OP-ED

Mutations in viruses -including COVID-19 - are not new nor were they unexpected. All RNA viruses mutate over time, some more than others. We are all familiar with the how flu viruses change often, which is why you get a new flu vaccine every year. When viruses mutate, generally, they either kill the virus (a type of “virus-suicide”) or they can have no effect whatsoever on the normal behavior of the virus.

If our society does not get vaccinated, all the development efforts will not save lives, and we will not achieve a herd immunity on a meaningful timeline. The success of a vaccination program is in its coverage. Recent vaccination coverage data reported by Kaiser Health showed that as of January 14, 2021, in the 16 states where race was reported, African Americans were vaccinated at a much lower rate compared to Caucasians.

Since testing positive for coronavirus, President Trump has been receiving a number of different drugs - a steroid, an antiviral medication and an experimental drug cocktail. Despite his implications that he is alright and his overture to the public to not fear the coronavirus, it is critical for us all to remember that this virus is not going away any time soon; that his doctors have said he’s “not out of the woods yet”; and experimental drugs aren’t readily available to everyone.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cite several possible reasons that Black Americans are more affected. One is that many of us live in more highly populated areas where it’s more difficult to practice physical distancing from one another. Many of us also live in multi-generational households where it’s easier for younger family members to spread the virus to more vulnerable elderly members. This is especially true for lower-income households with smaller living spaces.

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