Joe Biden – watercress words by Dr Aletha

On September 9, 2021, President Biden addressed the nation from the White House briefing room, sharing

where we are in the battle against COVID-19, the progress we’ve made, and the work we have left to do.

His remarks outlined a series of executives orders and recommendations which have been met with controversy; I will briefly list them but there was one that I think no one can disagree with. He asked the nation’s family physicians, and I am one, to talk to our patients about the vaccine.

I’m already doing that and I think most primary care doctors are. But I think he should have taken it one step further, and that is to ask Americans to

Talk to your doctor about COVID-19

a female physician talking to a male patient — photo from the LIGHTSTOCK.COM collection (affiliate link)

Like most of you, I am on social media, not just professionally but personally, and I have been appalled when people I know pass around information that is unverified, unreferenced, contrary to science, inflammatory, conspiratorial, and sometimes just plain nonsense.

I absolutely support anyone’s right to have an opinion and share it, but labeling opinion as truth when it may or may not be true is irresponsible. And I somewhat agree with Mr. Biden when he said ” These pandemic politics, as I refer to, are making people sick, causing unvaccinated people to die. “

So I am asking you to make your personal physician your first line source for understanding the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the available vaccines.

Your doctor may not be an expert on the pandemic; we are all working overtime to keep ourselves informed and still take care of the myriad of other health conditons our patients bring to us. But the advantage is your doctor knows you, and any medical decision ultimately boils down to what you and they decide working together, it’s called “shared decision making.”

What if your doctor recommends against the vaccine? That’s possible because I know there are some medical professionals who have taken the minority opinion on the safety of the vaccine. I do not understand their position; some of the high profile ones are known for consistently taking a stance against mainstream medicine. If that’s the case for you, I encourage you to ask why they lack confidence in the vaccine and what would it take for them to change their minds. Ultimately, the choice one way or the other is yours, so be sure it is a truly informed choice.

Michael Munger, M.D., consults a patient at his medical office in Overland Park, Kan. — Photo compliments of American Academy of Family Physicians

President Biden’s plan

You’ve probably read or heard it in the news by now, but here is an outline of his major points.

Large employers, those with 100 or more employees, should require vaccination or weekly testing

Vaccination required for all federal employees and contractors

Vaccine required for employees in all healthcare facilities that are paid by Medicare and Medicaid, and all federally funded educational facilities like HeadStart

Large venues such as sports or concerts to require vaccination or negative test for entrance by patrons

Home tests available at cost at Amazon, Walmart, and Kroger

Federal funding for testing at schools and salary protection for teachers who protect children

Continue mask requirements on interstate travel and in federal buildings

Calling on the states’ governors to support viral mitagation measures in schools

President Biden Visits NIH Vaccine Research Center — NIH immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett speaks to President Joe Biden about the fundamental research that contributed to the development of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines when the President visited NIH’s Vaccine Research Center on February 11, 2021. Credit: NIH/Chiachi Chang

Here is my previous review of President Biden’s original plan to deal with the pandemic as he took office in January 2021.

2021-National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their science and healthcare teams have developed a plan with 7 goals to end this pandemic and prevent others. You can read the entire 200 page report at the link. Here is a list of the 7 goals with a few of the points of each goal.

1. Restore trust with the American people.

establishes a federal COVID-19 response team to coordinate efforts
regular public briefings led by science experts
track and make data available to the public by the CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate with the World Health Organization (WHO), federal, state and local public health partners, and clinicians in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. CDC is closely monitoring the situation and working 24/7 to provide updates. — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate with the World Health Organization (WHO), federal, state and local public health partners, and clinicians in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. CDC is closely monitoring the situation and working 24/7 to provide updates credit James Gathany, public domain

2.Mount a safe, effective, and comprehensive vaccination campaign.

increase the production of vaccines
give states clearer projections on vaccine availability
partner with states to create more vaccine centers
launch a national campaign to educate and encourage Americans on vaccine

