Frontline perspective

This is the FINAL edition of Community Pulse. Hear host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann reflect on the pandemic. If you have turned to Community Pulse for information during the darkest days of the pandemic, or if KOPN has positively impacted your life in any other way, please consider supporting us during our summer pledge drive. Fare thee well!

Host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann says farewell to the show, and indicates that Matthew Holloway on Facebook is a good source for tracking rates of infection.https://www.facebook.com/holloweezyhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.htmlhttps://ourworldindata.org/blog/page/2Looking over the arc of the pandemic, Dr. Allemann emphasizes that it is not over until it is over for everyone. There was amazing progress with rapid genetic sequencing, vaccines were developed in record time, and China did admit fairly quickly that infection was happening. In comparison, the last flu pandemic got called the Spanish Flu because no other country would admit it was happening. Stumbles: the US created its own test rather than using the WHO test; we minimized masks at first; and we had insufficient masks, PPE, tests, and test materials. Surprising: masks were more important than ventilators. Not surprising: public health matters to us all, and nurses are essential. Many underpaid workers are essential. Inequality is dangerous and sometimes fatal. Graces: In the US, the hospital system held.  The FINAL edition of Community Pulse will air next Wednesday, June 9. As the pandemic seems to be lessening in severity in mid-Missouri, it is time to conclude the show and highlight other things in our community.

Host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann discusses the CDC guidelines on masking and vaccinations.Here are precautions recommended for the unvaccinated population.Information on recurrent infection, which is difficult to define and seems to be rare.Find the CDC's rationale for the new guidelines.

Host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann speaks with guest Sarah Davis about COVID vaccinations for children. Pfizer press release with some data

Host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann speaks with Sara Humm from the Boone County/City of Columbia Health Department about the end of the public health order and ongoing guidelines regarding COVID-19.

Dr. Elizabeth Allemann discusses the Columbia health orders that expire on May 12 and will not be renewed.

Ginny Chadwick reflects on the past year of co-hosting Community Pulse. Today was her last time hosting the program, and from now on Community Pulse will air only on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. with host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann. Thank you, Ginny!Ginny also discussed CDC guidelines for wearing a mask indoors. You can find that information here. 

Co-host Dr. Elizabeth Allemann speaks with Dr. Erik Martin, an emergency room physician who has worked in New York, Missouri, Oklahoma, and the Southwest US during this pandemic.

Missouri Foundation for Health's Messaging to Missourians About COVID-19 Vaccines:https://vimeo.com/531548031/78e7729a8dhttps://mffh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MFH-Vaccine-Presentation-FINAL.pdfhttps://mffh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MFH-Vaccine-Communications-Message-Guide-Final.pdf

Pertinent links:https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2106315https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2104840https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/JJUpdate.htmlhttps://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2021/han00442.asp