By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

The Grand Canyon is a seventh Natural Wonder of the World.  It is an impressive testament to the power of water.  The canyon was formed millions of years ago when water drained off the Rocky Mountains to form the Colorado River.  The river ultimately carved a canyon 227 miles long and at some points 10 miles wide.  

The Grand Canyon is an example of the quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “In the confrontation between stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance” is an inspirational quote in his publication Life’s Little Instruction Book, written for his son going to college.  His book was on the New York Times best seller list for over two years.  

So, why is a pharmacist writing about the Grand Canyon? Well, it has more to do with perseverance than forging water through rocks!

I flew for the first time in over a year and was surprised with the differences between June 2021 to October 2022.  Less than 10% of the passengers wore masks on the plane and over half of the flight attendants did not wear masks.  Then, during down time from my meetings, I watched some news programs and again was shocked at some of the comments.

One statement made by a prominent actor, comedian and political commentator was “everyone has had COVID-19” whether they admit it or not. It was stated as a fact. The audience was applauding and cheering the comment, again as though it was a fact.  One of the panelists challenged the statement by saying, “I have never had COVID-19”.  The moderator provided the perfect comeback of “that you know of.”  

Another television personality on the same network proclaimed that hospitals are requiring the “ridiculous practice of wearing masks.”  She was aware of health institutions who were requiring visitors and employees to “wear masks for flu prevention even though the pandemic is over and there is no evidence that masks can prevent the spread of flu.”

These conversations raise some interesting points.

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, indicated that more than 70% of the United States population has had COVID-19.  This is a 33.5% increase in cases since December 2021.  A Journal of the American Medical Association study published on December 14, 2021 reported that 40% of COVID-19 infections have no symptoms significant enough for suspicion.  A significant number of individuals could claim never contracting COVID-19 who had been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 

The CDC is working with the Red Cross and other blood banks to track COVID-19 antibodies in those who claim to never have had the infection.  Of the 1.4 million donors already tested, 83.3% have had combined antibodies from both an infection as well as vaccine-induced antibodies.  

This evidence does not prove the statement that everyone has had COVID-19 but it does indicate many have had it without knowing they were infected.  Indeed, scientific reports identify individuals who are resistant to COVID-19 and have never been infected.  The science has identified factors that provide protection from COVID-19 infections. More information is being discovered to support at least 100 human genes responsible for blocking SARS-CoV-2 infections from attacking the body.

Other science is supporting a history of allergies and past exposure to the coronavirus family such as SARS-CoV-1.  Individuals with allergies often have a low-grade inflammation within the body, which provides an enhanced antibody response.  Past exposure to a part of the SARS-CoV virus RNA provides the body some antibodies, which would have a partial coding to the RNA of SARS-CoV-2.  Certain medications may transfer some protection as well.  Recent research has shown tamoxifen, a drug used for breast cancer, reduces the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19.  

The infectious disease experts from La Jolla Institute for Immunology are recommending to follow our current public health practices. Interestingly, other public health experts have explained that people will react to safety measures for COVID-19 if they believe they are at a higher risk.  If a community has a significant number of asymptomatic cases, then individuals may falsely believe the risk of transmission to be low. 

Recently, the news has been reporting the concern about a serious flu season for the United State following patterns in the Southern Hemisphere.  If we know the season will be challenging, then why would we not want to prevent as many cases as possible?  Does it make sense to wear a mask on a plane or in a hospital?

A study published in 2010 in the journal Risk Analysis evaluated safety measures for protecting against another flu pandemic. The triggers for this study included SARS in 2002 and H1N1 influenza in 2009.  They analyzed 11 studies to determine the science behind wearing masks to prevent disease.  The researchers’ conclusion was “we strongly recommend including the use of face masks with pandemic control guidelines.”  Requiring masks in a health care facility is not unreasonable and has evidence to support it as a safety measure.

Continue to be the stream cutting through the rock!

ONU HealthWise is offering COVID-19 vaccines as well as flu shots Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are available. Clinics are Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.m.. Please call the pharmacy for more information.  

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784
www.onuhealthwisepharmacy.com