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Coexisting with COVID
Recognizing and responding
to the challenges of the lingering virus
N
ot that long ago, the use of the term
vaccination has provided solid protection against
endemic was limited to the medical
severe manifestations of the disease. We have
community. The evolution of COVID-19
effective treatments for those who need them. We
has cast the word into the spotlight, used by the
must recognize, however, that complacency would
media and government officials attempting to
tremendously worsen our situation.”
describe our current state of affairs with the virus.
He emphasizes, “Now is not the time to
Early on, COVID-19 was deemed a pandemic
become complacent. We must remain cognizant
as it spread quickly across large populations.
of the continued negative impact and respond
More recently, the term endemic is being used
accordingly.”
to suggest that the incidence of infection is
Vaccines: a viable and effective
relatively stable.
approach to living in the time of
That said, SVMC Medical
COVID
Director Dr. Trey Dobson
While vaccination and prior
doesn’t think continued
Pandemics
infection do not reduce
fear or anxiety of the
v. Endemics
infection as much as we
virus is warranted, and
Pandemics involve a sudden
would like, vaccines
spread of disease across the globe
he doesn’t want to get
with unpredictable and changing
are highly effective at
hung up on the term
prevalence.
preventing the severe
endemic. Rather, he
Endemics refer to diseases that are
sickness that landed many
constantly present in a community
stresses continued
people in the hospital
and have a fairly predictable rate of
awareness and funding for
infection, such as
prior to vaccine availability.
research and development,
malaria in Africa.
Dobson says, “Vaccination
being up to date on
is keeping our health system
vaccination, and for those
from being overrun and is
with immunocompromised
preventing many deaths. Yet, even
conditions and chronic health
mild-to-moderate symptoms among
problems, the importance of initiating
a large number of people can lead to significant
treatment as soon as COVID infection is recognized.
work and school absenteeism, interrupting normal
“We can coexist with COVID while maintaining
operations, and creating financial challenges
an interactive and highly functioning society.
for all. Modifications to vaccines and additional
We have a complete understanding of how
treatments are needed to address immune-evading
transmission occurs. We know that up-to-date
20 | HEALTHY+ | SUMMER/FALL 2022