Category: Infectious disease

An unexpected COVID-19 vaccine side effect

Introduction Today, I had my second shot of the Pfizer vaccine and suffered an unexpected and unreported side effect. That’s the problem with a new medical treatment; you never know what might happen. Transformation Just a few seconds after the needle …

It’s time to treat the COVID-19 vaccine campaign as if we are at war

The abysmal attempt at mass vaccination against COVID-19 in the United States is uninspiring—a prophecy seemingly set in stone by the testing debacles’ failures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday, that of 17 milli…

The COVID-19 vaccine: We got it. Let’s get it.

A few weeks ago, a small rural hospital in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, received its first shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and quickly began vaccinating the hospital’s health care workers and skilled nursing facility staff and residents. After the B…

COVID malaise, and more COVID-19 coping tips from the trenches

I write this now as both a time capsule and a vision of hope at the bitter end of 2020. At this point, a COVID-19 vaccine (the vision of hope) has been developed by several companies but has not yet received widespread distribution. Realistically, I kn…

Why public schools need to open for the most vulnerable

Pandemic. COVID-19. Quarantine. The words will forever be etched in our memories. While for all the pandemic has been a challenge, it has also meant more time with family, time to learn a new hobby, and the flexibility of working from home.  Its memory…

I am disgusted with our politicians who have used the pandemic as a political tool

There are times when I feel that I am boxed-in by this unrelenting virus, COVID-19. This microscopic entity has put the majority of the world into lockdown, affecting all aspects of human life and social interaction.  The virus does not discriminate du…

Reducing death from COVID-19 pneumonia before widespread vaccination

When the pandemic hit the U.S. – we were caught off guard. We were uncertain about how COVID-19 spread or how it killed. But amidst the chaos, health care providers have learned how to better care for infected patients today. Since March, we’ve learned…

A resident’s perspective on personal loss and patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic 

The day before the United States border with Canada shut down to non-essential travelers, my mother left Chicago to take care of my grandparents who lived by themselves in Ottawa, Canada. With the COVID outbreaks at nursing homes, she took it upon hers…

Why do I laugh during a pandemic?

I just started laughing. It was early on Monday morning during our COVID surge. I couldn’t help myself. Phones were not on yet, but I already had triage COVID calls.  “Put on your roller skates” was all I was thinking. I questioned my laughter. The day…

How transparent were the COVID vaccine trials?

On March 2nd, 2020, as New York State announced its first proven case of COVID-19, a federal court there handed down a stunning decision. For 10 years, according to the court, the United States government illegally failed to hold drug companies account…