Delta variant has Demopolis medical community ‘scared’

Doug Brewer is scared. So are Dr. Ronnie Chu and Donna Pope, a veteran of 40 years in nursing.

The three Demopolis healthcare professionals are pleading with the community to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of the looming threat of the coronavirus delta variant.

“We’re seeing the number go up at a really alarming pace,” said Brewer, CEO/Administrator of Whitfield Regional Hospital. Becoming vaccinated “is the only way to stop this.”

What is especially disturbing to them is the growing number of unvaccinated young people – those under 35 — who are becoming gravely ill from the virus during this latest spike in cases caused by the more lethal and transmissible delta variant.

The virus “is going in a vicious way for young people,” Brewer said.

Dr. Chu admitted he wouldn’t have argued last year with young adults who said they weren’t going to get the vaccine. Now he is begging them to get the shots.

Pope, head of nursing at WRH, said she has seen “too many 20-year-olds on vents in the last month.”

Brewer said the facility went almost two months without a single person being admitted with COVID-19. Thursday there were eight patients, two of them in the ICU, and all unvaccinated.

As Alabama’s seven-day average of hospitalized patients rose 84 percent in the last week, WRH saw its caseload double.

“What’s scary is that this is a faster acceleration we’ve seen over the past two weeks than we saw in either one of the past two spikes,” Brewer continued. “That’s why everybody is so scared.”

Some patients who have been on ventilators have been transferred, but that is becoming more difficult as other hospitals are filling up and cannot accept patients. WRH has turned away requests to take patients as well because it has no more room available.

Even more tragic is the first death Wednesday morning in this latest spike of the disease. State-wide, deaths have almost doubled from seven to 12 per day, Brewer said. People under 35 make up 16.5 percent of all hospitalized patients in the state, and children make up 2.3 percent.

“That’s the biggest point I’d love to make; 50 or younger, you’ve got to get the vaccine because you’re the one that’s going to be lying in a bed on a vent,” he said.

The delta variant is five to six times more transmissible than the original virus, Brewer continued. He explained that when COVID first hit, the estimated time of exposure before contracting the disease was 15 minutes. Now it is one minute.

All three have heard the arguments and the concerns about receiving vaccinations, but, said Dr. Chu, it’s a matter weighing the risks against the benefits.

Some people are hesitant about the vaccine because of possible long-term side-effects. Pope said long-term effects of the coronavirus itself are unknown, too, but heart issues, mental impairment and physical weakness are not uncommon, and other issues are being brought to light.

While breakthrough cases have been documented, there are no reported deaths among those who have had the vaccine, said Pope. Unfortunately, with the delta variant they can still transmit the virus, which is why wearing masks is encouraged.

The vaccine for COVID-19 is like the flu vaccine, the trio agreed. You might get COVID, but it will be a much milder case. “Most don’t need treatment,” Pope added. “It’s at least giving you a chance.”

“We have the best vaccines in the world,” said Dr. Chu. He has fielded requests from people of other countries who want to come to the U.S. for a month to get the shots.

The Alabama Hospital Association has stressed that the current vaccines went through all the necessary steps for development, testing and authorization. The shorter time was due to some of the steps overlapping instead of doing them one after the other.

WRH is offering the Moderna vaccine to walk-ins at The Whit Clinic Fitz-Gerald from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Its mobile clinic will be in Linden Saturday, July 31, and on Aug. 9 in Thomaston to administer shots.

Dr. Chu said his office offers the vaccine to those who make an appointment. Vaccines are available at all drug stores in the county as well.

 The Moderna vaccine can be given to anyone 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer vaccine is available for those 12 years and up.

“I want to scare people into getting the shots,” said Brewer.

“If they don’t step up, their kids won’t have a life,” said Pope. “We’ll be wearing these masks forever.”

“Long story short,” said Dr. Chu, “get vaccinated.”