Dear Valued Patient,
Your health and safety have been and continue to be our priorities.
We have been watching the COVID data closely in the last weeks. With COVID numbers rapidly increasing in our community and across the US, we have decided to implement a new COVID policy in the practice—for your health and safety.
Effective Monday, August 16, 2021, through at least September 20, 2021, all individuals (including member and non-member patients, family, and others) who enter our office must provide proof of completed prior vaccination for COVID (or have previously provided proof). If you are unvaccinated, or unable to provide proof or choose not to provide proof of vaccination, you must agree to rapid COVID antigen testing ($60) in our office at the time of service. If you do not wish to have COVID testing, you have the option of a telehealth appointment instead of an in-person visit. We will continually reevaluate this policy as COVID case numbers and vaccination rates change in the coming weeks.
Our COVID policy is based on sound science and good data and is the policy that best meets the needs of our patients, our staff, and the community at this moment in the pandemic. Our policy is not a political statement, and it is not written in stone forever. As we have seen throughout the last 18 months, the COVID pandemic is fluid, and the needs of patients and the community change, and our practice will adapt. The science is clear that mass vaccination of our country is the only approach that will allow us to get back to life as it once was. And right now, mask mandates in indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, prior to full vaccination of our country including children, is a policy that is also based in science and data and is correct. Once we have vaccination in our country to herd immunity, and COVID case numbers decline, mask mandates will no longer be necessary. That will be a welcome change. Vaccination will get us there.
Here is some of the information and data that informed us and led us to our current policy.
COVID data:
1. COVID cases are rapidly increasing across the US, including Ohio and Cincinnati. Hospitalizations are also rapidly rising once again, the majority in unvaccinated individuals.
2. COVID numbers are highest in communities where vaccination rates are lowest.
3. Cases of COVID in unvaccinated children are rapidly rising, putting mask mandates in school front and center.
4. 93% of the current circulating virus is the delta variant of COVID which is more easily spread than the initial predominant variant.
5. In our practice we have seen a rapid increase in patients requesting testing, and patients testing positive for COVID. This increase is after several months of zero positive tests. Most current positive tests are in unvaccinated individuals.
6. In our state, over 95% of hospitalized patients with COVID are unvaccinated.
7. Most of the current spread of COVID is due to transmission among unvaccinated individuals, especially children.
8. The likelihood that new variants of COVID will develop (variants that the current vaccine may be ineffective against) is increased by circulating virus. If a high percentage of the population were vaccinated, and the amount of circulating virus was lower, the risk of a new dangerous variant would be reduced.
Mask data:
1. Masks work. They are not 100% effective, but they work! Masks protect the person wearing the mask and the people they are in contact with.
2. Estimates for transmission from an unmasked person to masked person is 70%, a masked person to unmasked person is 5%, and transmission between 2 masked individuals is 1.5%.
3. Current CDC guidance is to wear a mask for all inside activities regardless of vaccination status. This includes children who are unvaccinated.
4. Unvaccinated individuals—the individuals most likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID—benefit the most from others wearing masks. It is one reason for mask mandates.
5. Transmission of COVID between children and from child to parent or family member is common. Mask requirements in schools decrease transmission among vaccinated and unvaccinated children and decrease transmission to adults at home including unvaccinated adults and vulnerable adults.
6. Vaccinated individuals can still contract COVID but are likely to have a mild or completely asymptomatic infection. They can still spread infection-often unintentionally. This is the rationale for mask mandates for everyone regardless of immunization status.
7. Unvaccinated, unmasked children are now a common vector for transmission to others, including parents, grandparents, and other vulnerable individuals. Because numbers in children are high and the virus is highly contagious, rapid spread to and risk for adults and high-risk vulnerable individuals is high. School mask mandates make good sense for the safety of children, and adults at home.
Vaccine data:
1. All the available vaccines are highly effective and safe. The data is overwhelming. The vaccines are not experimental, do not affect your DNA, are not a vehicle to place a tracking device, and do not affect fertility.
2. All the vaccines are currently EUA approved. Full FDA approval of the vaccines is expected Sept. 1.
3. Vaccines are now readily available in the US and easy to access everywhere. Countries all over the globe are desperate to have adequate vaccines for their population and can only dream of having adequate supply and easy access.
4. The most valuable defense against COVID is getting vaccinated. If you want to reduce your risk of serious illness or death, get vaccinated. Experimental, unproven treatments are not the answer. Vaccination is the answer.
5. Only 50% of the US population is fully vaccinated although the percent is highly variable depending on the state and the community. States range from 35% fully vaccinated to 65% fully vaccinated with wide variability within their state populations.
6. Vaccination provides approximately 90% protection from the delta variant, not 100%, just as wearing a seat belt does not 100% protect you from death or injury in a motor vehicle accident.
7. Vaccinated individuals who contract COVID usually have asymptomatic or mild infections. Most do not require hospitalization.
8. Vaccinated individuals who contract COVID can still spread COVID. Individuals with an asymptomatic infection can spread COVID without being aware and infect individuals at high rates in risk-immune compromised people, individuals who cannot be vaccinated (children under 12), and those who have chosen not to be vaccinated.
9. Vaccines are now mandated for employment in large and small companies across the US. The US Military will require vaccination of all persons by Sept. 15. All our local Cincinnati health systems are now requiring vaccination for employment.
10. All the staff and providers at Lisa Larkin, MD, and Associates are fully vaccinated against COVID.
11. Vaccination of enough of the population to have herd immunity is critical. With herd immunity, widespread transmission is impossible and case rates will remain low. Currently in the US, we are at 50% vaccination. With the delta variant, it is now estimated herd immunity will not occur until 80% of our population is vaccinated.
Our policy is designed to protect all our patients, our staff, and the community. Our policy will change when the data changes. This is not a forever policy. It is for right now at this moment in the pandemic.
Our practice understands that some of you will be unhappy with our new policy. Most of our patients are happy about this policy and appreciate our efforts to protect them. We welcome your questions and are open to discussing this policy with you. I plan to host a Facebook live in the coming days and will take your questions at that time, or feel free to call the office and discuss the policy with your provider.
We all want to get back to normal. Get vaccinated!
With your best interest at heart,
Lisa Larkin, MD
