4 minute read
Dr Sally Cockburn
Dr Sa y Cockburn, GP GIVES HER UNIQUE VIEW ON ALL MATTERS MEDICAL
POSITIVES FROM A PANDEMIC As we emerge from winter, fl owers will bloom and the weather will get warmer. However, things are a bit diff erent this year. We now know that we must live with Covid-19 for some time to come in what has been called “a Covid-normal world”.
We’re told that we can expect outbreaks to still happen, and intermittent restrictions will be necessary to stem the spread of this enemy we can’t see. It’s hard, but there is little alternative to curb the pandemic, at least until we have achieved widespread vaccination.
It’s understandable we’re tired of restrictions and the toll taken on our families, mental health and businesses. However, look back and consider what we’ve achieved as a community. Australia has been the envy of the world with our response to the pandemic and our community has certainly risen to the occasion. We’ve followed advice, even when it hurt, for the sake of others as well as ourselves.
Yes, in retrospect, some things may have been better if done diff erently, but it has been a steep learning curve for everyone, and we’ve come such a long way with our knowledge since early last year. It’s incredibly sad that there have been deaths and businesses have been hit so hard, but through our collective eff ort we seem to have kept this virus at bay.
We are understandably upset by being corralled, having to sanitise, wear masks, and keep our distance from others, but simply look to some other countries at what the alternative might have been. Then again, there’s a spin-off — last year saw less infl uenza cases than usual. Eureka! This hygiene message works, keep it up!
Some in the media (and more in social media) are quick to highlight mistakes and it’s easy to dwell on the negatives, but take time to consider the good work done by the frontline and backroom workers dedicated to looking after us. And don’t forget the scientists who worked tirelessly to develop vaccines in record time.
Maybe we need to put it all in perspective with a collective “thank you” and we can take positive action such as continuing hygiene recommendations, shopping locally, supporting struggling businesses and most of all calling to touch base with friends and neighbours.
However, probably the most important thing we can do to help fi ght this pandemic is to get vaccinated. I completed my AstraZeneca course recently and I feel really good about it. Just so you know, I suff ered life-threatening clots to my lungs a few years back, but because I understand the science I knew this did not make me any more at risk of the extremely rare clotting syndrome than anyone else. I weighed this up with the knowledge that if I was to catch the virus without vaccination I would be many times more likely to develop that complication.
Also, importantly, over the last few months we’ve learned that the rare clotting syndrome is treatable if caught early.
Unless you have one of the very rare reasons for not getting vaccinated you need to ignore the fearmongers and listen to those who know the evidence, and your health.
Vaccination has been one of the most eff ective public health measures in history, along with sanitation, of course. Our ancestors lived in fear of infectious diseases that we hardly even know anymore. Our vaccination programs work.
We take calculated risks every day. It’s this calculation of risk versus benefi t that’s the key. If you’re worried, please talk to your doctor and complete your vaccination course when your turn comes.