3. Mitigate spread through expanding masking, testing, data, treatments,health care workforce, and clear public health standards.

asking Americans to wear masks for 100 days (note-this adds to any state or local recommendations or mandates on mask use)
require masks on public transportation
the CDC develop guidelines to help schools and businesses to reopen
create programs to develop new treatments for COVID-19

cloth facial coverings to prevent transmission of COVID-19 — Mask use required on airplanes, trains, and other public transportation

4.Immediately expand emergency relief and exercise the Defence Production Act.

increase emergency funding to the states for pandemic costs, including for PPE and use of National Guard
invoke the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of PPE, and testing and vaccination supplies

5. Safely reopen schools, businesses, and travel while protecting workers.

develop a national strategy to reopen most schools within 100 days
federal agencies to issue updated guidance on protection for workers
asks Congress to provide financial aid to schools, universities, and daycares (cost in the billions)

a girl with a large backpack, walking to a school bus

6. Protect those most at risk and advance equity, including across racial, ethnic and rural/urban lines.

establishes an equity task force to address disparities based on race, ethnicity, and geography
create a U.S. Public Health Workforce to help with testing and vaccinations in their communities

Healthy People 2030, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved [date graphic was accessed], from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health

7. Restore U.S. leadership globally and build better preparedness for future threats.

rejoin the World Health Organization
increase humanitarian aid and support efforts to fight COVID-19 around the world
asks for Congressional support to establish a national center to prepare for future biological threats

2 bandaids crossed on a world globe — photo from the Lightstock collection (affiliate link)

Exploring the HEART of health

By following this blog, you’ll know when I post additional pieces reviewing the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other topics that explore the HEART of health.

Dr. Aletha

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update February 24, 2023

In his 2023 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden said,

let’s recognize how far we came in the fight against the pandemic itself.

While the virus is not gone, thanks to the resilience of the American people and the ingenuity of medicine, we’ve broken the COVID grip on us.

COVID deaths are down by 90 percent. We’ve saved millions of lives and opened up our country — we opened our country back up.

And soon, we’ll end the public health emergency.

looking back at COVID-19

On March 11,2021 President Biden addressed the country about the current progress of ending the pandemic. He said

I carry a card in my pocket with the number of Americans who have died from COVID to date. It’s on the back of my schedule. As of now, the total deaths in America: 527,726.
President Biden

He announced we will have enough vaccine for every adult to be vaccinated by the end of May 2021.

Concerning current vaccination progress, we have vaccinated

65% of people over age 65
70% of people over age 70

Concerning schools he said

with the passage of the American Rescue Plan — I thank the House and Senate for passing it — and my…. plan to vaccinate teachers and school staff….. we can accelerate the massive, nationwide effort to reopen our schools safely and meet my goal… of opening the majority of K-8 schools in my first 100 days in office. This is going to be the number one priority of my new Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.
President Biden

Thanks to usnews.com for publishing the complete transcript of his speech at this link.

President Joe Biden on the Coronavirus Pandemic

The United States government and healthcare

Here is a brief review of the healthcare agencies of the United States government.

The President leads the Executive Branch of the government, including all of the departments and agencies headed by the Cabinet members, including the Department of Health and Human Services.

The sitting President heads the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government.

The Department of Health and Human Services ,through the President’s Cabinet secretary, manages the response to COVID-19. Other Cabinet members and their Departments are involved as well.

The agencies most involved in the COVID-19 response include

Health and Human Services-HHS
Federal Emergency Management Agency-FEMA
Centers for Disease Control-CDC
National Institutes of Health-NIH
Federal Drug Administration-FDA
Small Business Administration-SBA
Veterans Administration-VA
Department of Defense -DOD
Treasury Department
State Department

an electron microscope image of the coronavirus — the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for causing COVID-19- photo used with permission, CDC.GOV

December 31, 2019-China reports the coronavirus to WHO-the World Health Organization.

2020-The Biden-Harris Plan

During their campaign for the White House, Mr. Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris posted a 7 point plan to confront and control COVID-19.