Worcesteria: COVID surge mess could have been avoided

There are a few common refrains that I hear regarding vaccination and boosters: A.) “Why bother with the vaccine — people are getting sick anyways — it’s not working!” B.) “Why do we have to get a booster? It can’t be that effective.” And my personal favorite, C.) “My decision to not get vaccinated doesn’t hurt someone else who does.”

Worcester Health and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Mattie Castille had something to say about that: “We would never have had this situation if the majority of people were vaccinated.” You hear that? This could have been avoided. Omicron very well may not have happened. 

So yes, not getting vaccinated does indeed affect those around you who made a more enlightened decision — because you are acting as a testing site for future variants. According to Castille, about 55% of the community is vaccinated. That’s nowhere near close to the coveted “herd immunity” that could be our ticket out of this mess. 

According to the data scientists at the New York Times, as of Jan. 19, new reported cases in Worcester county had reached a seven-day average of 1,956. Considering we have no less than three different vaccine options, with centers popping up all over the city ready to administer them, this figure is staggering. Clearly, a conversation must be had. 

The key fact is that the more people get infected, the more the virus mutates. We’ve all heard the saying ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’ — well, that doesn’t apply to COVID-19, instead ‘it’s what doesn’t kill you will mutate and try again.’ 

That’s how we get new variants — especially the deadly delta variant and most recently, the highly transmissible omicron. When a virus mutates enough, it can overcome the vaccine in what’s known as a breakthrough infection. In this way, the virus persists even as the antibodies from vaccines administered back in the spring begin to wane.  

This isn’t to say that vaccines don’t work against variants. Yes, you may get sick but your symptoms will be milder and you’re far less likely to be hospitalized. And because it bears repeating — these breakthrough infections could have been avoided with higher vaccination rates. 

And before you proudly declare you got it, got better and didn’t even get a runny nose, studies clearly show that the antibodies from the vaccine are superior and last longer than what you get from contracting COVID-19. 

As far as masks go, Castille said, “I think the best protection is KN95 or N95 masks, and well-ventilated indoor spaces are important as well.” About home tests, she indicated they had given away about 140,000 tests right before Christmas and New Years and will be doing so again. 

Anyone who was vaccinated more than five months ago is now eligible for a booster and she was clear that, “we have got to get our numbers up - part of our issues is communities of color and our youth, where 5-11 year olds are only 15% vaccinated.”

When asked why she thought the vaccination stats were low, she didn’t hesitate, “there’s a huge distrust of what the government says so people just don’t believe it is a danger or they’re spending most of their time working to make ends meet and cannot take the time to go get the shot.”

“If you’re not boostered, you’re not considered fully vaccinated right now,” said Castille.