Sobering stats tell a grim story for the world. But the US stats are especially disturbing. Despite having the best healthcare system in the world, faster access to three proven anti-COVID vaccines, a thoroughly efficient medical distribution system and world class (CDC, WHO, NIH) facilities at our disposal, we had roughly the same rate of infection and deaths as Brazil–a country whose dictator totally ignored the virus. He called anyone who worried about COVID “weaklings”. He dared people to wear masks and encouraged crowd-gatherings (no social distancing). And he was among the last major country to have access to any vaccine. So you may ask “how did we do no better than Brazil in the COVID defense?” The answer lies with the unvaccinated and those who delayed vaccination longer than they should have. With misinformation from social media, Fox News and other sources, 30% to 40% of eligible adults and kids have not yet been vaccinated. The virus lives on and spreads–much of the spread now is totally unnecessary. As the Omicron variant winds down around the world we still experience an unusually high incidence of infection and resulting death. Some COVID long-haulers will suffer the rest of their lives and healthcare costs will forever be swollen by their care. We have nothing to boast about in the handling of the pandemic. So as we learn to live with COVID forever in our midst, let’s hope the authorities can strategize a more effective and efficient way to get future populations vaccinated. We may not be as lucky the next time. The next variant may be resistant to all vaccines and kill us before we can kill it.
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