Remember kinder, gentler times, when the biggest medical decision many people faced heading into autumn was whether or not to get a flu vaccination? Well, if you go by statistics from this past flu season (October, 2020 through March, 2021) the numbers in this country are staggering… in a good way.
Since 2010, the annual U.S. flu death toll is about 35,000-40,000 people. The estimates from the 2020/2021 season that just ended? Under 1,000 total flu deaths. Surely our hibernation due to COVID-19 helped, but so did the fact that everybody’s worn masks for so long. And while some view masks as an affront to their personal rights, COVID knows no boundaries, shows no mercy, and hasn’t heard that the ballgame’s over.
You might argue that your chance of surviving COVID-19 is 98% or so. But an estimated 30% of people who get COVID-19 in any form (mild or major) end up with some long-term ailment- breathing issues, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, depression, hair loss, stomach pains, nausea, brain fog, loss of taste/smell… the number of ailments identified now totals well over 50. The 30% figure (collateral damage?) means that over 12-million post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Americans still suffer regularly.
It would be tough to be 25-years old and suffer stomach, brain or lung problems for the next 60 years when you realize it probably could have been prevented by getting a vaccination and wearing a mask just a little while longer. Tired of hearing about this? Me, too. But celebrations are premature.
Wearing a mask has been an accepted custom, not a statement, for decades in Asia. To protect others at the first sign of a sniffle, many conscientious people wear masks in major East Asian cities. Air quality issues also factor into masking decisions in some cities, but the point is- it’s not just about “me”, it’s about the collective “us”. As things loosen up post-COVID, it’s not about being so over this mask-charade, it’s about accepting responsibility. Want proof? Talk to the 12-million collateral damage cases.
As many uncover (and haven’t vaccinated) in celebration of our newly won semi-freedom, also remember that flu season starts soon. Keeping safe from COVID-19 with masks could also prevent many of the 500+ flu deaths we see annually right here in Hawai`i. The germ war is being won by smart, action-oriented people, but it’s not over until it’s over…
Think about it.