Fight the Three “F”s - Fatigue, Frustration, and Fear
Thank you, dear readers, for your overwhelmingly kind responses to last week’s newsletter about how vaccination will open up our everyday lives. Hearing from you is truly sustaining!
Yet the bee in my bonnet is still buzzing.
Despite new and very promising news last week about the upcoming Johnson & Johnson and Novavax vaccines, the messaging around them is woefully pessimistic. Today’s New York Times article and a recent piece from Axios succinctly explain my concern about “Negative Nancy” narratives about the vaccines.
I, of course, agree with public health and medical experts that we must continue to urge caution—that even after vaccination we cannot abandon masks, hand washing, distancing, etc. But I also think it’s important for the medical community to educate people about the very real benefits—both mental and physical—of being vaccinated.
Hope is healthy. And when it’s rooted in science and fact, why not dispense it?
To those of you that may be upset even hearing about life after vaccination—perhaps because you’re not yet eligible for the vaccine or haven’t been able to access it despite eligibility—I get it. The slow and bewildering vaccine roll-out has only added insult to injury.
But for many of us, taking a sneak peek into the near future—while acknowledging our ongoing anxiety—can help us move forward in a healthy way.
Don’t take it just from me. One of the best parts of my job is collaborating with smart, empathetic, and evidence-based physicians like Dr. Clay Ackerly and Dr. Amanda Williams.
So first, here is Dr. Ackerly’s letter to his own patients last week which he kindly allowed me to share with you. I hope you find his perspective helpful!
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Dear all,
I am sensing severe pandemic fatigue, immense frustration (particularly regarding the vaccine roll-out and decision-making regarding the vaccine); and fear (Should I get the vaccine? What about these new variants? Will I ever be able to hug a family member or feel comfortable having a child in full-time school again?) As I discuss in more detail below, despite the concerns that surround us (including continued cases and deaths) and questions that keep bubbling up (What are the implications of the variants? How long will this last?), we have a TON for which to be grateful. We have vaccines that WORK (and I am confident that they will work for a long time). We have adequate PPE supplies. We have the ability to get same-day PCR tests (just call Sophia)!! It’s okay to be glass half full these days. It is still January. Januarys are always dreary. But please keep your heads up, though it may not seem that way, there is more good news than bad news on the horizon. With that, I wanted to make a few observations and provide a bit of guidance and advice:
Always remember that negative news sells better than positive news. I am personally frustrated by the incessant focus on all of the things we CAN’T do once vaccinated. Last week’s NYT piece about underselling the vaccine sums up my frustration well.
I have been witnessing undue anxiety and stress as a result of these kinds of reports. Rather than perseverating on the unknowns (e.g. does the vaccine COMPLETELY stop the risk of transmission for those vaccinated?), I’d like to instead take a moment to truly celebrate the good news: the vaccines work! And so far, they seem to work against COVID variants as well! While we need to remain vigilant and patient (especially those who are high-risk but are still awaiting vaccination), things are getting better. And all signs point to the fact that, once those two weeks have elapsed after your second shot, you will be able to live your lives again and interact with loved ones without fearing the worst.
Variants are the big news of the day. Dr Lucy McBride and I have tackled this topic on our Facebook live conversations. I am excited and relieved that the scientific community is on top of this and monitoring it closely. All viruses mutate, so, despite the media hype, this was expected. It was hoped that the Coronavirus would mutate less than others – but nature seems to find a way (especially when left unchecked, as it has been in the US and elsewhere, which has provided it endless opportunities to mutate). Scientists are “on it” and are already working to test the effectiveness of available vaccines (so far so good!) as well as designing vaccine boosters in case a variant arises against which existing vaccines seem to be less effective. It is important to remember, though, that the virus (including its new variants) is still preventable through mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene. Modest updates in these procedures include the deprioritization of major surface cleaning as well as considerations of upgrading your masking when outside your own pod. The key point is: this is not a new or different beast. We know how to defeat it!
So…what should and can we do?
Everyone (vaccinated or not):
Manage Fatigue: Check your internal gas tank. How are you feeling? How is your family holding up? Find ways to fill it up. For those that remember my earlier rowing analogies, now might be a good time for a Power Ten. You can do this.
Combat Frustration: One place to start is reciting Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer. Trying to let go of the things that are outside of your control is almost always helpful. That said, if you also want to scream out of your windows at how many hours you’ve wasted trying to track down a vaccine, please do (I’ve done it a number of times already).
Face Fear: Not to go too philosophic – but there is nothing to fear but fear itself. You all know what to do to stay safe. It’s getting extremely old and exhausting, I know, but you know what to do, and the light is finally there at the end of the tunnel. You’ve got this.
Those who have been vaccinated:
Wait two weeks after your second shot…and then celebrate!!
Hygiene/Precautions: Keep wearing your masks in public and keep washing your hands. It will help prevent you from getting the Flu, RSV, adenovirus, you name it. This should be our new normal. But do those things because they’re generally smart to do, not due to any lingering concern about catching COVID or giving it to others.
Travel: Absolutely consider it. Do not live in fear. All signs point to the vaccine being effective against the new strains. If we can’t embrace the benefits of this vaccine, this will be a very long pandemic indeed. Again, I’d advise you to mask up and wash your hands when you do travel as a general rule of thumb, but don’t do it because you’re petrified. Now is the time to let that burden go.
Seeing Loved Ones:
Do it!!! Hugs for everyone!! We all need this moment in our lives. There are, of course those crazy theoreticals: if you have been vaccinated, then visit a COVID hospital ward (i.e. a place just teeming with virus) and don’t wear a mask, and then visit a high risk relative – then I might suggest a little distance and mask wearing… but the chance of carrying and transmitting the virus after vaccination is quite low. See 2.b. above and start combating 1.a. with some long overdue hugs!
For those awaiting vaccination:
Stay strong and carry on. If you have ANY symptoms, get a rapid PCR test and, if positive, please consider monoclonal antibody treatment (either Eli Lilly or Regeneron’s products). While high-risk individuals automatically qualify for treatment, there are clinical trials that can enroll lower-risk patients, as well. This type of treatment saves lives. Speed of diagnosis and treatment matters. If you test positive and are interested in taking this route, please call the office so we can help you navigate that path.
Keep up the good work, and, as always, keep in touch.
Clay
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And to hear from another trusted resource, here is my live conversation with Dr. Amanda Williams on Friday where we discuss the vaccine, variants, equity issues in the pandemic AND the critical importance of messaging around the vaccine. As clinicians, our job is not only to convey facts; it’s to help people apply scientific data to their everyday lives.
These two people are part of my brain trust. I hope you learn from their points of view as much as I do!
I will check in later this week. Until then, be well.