We cannot always proceed with elective surgery, or get an intensive care bed for an emergency patient who needs it for non-covid reasons. The physical and mental challenge of caring for these patients is huge: the numbers are still large enough to affect the care we want to give to non-covid patients. Healthcare workers carry the emotional impact of caring for, and sometimes losing, young, previously healthy individuals who are critically unwell from covid, when this could have been avoided if they had had the vaccine. ![]() At best we got sick, at worst some of us died, and sadly, continue to die. Most frontline healthcare professionals had covid before the vaccines were available due to exposure at work. The impacts on healthcare professionals include ongoing risks of being infected. They require huge resources-the average stay in intensive care is two weeks, many stay for months, and some do not survive. Some need to come to intensive care, or have their babies delivered early as they are too sick to remain pregnant. The unvaccinated enjoy the benefits-social freedoms and much reduced risk of covid infection-because the majority of adults, and now adolescents, choose to take the vaccine.Ī small number who get sick need our care. There is also the question of free riding. ![]() I find these self-destructive decisions incomprehensible. Vaccination offers us the sole opportunity to avoid further lockdowns and lead relatively normal lives. This despite scientific research and real-world evidence showing that vaccination works. Only a tiny proportion are vaccinated vulnerable patients with other underlying health conditions, or are partially vaccinated. The reasons vary-from worry about long term effects, through fertility, to inaccurate ideas about microchips and government surveillance.Īlmost exclusively those needing intensive care or dying with covid are young, healthy, and unvaccinated. I see patient after patient on the labour ward, in emergency theatre, and in intensive care who have chosen not to have the vaccine. I am struggling to understand why patients decide not to get the covid vaccine. ![]() I work in a busy district general hospital… In my career I have treated hundreds of patients who are in hospital because of choices they have made: smokers, skiers injured on the slopes, along with patients who have inserted various objects into orifices not intended for the purpose… I understand it is their right to choose, and while I may not agree with their choices, my job is to treat them with compassion, but not judgement. I don’t usually respond to anything but did this time. The next section is most of an article that appeared in BMJ on Xmas Eve. I hope this post doesn’t offend anyone’s sensibilities – it should be read as an amusement. The one good thing about the Pandemic is that its given rise to some good cartoons – more on the side of the Resistance I think but am open to being persuaded if anyone wants to send me Clever Cartoons from the Empire’s side.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |