Adventures of an Allergist Mommy

I am sharing the following information from the Allergy & Asthma Network, because I believe we MUST do better at protecting vulnerable and high-risk populations from the COVID-19 virus. Communities of color are being disproportinately affected by the virus, not only in terms of infection rates, but also death rates and economic impacts. Achieving true equity in healthcare means understanding that resources must be allocated by need, not simply spread evenly throughout the population.  If you don't agree, please don't hate - educate!!!  You may be well-served by joining this free event, for which details are provided below. All too often, Black people experience more barriers to health based on their race. Many get sick or die because of these barriers. COVID-19 and asthma, for example, are more common among African Americans. How can we work together to improve the health of Black Americans? Let's start the conversation! Virtual Conference Black People Like Me: Asthma, ...

After nearly a year of pandemic-induced isolation and loss, we have recently had the announcement of not only one, but two, candidate vaccines with impressive efficacy data.  Although this provides a glimmer of hope that we will eventually find our way out of this crisis, it is essential to recognize that there will not initially be enough vaccine available to immunize the entire population. Therefore, the vaccine will be distributed to the public in phases. You may be wondering where you or those you love lie on this index. Although this stratification is subject to change, here is what we know so far. There will be 4 major phases for vaccine distribution: 1a. High risk health care workers (hospitals, long-term care facilities, etc.) and first responders (police, fire, EMT) 1b. People with 2 or more co-morbid conditions (eg: asthma, heart disease, immune deficiency), and older adults in congregate/overcrowded settings 2. Teachers & school staff, critical workers in high-risk...