder to create stronger public health prevention programs.
Third, I recognize that every day is a gift and I live life to its fullest. I was reminded of how important gratitude and making time for the ordinary is today while I was recording some news interviews for the fourth anniversary of the COVID lockdowns. I was scrolling through my Instagram account and found that on this day four years ago I shared this picture —
Along with this caption —
“Four years ago the world felt like it was falling apart. China and Italy were burning with COVID cases and we knew the wave of disease was about to hit the US.
Four years ago I was averaging 5-8 news appearances a week. I was consumed by COVID.
Four years ago I knew my world - personal, professional, and everything in between - was changing. And my work as an epidemiologist would never-ever be the same again.
Four years ago I realized (maybe for the first time) that slowing down and enjoying the simple things is what makes life worth living.
And so —
Four years ago as COVID raged and we prepared for lockdowns and the reality of living through a pandemic, we drank hot chocolate and played chess at @groundsforchange.”
So in the spirit of positivity, this week’s Three Things are all good news. Three things that should encourage us about preventive medicine and the work of public health.
Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
COVID Booster Was Highly Effective
The Fall 2023 COVID-19 booster shot was highly effective. According to data released earlier this month, the booster shot in the fall protected against symptomatic infection. And the booster continues to protect against severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
COVID is NOT just the flu.
More than 1300 Americans died of COVID last week. Most individuals who are dying of COVID are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Vaccines save lives.
RSV Monoclonal Antibodies Prevent Illness in Infants
Data released today shows that nirsevimab, a long-acting RSV monoclonal antibody that can be given to infants, is highly effective. Specifically —
“Nirsevimab effectiveness was 90% against RSV-associated hospitalization in infants in their first RSV season.”
OTC Birth Control Pills Are Available
This week over-the-counter birth control pills were shipped and sold in the United States. This is the first time that “the pill” can be purchased without a prescription.
Why is this good news?
This makes a safe and effective form of birth control conveniently available. You can easily order Opill — the brand name of the pill — on Amazon. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation —
“The ability to access oral contraceptives without a prescription from a clinician can save time spent on travel, at a doctor’s office, and off work. Studies suggest that OTC access to oral contraceptives could increase the use of contraception, facilitate continuity of use, and reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.”
I spoke about my excitement about the OTC pill on Erie News Now on Tuesday.
Watch the clip here —
And that’s it…
In the midst of measles outbreaks and increasing gun violence, there is good news. And this good news should fuel us, as there is a lot of work to be done to increase vaccination rates, improve preventive medicine, increase access to healthcare, and create healthy communities for all.
What good news — public health or not — are you celebrating this week?
I’m enjoying the ballet and celebrating the success and beauty of my ballerina. If you’re local and haven’t seen The Wizard of Oz, there are three more performances this weekend in Franklin, PA. Ticket info is here.
And (as always) be sure to share this good news with your friends & family —
Epi(demiology) Matters is written by Dr. Becky Dawson, PhD MPH — an epidemiologist, teacher, mom, wife, and dedicated yogi. She is a tenured professor at Allegheny College, Research Director at a community hospital, and an exclusive contributor (all things health & medicine) at Erie News Now (NBC/CBS). Her goal is to create healthy communities for all. She writes Epi Matters — first & foremost because epidemiology does matter (to all of us) and she hopes that each post will help to educate and empower readers to be healthy and create healthy communities.
Be sure you and your friends and family are subscribed so you don’t miss a post —
Epi(demiology) Matters is free — because science, reports, news, updates, and alerts about health should NOT be behind a paywall. EVER. Everyone needs access to up-to-date health information in order to be healthy and create healthy communities for all.
The China cow *is* the best!