LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE UNITED States fell by one-and-a-half years in 2020, the largest annual decline in life expectancy since World War II. Now, one-and-a-half years into the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 728,000 American lives lost, we have an abundance of safe, accessible COVID-19 vaccines, and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine received full approval beyond emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August. Now, eligibility for boosters and children is expanding. Summer 2021 was supposed to be a return to normalcy, a “hot vax” summer of connection and prosperity. Instead, we saw a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of Center for Disease Control mask mandates, largely due to the over 90 million Americans who are eligible but remain unvaccinated, in the setting of the highly infectious Delta variant.
As medical professionals, we’ve seen the cost of refusing the vaccine firsthand: Care for serious illness caused by SARS-COV-2 is invasive and traumatizing at best, both for you and for your family. Worldwide, for adults, there is a 30 to 40 percent chance of dying from COVID-19 if you require intensive care. In addition, risk of mortality can be much higher for older adults (nearly 85 percent) and close to 50 percent in younger adults if you require intubation with mechanical ventilation.
If you chose not to get the vaccine, it’s time for you to let your doctors know what ending well looks like for you.
This story is from the November 05, 2021 edition of Newsweek.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 05, 2021 edition of Newsweek.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is It Time to Leave Syria?
The U.S. is reportedly considering withdrawing from the country, with pressure from Damascus amid deepening unrest in the region. Is this the right move? Two experts weigh in
Chris Perfetti
IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS SINGING THE PRAISES of ABC's Abbott Elementary, fear not, they've heard you. \"We love to hear it,\" says Chris Perfetti, who plays Jacob Hill on the Emmy-winning sitcom about teachers at a Philadelphia public school.
Divine Intervention
POPE FRANCIS' PROGRESSIVE REPOSITIONING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS CREATED BATTLE LINES BETWEEN ITS 1.3 BILLION FOLLOWERS, NO MORE SO THAN IN THE UNITED STATES
Who Rules Gaza When the Fighting Stops?
With no clear leader coming to the fore, questions remain about how the devastated territory will be managed
No End Game in Sight
Benjamin Netanyahu is risking a pyrrhic victory in Gaza that damages the chances of long-term peace
'We're Living a Nightmare - Day After Day'
Families of three Israeli hostages share their pain as they wait for their loved ones to be released, six months after they were abducted
Gillian Anderson
IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT'S TRUE ABOUT GILLIAN ANDERSON, IT'S THAT she isn't afraid of a challenge.
Alex Edelman
A JEW ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLES UPON A gathering of white nationalists. For most, this would be a cause for concern, but for Alex Edelman it's an opportunity for a hit one-man comedy show.
LEGACY OF DISUPTION
TOM DOLL CHANGED THE WAY SUBARU OPERATES. During a 40-year tenure at the automaker, he worked to develop some of the best-known vehicles and marketing campaigns in the automotive world.
SUSTAINABILITY DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR
SUSTAINABILITY ISN'T JUST ABOUT BUYING an electric vehicle or driving in a way that saves fuel.