By Sue-Ann Wayow
PERSONS with the comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are being advised to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
This is because of the manner in which the virus further complicates the body’s functions if a person is already medically challenged.
The advice comes from Secretary of the Health, Wellness and Social Protection Division in Tobago Dr Faith B.Yisrael.
In her first Facebook live video since taking office, Dr B.Yisrael urged the public to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus that has already killed some 3000 persons nationwide.
To date, Tobago has recorded 208 Covid-19 related deaths, with Sunday recording the highest number of daily deaths which was six. A container is also being installed at the Scarborough General Hospital to contain the bodies of Covid-19 patients.
Dr B.Yisrael who is also the representative for Belle Garden/Glamorgan did the 45-minute video from her old electoral office in Goodwood answering questions from those who posted during the live presentation on Tuesday.
The secretary explained the effects of Covid-19 on patients with comorbidities. She said Tobago has one of the highest comorbidity rates amongst its population with some not even aware of ailments.
Using diabetes as an example, Dr B.Yisrael said diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body starts breaking down fat at a rate that is much too fast. The liver processes the fat into a fuel called ketones, which causes the blood to become toxic.
She said, “I don’t think people understand that if you have comorbidities, you have to be very, very careful not to get Covid. Because of the comorbidity, the diabetes, the heart disease, the cancer, whatever, you may have been controlling it all this time but Covid causes it to go crazy. And when it goes crazy, your body then cannot respond quickly enough and unfortunately, that has resulted in death… your sugar went crazy because you got Covid and that is what cause the ketoacidosis and that is what cause your severe illness and even your death.”
With Covid-19, the body has ten times more work to do to protect the individual and many times, the body simply does not have the strength to fight the illness.
Single saddest moment
The single saddest moment of the secretary’s day, she said, was to open her emails with the Covid-19 reports which include the deaths of persons who died and their vaccination status.
Dr B.Yisrael said, “When you realise that 98.99 per cent of us, our family members, our loved ones who have died were unvaccinated, you may find on a day when you have five people die, you may find one person was fully vaccinated. But, when you look at their history, that person had all kinds of sicknesses before and that person was very very sick before they got Covid, so even with the vaccine, their body could not withstand the Covid.”
She said,“ What we are realising is that the people who are getting ill, they also are not vaccinated. There are people who are vaccinated who get Covid. That is a fact. But when you look at the number, that number is fairly small.”
She also encouraged persons who developed a natural immunity to the virus due to previous contraction, to still take the Covid-19 vaccine as an added form of protection.
‘Don’t vex with us for pushing vaccination mainly’
And, she acknowledged that there was concern from persons who said all the health professionals were speaking about now was the Covid-19 vaccine and not about maintaining healthy lifestyles.
However, Dr B.Yisrael said she was positive that for persons with comorbidities, their doctors and nurses would have been encouraging them way before Covid-19 to exercise, eat healthily and do what was necessary to prolong their lives.
She said, “Let’s be honest. The health professionals have been begging you for the last ten years since you realised your blood sugar high, for the last ten years since you realised your blood pressure high, they have been begging you to change your diet, to eat healthy, to exercise more, to do what you need to do.”
She added, “Don’t vex with us, when we don’t focus on that now. Now we are trying to tell you something that will give you a quick response and a quick fighting chance.”
