CoViD-19 Report … 10 Oct 2021
Topic: Can we control the continual spread of CoViD-19
Thomas Britt, MD, MPH, ACSM-CEP
Health Policy Institute
In order to control or reduce the continual spread of CoViD-19 and its variants, we as a nation, need to
achieve Herd Immunity at a level between 70 – 90% of the population being immunized. Fully vaccinated
(FV), indicates that you have received both doses of Moderna, and Pfizer mRNA vaccine or one dose of
the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Note, patients who have survived CoViD-19, have developed naturally
acquired immunity, also benefit from taking the vaccines. More than 187 million in the United States are
fully vaccinated, representing about 56.7% of our population … this is far less than the percentage required
to achieve Herd Immunity. The following are select States and their fully vaccinated percentages:
• Illinois ….… 54%
• Arkansas … 46%
• Texas ……… 52%
• Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine & Rhode Island have FV rates > 68%
Other than our northern and southern borders with Canada and Mexico respectfully, the United States,
is essentially a borderless country, meaning that we have unimpeded travel from city to city or state to
state. In Chicago, the Positivity Rate is about 2.5%, however the neighboring State of Indiana has a rate
greater than 9% (the desired Positivity Rate is 5% or less). Therefore, travelling back and forth can be
enormously problematic. Arkansas and Texas has positivity rates greater than 12% … again, travelling back
and forth can significantly increase the spread of CoViD-19 and its variants, especially since vaccine
mandates and masking are not uniformly supported, while misinformation flows unimpeded.
Seventy-seven percent of the of the U.S. has received one dose of the vaccines resulting in 23% of our
population being unvaccinated nationwide. In Illinois 99% of CoViD patients are not vaccinated. Indeed
we have a pandemic of the unvaccinated. This percentage is quite similar in many other cities or states
where vaccinations and masking are frowned upon by some of the people, their elected political leaders
and select media outlets, even-though many of them are vaccinated. This is such abject hypocrisy! We the
people, must cease listening to their foolishness that has led to increased morbidity and mortality.
To Date
• The US has had 44 million cases of this pandemic with an astounding 713,000 deaths … this has
eclipsed the annual deaths from Heart Disease and Cancer, with both being <700,000; this number
is also greater than the 675,000 live lost to the Spanish Flu of 1918-1920
• 140,000 children have lost a caregiver to CoViD
• 5.9 million children have been infected with CoViD
• Case Western Reserve University in collaboration with Harvard and Brown Universities has
reported that nursing home residents and health care workers have lost > 80% of their CoViD
immunity in 6 months … this finding supports the need for Booster shots and more research
We have the tools to control or minimize the awful suffering and deaths from CoVid-19 and its variants.
Remember … an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. The vaccines are safe, effective, readily
accessible and free. How safe? Aspirin and NSAIDS have a mortality rate of 15.3/100,000. Of the 400
million vaccine doses given … the CDC has not reported a “causal” link between Pfizer and Moderna
vaccinations with death. These vaccines are safer than aspirin. It is critical that you listen to science:
• Roll-up your sleeve and get vaccinated
• Wear your mask in crowed places, especially those spaces that are enclosed
• Continue with proper hand hygiene