Be like Elvis, step up and get the vaccine to save lives

Where is Elvis Presley when you need him?

In 1956 a young Presley had just released his hit song, “Hound Dog,” and was scheduled to appear on television as a guest on the “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Before his performance, he received an injection of the Salk vaccine to prevent polio. He was an effective early “influencer” and the rest is history.

Polio was eventually wiped out; the vaccine saved many thousands of lives and prevented devastating paralysis in others. When the oral Sabin vaccine was developed, sugar cubes containing the vaccine were given to schoolchildren. We were among them and it seemed to us that there was no question that we would all be immunized.

It was the right action to take to prevent a debilitating and sometimes fatal communicable infection.

Now the United States is experiencing the worst pandemic since 1918. We have all heard the statistics. COVID-19 has claimed more lives since March than were lost in the entirety of World War II and more lives in a single day than were lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Intensive care units in many states are filled or nearly filled to capacity. Yet, many, including some of our current national leaders, still do not believe that this pandemic is a reality.

The only way to bring an end to the blight that is taking so many lives and devastating our economy is by vaccinating a significant percentage of the population.

Thanks to dedicated scientists throughout the world using advanced medical technology, vaccines have been developed, tested and brought into clinical use in record time. They have been tested in thousands of people.

The first of these produced by Pfizer has received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and began shipping to states on Dec. 13 and the first doses in the United States were administered on Dec. 14.

Public health officials are concerned about the very high percentage of the population that is reluctant to receive the vaccine. In order to curb this epidemic, at least 60% of the population must achieve immunity either through prior infection or through vaccination. With recent case reports of reinfection in people who have already had a bout of COVID-19, it is hoped that the vaccines will provide longer lasting immunity than the infection itself. What will it take to convince enough people to receive the vaccine?

It is important to focus on some of the facts:

• The first vaccine approved by the FDA is not a weakened live virus. It was produced using a synthetic messenger RNA to create antibodies that attack the spike protein on the virus. Thus, there are no viral particles used in the production of this vaccine. This technology is similar to that used to create the Moderna vaccine, the second one now available in the United States.

• Despite reports of local injection site reactions, fever, chills, headaches and muscle aches the vaccines appear to be safe. Most of these adverse effects have been mild to moderate, and of short duration. There have also been infrequent reports of allergic reactions so recipients will be observed for at least 30 minutes after the injection.

• Two injections are required for both the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine.

• It is possible that COVID-19 can still be contracted after receiving the vaccine as studies have shown approximately 95% effectiveness. However the severity of infection in those have been vaccinated is likely to be milder.

The general public will have the advantage of knowing results of the initial rollout experience among health care workers and first line responders. It is unlikely that vaccines will be available to healthy adults until the spring or summer of 2021. It is essential that we continue to wear masks and practice social distancing until we can be sure that herd immunity has been achieved.

While much seems uncertain, it is clear that vaccination is the only way to ultimately escape the scourge of this virus. Who will be the Elvis Presley of 2020? Please step forward and bare your arm.

In order to curb this epidemic, at least 60% of the population must achieve immunity either through prior infection or through vaccination.