Covid Update Colloquium enhances awareness and understanding

Full video available below,

Shocking stats re: long-haulers and risks to 70+ year olds.

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Absent reliable updates on the Covid pandemic during the last months of 2020, the Class of ‘69 turned again to its own resources to provide Classmates with the information needed.  In the months since April, 2020 the disease had forced changes in the way we think, act, and live as the healthcare, economic, and geopolitical aspects of the pandemic have played out in the most dramatic fashion.

Looking inwardly again we found clear understanding and answers to our many concerns and questions from Drs. Ken Davis and Ira Berkower.

The Zoom session on January 27th  featured CEO Ken Davis’s discussion of the changes required to convert New York’s Mt Sinai Health System into a Covid-ready, state of the art facility able to care for a surging population of Covid patients, in addition to non-Covid illness.

Widespread conversion of normal beds into ICU capability, enhanced staffing requirements, and a  non-stop pace of treating this life-altering, life-threatening illness over a period approaching one year represented only some of the modifications needed to confront the challenges.

During this period his staff of doctors, nurses, and support staff have not only responded to the challenges with determination and skill but in most instances helped set the standards for care.  Mt. Sinai has truly been a leader in identifying and managing this illness and been able to share their knowledge and leadership across the nation and beyond.

These are the experiences Ken Davis shared with us in intimate detail.

Ira Berkower, MD/PhD, has spent his career in vaccine development and has been a vaccine reviewer during his lifetime working for the FDA.  An immunologist by training, Ira discussed and provided fine detail of the process of vaccine development, antigen/antibody interactions, and the various types of vaccines.  He reviewed their modes of action, comparing their inherent strengths, potential weakness, and further focusing upon monoclonal antibody treatment as a viable alternative.

Ira shared an interesting animation showing the spread of the virus and its variants and provided copies of his slides for those interested.  (Personal use only, please; not for distribution or attribution to the FDA.)

Covid Long-Haulers.  In the Q&A Ken reported that 10-30% of hospitalized patients have long-term, persistent symptoms including “brain fog,” shortness of breath / exercise intolerance, and renal failure.  Many of these patients have still not recovered, and only time will tell if eventually they recover some of their prior functions.  Ken said that he personally plans to wear masks, socially distance and “be careful,” even though he has been vaccinated.  “I’ll likely have a good immune response given my general health,” said Ken. “But 95% is not 100%, and getting Covid at our age is potentially quite bad.”

The session (which did not require a final exam) provided the audience with ample opportunity to ask questions covering a broad spectrum of concerns.

The audience was captivated, as virtually everyone in attendance stayed through the session’s end, before joining residential college breakout groups.

In a poll of attendees, we found that 66% of classmates have already had, or shortly will get, the vaccine, with another 14% in March.

The session received high marks for relevance and content, leaving all attendees better informed and filled with appreciation for their Classmates’ leadership and skills.