Omaha doctors warn COVID-19 cases likely to spike this fall

On Jul 7, 2022

THE RISK OF COVID REINFECTION THIS SUMMER. GOOD EVENING. I’M JULIE CORNELL. ROB: I’M ROB MCCARTNEY. THEY WORRY VACCINATIONS MAY NOT BE KEEPING UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF NEW VARIANTS. JULIE: KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S JOEY SAFCHIK SPOKE WITH TO DOCTORS — WITH TWO DOCTORS ABOUT WHY THAT LATEST SHOT MAY NOT OFFER AS MUCH PROTECTION AS YOU THINK. REPORTER: YOU MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, BUT STILL GOT COVID. DOCTORS SAY, THAT IS BECAUSE OUR IMMUNITY WANES, AS WE MOVE FATHER FROM OUR LAST SHOT AND AS NEW VARIANTS MOVE FARTHER AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL STRAIN. PLUS, THEY SAY PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE VIRUS IS WANING AS RAPIDLY AS EVER. FOR SO MANY, IT HAS BEEN MONTHS SINCE THEIR LAST COVID SHOT. WE ARE NOT DOING WELL CONTINUING TO KEEP PEOPLE UP TO DATE ON BOOSTING, WE ARE NOT REALLY DOING WELL GETTING CHILDREN VACCINATED. REPORTER: UNMC INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT DR. JAMES LAWLER FEARS THE MONTHS AHEAD WILL BE MARRED BY MORE AND MORE VIRUS. IF THIS IS OUR SET POINT, GOING INTO THE FALL, THAT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN. REPORTER: AT THIS RATE, THERE ARE ABOUT 400 DEATHS A DAY IN THE U.S. THAT IS ABOUT 140,000 A YEAR. DEATHS HAVE PLATEAUED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, BUT DOCTORS LIKE CHI’S DAVID QUIMBY ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORST. IF YOU HAVE MORE INFECTED PEOPLE, JUST MORE OF THEM ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME ILL. REPORTER: TREATMENTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE, — AVAILABLE. THOSE TREATMENTS SHOULD BE USED MORE WIDELY. REPORTER: BUT QUIMBY SAYS WE SHOULD STILL TREAT VACCINES AS A SAVING GRACE. HONESTLY, PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN TREATMENT. REPORTER: AT THE CENTER OF MEDICAL CONVERSATIONS, THE REPERCUSSIONS OF REPEAT INFECTIONS. RIGHT NOW, THE THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT REPEAT INFECTIONS CAN BE AS SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY EVEN MORE SERIOUS. REPORTER: BUT BOTH DOCTORS FEAR THE PUBLIC NO LONGER TAKES THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. I THINK WE ARE ALREADY PRETENDING IT’S NORMAL, BUT IT’S NOT. EVEN THOUGH IT’S NOT OVERWHELMING OUR SYSTEM, IT WOULD BE KIND OF VERY UNFORTUNATE, IF THIS IS A BASELINE. REPORTER: WE ASKED IF IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO RETURN TO WORK BEFORE THE CDC RECOMMENDED WAITING PERIOD, EVEN IF YOU FEEL BETTER.

‘We’re not doing well’: Metro doctors warn cases, hospitalizations likely to spike in the fall

With hospitalizations on the rise and new variants in the Metro, doctors fear another COVID-19 spike is imminent.

Many Nebraskans received their last COVID-19 shot many months ago. Doctors fear the months ahead will be marred by more virus and less protection. “We’re not doing well, continuing to keep people up to date on boosting, we’re not really doing well getting children vaccinated,” said UNMC’s Dr. James Lawler, an infectious disease expert. “If this is our set point, going into the fall, that’s not a good sign.”Currently, according to Lawler, there are about 400 COVID-19-related deaths each day in the U.S. That would add up to about 140,000 a year. Deaths have plateaued in Douglas County, but doctors like CHI Health’s David Quimby are bracing for the worst in the coming months, given the recent rise in hospitalizations. “If you have more infected people, just more of them are more likely to become ill,” Quimby said. Treatments are readily available, and Lawler calls for them to be used more widely. Both Metro doctors agree, however, that getting vaccinated should be step one. Booster shots will bolster your protection. “Honestly, prevention is better than treatment,” Quimby said. In the third year of the pandemic, the repercussions of repeat infections are at the center of medical conversations.”Right now, the indications are that repeat infections can be as serious and potentially even more serious,” Lawler said. Yet, both doctors fear the public no longer takes the virus seriously enough.”I think we’re already pretending it’s normal, but it’s not,” Lawler said.

OMAHA, Neb. —

Many Nebraskans received their last COVID-19 shot many months ago. Doctors fear the months ahead will be marred by more virus and less protection.

“We’re not doing well, continuing to keep people up to date on boosting, we’re not really doing well getting children vaccinated,” said UNMC’s Dr. James Lawler, an infectious disease expert. “If this is our set point, going into the fall, that’s not a good sign.”

Currently, according to Lawler, there are about 400 COVID-19-related deaths each day in the U.S. That would add up to about 140,000 a year. Deaths have plateaued in Douglas County, but doctors like CHI Health’s David Quimby are bracing for the worst in the coming months, given the recent rise in hospitalizations.

“If you have more infected people, just more of them are more likely to become ill,” Quimby said.

Treatments are readily available, and…