Dear Editor,
A Wallethub.com article published January 27 speaks to the safest states for business and keeping the economy open during the pandemic. The writers used a composite score of rates of vaccination (double weight), positive testing, hospitalization, death (triple score) and estimated transmission rate. In this study, Oklahoma ranked dead last of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. If your goal is to keep the economy open and strong in Oklahoma, we need to better use proven methods to decrease transmission and illness.
First, I agree that vaccination rates against COVID19 should have double weight in the composite score. The messenger RNA vaccines that were developed over the past 30 years at many labs including the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center and later put into clinical trials by PfizerBioNTech and NIH/Moderna are safe and effective. Some 5.5 million doses of vaccine have been given in Oklahoma. In 2020, clinical trials indicated that two doses gave 95% protection. With only 55% of persons 5 years and older immunized in Oklahoma, there is still a great need to increase the proportion of the population immunized.
However, as the pandemic has progressed, it has become clear that immunity after two doses lasts only about 6 months, much like our influenza vaccines. Still, 75% of those hospitalized in Oklahoma in mid January were those who had not been immunized. A study published in the New Engl. J. Med. Dec. 20, 2021 demonstrated that mortality was 90% lower in those who received 3 doses compared with 2 doses.
On Monday, Feb. 7, the Mobile Wellness Unit of the Oklahoma State Department of Health will be at the Watonga Public Library giving vaccines against COVID19 and Influenza to complement the sites at the Blaine County Health Department and Indian Health Service.
Second, to decrease the risk of infection and serious disease, personal protective gear including high quality masks are available. From the time of Moses, masks have been used to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens (Lev. 13:45). Highly effective masks are available free through a recent government program in conjunction with pharmacies. A mask that reduces respiratory particles by 95% is highly effective, though may not be as comfortable to wear for long periods as less restrictive masks which can still decrease transmission.
Third, as has been promoted for decades and pioneered on US Navy ships and submarines, indoor air quality with filtration and increased air exchanges decreases the risk of infection. Newer buildings are built to standards. Maintaining distance between persons is also effective.
Fourth, abide the latest CDC recommendations on quarantine if you are exposed to COVID19 depending on your vaccine or recent COVID19 illness status, and isolation if you are ill or test positive for COVID19 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 ncov/yourhealth/quarantineisolation.html .
If making Oklahoma a safe place to do business is your goal, these are four proven steps to improve Oklahoma’s ranking as a safe place to live, do business and go to school.
Joe P. Bryan, MD