{"id":6123,"date":"2020-12-23T10:42:49","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T15:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=6123"},"modified":"2020-12-23T10:46:12","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T15:46:12","slug":"arne-vainio-protect-yourself-and-your-elders-with-covid-19-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/12\/23\/arne-vainio-protect-yourself-and-your-elders-with-covid-19-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Arne Vainio: Protect yourself and your elders with the COVID-19 vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\"ivyvainiograndparents\"\r\n
Chatting with the grandparents. Photo by Ivy Vainio\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
The COVID vaccine<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, December 23, 2020<\/div>\r\n
By Arne Vainio, MD.<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nMy wife\u2019s grandmother is almost 95 years old and we visit her and her husband Rainbow on a regular basis. Both of them grew up in poverty and their strength and their humor rises from that. We have meals there as often as we can and they tell us stories of hard times and past lives. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nAt least, that\u2019s how it used to be before the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>. Since then we talk to them on Skype and they figured out how to set that up on their computer. It\u2019s good to see them face to face, even if it\u2019s on a screen.

<\/p>\r\nIt doesn\u2019t help when their house lost water pressure or when the oven quit working. The temptation to go into the house to fix things is strong, but I want to keep our distance. I am around sick people in the hospital and I\u2019m careful to wear the proper personal protective equipment I need. I wash my hands often and I keep my distance from people as much as I can. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nStill, I know I am a risk.

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Lummi Nation administers first COVID-19 vaccination and authorizes vaccine studyTribe sees Novavax trial as another tool to combat virus Bellingham, WA (Dece…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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Lummi Nation administers first #COVID19 vaccination<\/a> (Video by Children of the Setting Sun Productions<\/a>)\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nElders and those with chronic illnesses are most in danger of complications from COVID-19. There are people who don\u2019t think this is a dangerous disease because it only kills a small percentage of those who get it. So far that translates into over 300,000 deaths from this virus and the daily death count in the United States is in the thousands.

<\/p>\r\nThere are parallels to the 1918 influenza pandemic. There were mask mandates then and there were protests against them. There were conspiracy theories that a popular brand of aspirin contained the virus. Travelers and gatherings spread the virus and over 50 million people died worldwide.

<\/p>\r\nThe science wasn\u2019t there in those days. Now it is. The COVID-19 vaccine<\/a> was first delivered in the weeks before Christmas. The vaccine has been extensively studied in clinical trials. This is over 30,000 people for the Moderna vaccine and over 43,000 for the Pfizer vaccine.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nBoth vaccines use new technology and are messenger RNA vaccines. This means no virus particles are given. What is given is a message to your cells to make the spike protein we all know from the images of the virus. That spike protein causes your immune cells to form protection. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe first dose of the vaccine primes the immune system. When the second dose is given 21 or 28 days later, optimal immunity happens. When the immune system reacts to the second dose, some people can feel sick for 24 to 48 hours. \r\n

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Lt. Kali Autrey, pharmacist, and Capt. Jefferson Fredy, chief of pharmacy and a member of the Navajo Nation, were the first IHS employees at the Crownpoint Health Care Facility in New Mexico to receive #COVID19 vaccines. #NativeHealth #IndianCountry<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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<\/P>\r\nThis can be a headache, body ache, chills, fever and other symptoms. These symptoms are NOT COVID-19, but a side effect of your own body\u2019s immune response. Medicines like Tylenol and Ibuprofen can help and overall side effects from the vaccine have been mild.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWith all the advances in medicine over the last century, the most impact has been from public health, clean air, clean water and vaccines.

<\/p>\r\nRight now there isn\u2019t enough vaccine for everyone and this means it will take time to build up immunity in the population. That means we need to continue to wear masks, keep our social distance, wash our hands frequently, avoid public gatherings and sanitize frequently touched surfaces.

<\/p>\r\nIs this a sacrifice?

<\/p>\r\nNot compared to losing an elder<\/a>. Ivy and I go to her grandmother\u2019s house and we stand outside the window and we wave and we can talk on the phone. I can see the sadness and longing in Ivy\u2019s eyes and in her grandmother\u2019s. I can see the distance that pane of glass puts between them.

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