A couple of months ago, I wrote on the importance of vaccines to the public health of our country. In the United States and across the world, we have benefited from vaccines that have kept us safe from illnesses such as measles, diphtheria, and polio. Over the years, those who are disproportionately affected by these illnesses – people who are poor, living in crowded housing, and without access to health care – have seen significant benefits from vaccines. The coronavirus vaccine has the potential to affect all our lives, but for those people who are impacted by the social determinants of health: poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and low educational level, the coronavirus vaccine can have an even greater impact.
So, how do we as a country get to the point where we can get back to normal? We continue to build on the science that had taken us to this point. I have heard many people discuss their distrust of the science and the scientists during this COVID-19 pandemic. First, scientists told us that masks are ineffective and then they said that masks are mandatory. They’ve changed their guidance on the modes of transmission and how we should deal with such things as mail, groceries, etc. Instead of being concerned about these changes, I have been inspired by them because science is evolutionary and, as our understanding evolves, so should our guidance. This is also true for our vaccines. I am not concerned that the AstraZeneca clinical trial identified a dosing error in its Phase 3 trial. I am encouraged that every detail at every stage of the process is being examined and reviewed by the scientists and the Data and Safety Monitoring Boards so that when the vaccine comes to market, it is a safe and effective protection against COVID.
I recognize that the very population disproportionately impacted by COVID are those who have real and understandable reasons to distrust the scientists and the health care delivery system. Black Americans are dying from COVID at 2.5 times the rate of White Americans. Their mistrust of the health care delivery system comes from a long history of medical experimentation and misconduct. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service launched the Tuskegee Study using Black men to understand the course of disease in syphilis. In 1951, without her permission, cancer cells were harvested from Henrietta Lacks to create a cell line for medical experimentation (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Skloot, 2010). The very health care system designed to protect and help people failed our Black community. Couple that legacy with the shortage of Black health care providers and unequal access to health care today, there is every reason why Black Americans may be skeptical about taking the COVID vaccine. Following the science and building community engagement in the efficacy and safety of the vaccine is critical if we are going to build confidence in all communities.
The first vaccine, the Pfizer product, is scheduled to be reviewed by the FDA for emergency use on December 10 with phases 1A, 1B, and 1C of distribution to begin immediately thereafter. Any health care organization that will be the recipient of these vaccines is deep into the planning phase for storage and the logistics of distribution. As we know, health care workers, first responders, and the elderly and vulnerable will be the focus of this first phase of vaccine distribution. Knowing that our colleagues in health care, who have given so much and endured such physical and emotional pain during this pandemic, will be the first to be offered this vaccine is comforting to me.
While the first vaccine distribution is right around the corner, I see these next few months as some of the most dangerous of the pandemic. We are all feeling a sense of exhaustion from the many months of COVID-related restrictions and the things we were doing safely outdoors have moved inside in the cold weather where they are no longer safe. We can’t let our guard down now. We must continue to be vigilant. Our commitment to our families, our IHP community, our patients, and ourselves has to stay strong for a few more months. We need to recommit to our Commit @ IHP initiative so that we can finish this pandemic strong. The IHP has evolved our Commit initiative based on the best and most available science related to this pandemic. Following the Commit @IHP procedures at school, at home, and in the community will keep our community safe and allow us to continue to provide the educational and clinical experiences our students need to advance in their programs. That goal is just too important to jeopardize now.
As an organization, the IHP has looked closely at the science, listened to our trusted colleagues who are working with this virus every day, and made decisions that are based on data. Those drivers will continue to determine our path forward. I hope you continue to stay safe and be well.