Munson, McLaren health care officials among state group urging vaccines

More than 40 different medical leaders and professionals from 21 of Michigan's top health care institutions comprised an open letter to the public Wednesday, urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The letter was signed by a number of chief medical and nursing officers at hospitals from across the state, including Dr. Christine Nefcy, chief medical officer at Munson Healthcare; Dr. Joseph Santangelo, chief quality and safety officer at Munson Healthcare; Dr. Michael McKenna, chief medical officer at McLaren Health Care; Dr. Susan Strich, chief of staff and Mackinac Straits Health System and chief nursing officer Mary Kaye Ruegg of Mackinac Straits Health System.

The health care professionals warned Michigan appears to be heading toward a fourth COVID-19 surge with a rise in cases, which could be avoided if more people get vaccinated.

"Unlike previous surges, we finally have free, widely available, highly effective and safe vaccines available to protect you and your family," the doctors and nurses wrote in the letter.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each county in the state of Michigan is currently at a "substantial" or "high" rate of COVID-19 transmission, which under CDC guidance recommends people should wear masks indoors in public, or outdoors where social distancing isn't possible.

Nefcy said during a joint press conference Tuesday the CDC exists to protect the health and safety of communities and citizens and they are trying to address the biggest challenges of the pandemic.

"Things are developing as we go along," Nefcy said. "Please try to not be frustrated as changes come up. We see changes in medicine all the time and we're updating and revising as we learn more about it (COVID-19).

"Guidelines will continue to change and as we go along, and that's a good thing."

New daily cases of COVID-19, largely because of the more contagious Delta variant, continue to surge across the state and in Northern Michigan.

In the Health Department of Northwest Michigan's jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, there has been a 400% increase in new cases over the past month.

The doctors and nurses in the public letter said throughout this pandemic, no other medicine or intervention has been nearly as effective in preventing serious illness and death as the COVID-19 vaccines.

"More than 370 million doses have been administered in the United States with remarkable safety," the letter read. "In fact, the FDA issued full approval of the Pfizer vaccine Aug. 23, reaffirming its effectiveness and safety after reviewing tens of thousands of pages of safety and effectiveness information."

The letter also voiced healthcare workers who are disheartened and frustrated to see so many unvaccinated individuals admitted to hospitals and who are dying from serious complications of COVID-19 infection.

"Nationally, approximately 99% of individuals dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated," the letter read. "This is a preventable tragedy. We are concerned about the health and safety of our vulnerable populations including the elderly, those with co-existing medical conditions, our children who are not yet vaccinated and the frontline healthcare workers.

"In fact, it is most alarming that pediatric hospitalizations are on the rise due to the complications of COVID-19 infection," the letter continued. "As kids return to school, the most important thing parents can do is get them vaccinated as soon as they're eligible and urge everyone in your family to mask up in public."

Although there is conflicting information on the strength, duration and effectiveness of natural immunity from previously having COVID-19, there is robust evidence to show that the vaccine is safe and highly effective even if you have been previously infected and may provide additional immunity, the doctors and nurses said.

"Also, as unvaccinated individuals acquire COVID-19, they may not be aware of the danger of developing long lasting complications of COVID-19, the risks they place on health systems currently stretched to capacity, and the fact that more infections leads to more – and more dangerous – variants," the letter read.

More than 1,000 individuals are now in various Michigan hospitals with COVID-19 complications, and concern is growing over the increased volume which is coming at a time that health systems are experiencing the worst healthcare worker shortages in history.

"Unfortunately, as the situation worsens, this hinders our ability to care for other patients who are experiencing serious illnesses such as stroke, heart attacks, diabetic complications, obstructive lung disease and trauma regardless of their vaccination status," the letter read. "Our frontline clinical colleagues find it exhausting and disheartening to see more and more patients unnecessarily ill, suffering and dying, despite their long hours at their bedsides and remarkable dedication."

Healthcare workers and citizens have the ability – and a responsibility – to stop this global pandemic, the doctors and nurses said.

"We plead with those of you who remain unvaccinated to get vaccinated now. The vaccine is safe and effective. You trust us when you’re sick, when you have an emergency or when you have a chronic health need.

"Please trust us now when we guide you to get this vaccine."