By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

April 18, 1775 was famous for the ride of Paul Revere and his fellow colonists who warned that the Red Coats were coming. The Red Coats were British Army soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War. The Red Coats were not well trained compared to other soldiers in the British army. The soldiers were in an unfamiliar environment with a vast countryside of harsh situations with few loyalists to help them. Why talk about the Red Coats and what do we have to learn from the British? How does this apply to COVID-19 pandemic?

COVID-19 cases are soaring across the world including the United States. We are seeing mandatory testing, mandatory masking, and even lockdowns again. The number of ICU beds being required and deaths from COVID-19 is increasing and is stressing our health and frontline workers.  So, why when the rest of the world including the United States is seeing an increase are cases in Great Britain plummeting? +What are they doing different from the rest of us? 

Great Britain’s infection rate has dropped and they still maintain a lower case load then previous weeks and months. How are they doing this? What can we learn? The British have the delta variant as well but they have lifted mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing. The Prime Minister has indicated that viral defense is a personal choice for British citizens. So how is Britain different than the United States in its fight with COVID-19. The first difference is the National Health Service has an app in England and Wales that tests and traces exposures and cases. The app notifies citizens to quarantine after exposure to limit further spread. Another theory is that Great Britain may have been one of the first countries in the world to reach an immunity threshold with vaccinations.  More than 70% of adults have been fully vaccinated with 88% having at least one dose. Great Britain has one of the best vaccination rates in the world.  Dr. Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia has postulated that Britain has approached population immunity between vaccinations and natural infections. Experts in England will continue to monitor the cases and policies to determine effects as events and pubs open back up. 

An opinion piece published in the Journal of the American Medical Association discussed the endgame scenarios for COVID-19. Eradication of COVID-19 would require a permanent global reduction of SARS-CoV-2 to zero. To achieve eradication would require through vaccination and immunity through prior infection. We have proven this can be done with other respiratory illnesses such as smallpox. Unfortunately, we are nowhere near the point of viral eradication.  Elimination could be possible in certain regions or countries where the disease is controlled.  Some countries maybe close to realizing this success. Israel is a good model of high vaccination rates controlling new cases. The country boasts a new case rate lower than most countries around the world. 

Natural COVID-19 infections in the body are what allow mutations to develop. The delta variant is a battle in the United States but there is a delta plus variant and the lambda variant, which have entered the United States. Just because someone has had a COVID-19 infection does not mean they will be protected from the newer variants. Studies have shown that those who have had the natural COVID-19 infection can achieve a boosted immunity to the virus by getting a vaccine. If you have had a COVID-19 infection, please get vaccinated for super protection. 

The achievement of lower case rates of COVID-19 are dependent on vaccinations.  Unfortunately, we continue to hear misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines leading to vaccine hesitancy. Ask questions of those educated on COVID-19 vaccines and rely on information from evidence-based websites. Learn from the British (Red Coats) that we can achieve some immunity for our fellow citizens by paying attention to our public health officials and our scientists. Feel free to call the ONU HealthWise Pharmacy or talk to your health care professional. ONU HealthWise is offering walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccines.  Call the pharmacy to get more information on how you can get vaccinated.