Just as there are antivaxxers, I’m a provaxxer. I have been since I took Immunology in medical school. Susan, as a pediatrician, has always been even more of a provaxxer than I. I recall during my tenure as a VA physician having read an analysis of the cost of a QALY (a quality-adjusted life year). The analysis had been done by a group of VA nurses, if memory serves so many years ago. The cheapest way to save human years of life was childhood vaccination. A year of life gained cost only pennies.
The years of life gained through the treatment of chronic diseases cost hundreds of dollars. The years of life gained through advanced interventions such as coronary artery bypass surgery cost thousands of dollars. And the years of life gained through public health and safety interventions such as superfund cleanups cost tens of thousands of dollars.
I have been religiously provaxx since I saw those numbers and after watching many geriatric patients die from Pneumococcal sepsis, others from respiratory failure due to Influenza, and others suffer the pain and misery of Zoster.
I went to my neighborhood Walgreens for three vaccines this afternoon – RSV in the left arm, and high-dose Influenza (Fluzone) and the current Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine in the right arm. After making it home, I took a slow-release Acetaminophen in anticipation of some deltoid discomfort tonight. I not only believe in vaccination, I also believe in prophylaxis.
While I waited for my vaccinations, I noticed a display of tests – COVID tests, tests for personal genetic profile (Ancestry.com kind of thing), tests for drug use, tests for vitamin levels, testosterone, pregnancy, and so on. They even had breathalyzer devices for sale! Here’s what the display looked like.
