JOURNAL
Long Term Covid-19 - What are the symptoms and when to get help by Kaiser Permanente
If you’ve had new or lasting symptoms since recovering from COVID-19, you may have long-term COVID-19, or "long COVID." It can include a range of symptoms that continue after your COVID-19 illness ends.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey found that more than 15% of people in the U.S. have had long-term COVID-19. And those with a disability — such as asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or diabetes1 — were twice as likely to report having had long COVID than those without.2
A Public Health Perspective on the New Seasonal Vaccines
According to the Washington Post, the 2023 flu season is shaping up to be a complicated one from a public health perspective. Several new vaccines are coming onto the market that could help curb influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, effective deployment of these vaccines will require clear public health messaging and coordination between providers, insurance companies, and governmental agencies.
Tips for Staying Healthy this Holiday Season via Kaiser Permanente
There are plenty of things to be stressed about but staying healthy this holiday season shouldn’t be one of them.
There are many ways to protect yourself and your family during celebrations and gatherings. According to Kaiser Permanente, there are three tips for safely celebrating this holiday season:
1. GET THE UPDATED COVID-19 BOOSTER AND FLU SHOT.
Both the Covid-19 booster and flu shot give greater protection during the winter months.
Debunking Myths around What to Expect after getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
As Americans began receiving the Pfizer vaccine this week and the Moderna vaccine is under consideration for emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the unprecedented speed of vaccine development has created many misconceptions and fears among American citizens worldwide. As side effects and myths are being shared, there is a lack of clarity on the truth behind the COVID-19 vaccine development, and it is challenging to separate fact from fiction. The American Association of Retired Persons recently released a detailed article highlighting the five most common myths about the vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine development truth.
Income Inequality impact during COVID-19 - Why are some doing better than others?
In America, we embrace capitalistic qualities, and we accept that individuals and businesses who take risks and work hard will benefit from higher incomes. We assume that higher incomes divide us only in our ability to accept a difference in our quality of dinner, and our ability to afford luxury vacations, spacious homes, and overpriced vehicles. We acknowledge that these aspects of our lives will not be equal, and we accept this as fair. But, as Americans continue to understand the full impact of COVID-19 on physical health, mental health, and financial health, a few are just beginning to realize that income inequality separates more than only purchasing power.
An avid newsreader now knows that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted minorities and people with disabilities who face multiple barriers in access to essential services (Myers, 2020). Many Americans celebrated healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, and essential employees on social media channels and displays in front of homes at the pandemic onset. Unknowingly, or unwillingly not acknowledging that remote work for everyone is not possible.This is true not only because of the difference in occupations but also because people's ability to work from home is linked closely with the availability internet. Individuals with poor internet connections at home, even in areas with high internet access
Why is wearing a face-mask so political?
Yesterday, a good friend of mine posted a passionate video of a woman on Facebook defending her choice not to wear a mask in public places. And I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Still, I decided not to post a personal response. Instead, I posted this video created by the University of Michigan School of Public Health explaining how all of the public health measures recommended by experts makes an impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19. Other individuals who responded were not entirely objective and were shockingly more political, which made me wonder how wearing face masks become a political debate in America? And, is it just as simple as Democrats support wearing masks but Republicans do not?
In early June, the Pew Research Center conducted a poll on American's face mask-wearing behavior. The survey discovered that mask-wearing is indeed becoming a partisan issue. Democrats are more likely to say they wore a mask all or most of the time in the past month (76% vs. 53%) (Igielnik, 2020). While only 49% of conservative Republicans have reported wearing a mask all or most of the time in the past month – 49% compared with 60% of moderate Republicans (Igielnik, 2020).