Pine Island Pandemic Task Force discusses falling rates of Delta variant
On a national level, doctors are seeing very diverse symptoms in pediatric units all over the country, Dr. James Koopman said at the Sept. 27 meeting of the Pine Island Pandemic Task Force.
COVID pediatric cases, overall, produced higher rates of infection, accompanied by decreased levels in testing.
The rate of symptomatic children seems to be directly attributed to vaccinations in the elder demographic, he said.
“I think it’s relatively good news that it hit hard and is falling quickly. This is what my research is focused on-being able to predict what we have to do in terms of modifying the vaccines so that we’ll control transmission. My research is not in a place where it allows accurate prediction. We are a long way from that yet, but I’m guessing we’re going to have a year of respite, at least,” Koopman said.
One of the aspects of the high transmission of COVID we’ve experienced, is that the Delta Variant will come back with a much lower level of immunity. He predicts the next time around Delta will have a sharper rise with a slower fall.
Task Force member Martha Huard said there is no post-COVID hospitalization report, to her knowledge, leading many to believe once the COVID infection has subsided there are no lingering effects, which she says, has not been the case in her experience.
Many people have been refusing to become vaccinated because of myocarditis, said Koopman, who maintains the risk of vaccine side effects is far lower than becoming infected with COVID. The infection itself is more likely to be causing Pericardial and Myocarditis symptoms.
Dr. Daniel Hanley said he is not worried about the low risk of Myocarditis in those who receive a COVID vaccination. While it is something he watches for, he said, it is not necessarily something that would dissuade him from recommending the vaccine.
“If you’ve ever had COVID before, and you get it again, you are absolutely at much higher risk for complications than from the vaccine. That’s part of the reason we recommend the vaccine to almost everybody,” Hanley said.
Koopman reiterated the Task Force goal to gain a better understanding of vaccine hesitancy within the community, through meetings or possible interviews with local first responders, due to the first-hand knowledge that accompanies their job.