Leading by Example Remains a Good Policy
Before the pandemic, the U.S. had a vaccine hesitancy problem. A debunked study, embraced by a handful of celebrities, created a big enough sense of fear of vaccines that a large, unprotected population emerged. It allowed nearly defunct diseases another day in the sun.
Despite a million deaths from coronavirus, more than 30% of the U.S. population still isn’t fully vaccinated. The national vaccination rate lingers at about 68%, according to Our World in Data. That slightly leads neighboring Mexico (64%), but trails far behind Canada’s 84%. Australia (86%), Ireland (82%), Japan (81%), the UK and Germany (both 76%) all outpace us.
One frequent excuse for the unvaccinated is “people still get sick.” That’s true. Some even die. But at least our national leaders are showing consistency in word and deed.
On Friday (10/21), almost exactly a month after getting her bivalent vaccine, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday (10/24), the CDC said her symptoms were mild and she would isolate at home and follow protocols.
It’s an expected outcome for a vaccinated adult in good health.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to get his updated bivalent coronavirus booster today (10/25). He’s fully vaccinated with two regular boosters and survived a fairly recent infection, yet he’s modeling behavior—never ask someone on your team to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself, and his team is the nation.
These are good examples, because when spreader events do occur, coronavirus still has the capacity to kill. Even now, it kills about 350 to 400 people daily in the U.S.
Yet as we’ve seen in these leaders’ examples, following the recommendations likely will keep you alive.
On Monday (10/24), the Illinois Veterans’ Home in LaSalle facility that was devastated by 36 COVID-19 deaths in 2020, announced that it has an outbreak in progress. Forty-two residents and 23 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, news reports say the facility put its updated protocols into action to prevent further spread (multiple lawsuits allege liability for lack of action in 2020), nearly all are vaccinated and, as a result, all those testing positive are likewise showing mild, cold-like symptoms with none as yet requiring hospitalization.
As winter approaches, and reports of a triple threat to health from coronavirus, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, often known as RSV, it’s important for leaders to lead and to adapt to a changing environment.
There are lots of coronavirus variants out there, and every new mutation could be the one that puts us back on Square One.