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Stevenson: Outpatient treatment necessary

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I know, I know ... you are sick and tired of hearing about, talking about or being afraid of the COVID virus and I agree with you. But, there are real solutions to this, if you can give me a few minutes.

In fact, if you will actually read this short but critical letter, I have a Christmas surprise for you: For the first 12 people who send me an email and tell me your thoughts about this letter, I will play Santa and send you a Christmas gift. Really. (See my email address at the end of the letter.)

Note: But if you just send me a nasty note, telling me I am crazy, or a lunatic, I will take the next email and you will forfeit your surprise, fair enough?

Okay. Okay. Yes, it’s an “ethical bribe” to see what you are thinking about helping the world, one treatment at a time.

To the point, you know each year the seasonal flu hits us and it is terrible. We even have a vaccine for it every year, but we also have treatments! You know all this already, but bear with me.

The treatments could be antihistamines, decongestants, acetaminophen, antibiotics, and even antivirals, like Tamiflu …You know the drill right?

During the 2018-19 flu season, only 49.2% of people ages six months and older received a flu vaccine according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Department of Health and Human Services had a target of 70% of people they wanted to see get the vaccine. You get where I am going with this, we have a vaccine but not everyone gets it. For the people who do not want the vaccine, we need outpatient treatments.

So, the system is: You feel bad, your doctor sends your prescription to the pharmacy and you take it … and presto, (most of the time) you feel better. Well you get my point. We don’t have that type of system in place with this COVID virus. It’s the missing link!

Since most people just feel bad, they go home, quarantine, rest, fluids … you know, you have done it. Oh no, we don’t yet have the treatment options in place.

I am not here to play doctor or pharmacist. But there are options to get this world back on its feet. You have heard about the vitamin D, zinc, Quercetin, nebulizer treatments, antibiotics, antivirals etc. “We know medicine is a practice,” but we better start practicing common sense and science to combat our microbial enemies.

Remember vaccines are critical but not everyone gets them. Maybe they should? If you think I am wrong, that’s OK … but remember HIV, the brilliant scientists found treatment remedies for this scourge and patients survived, but no vaccine!

If you have read this far thank you for reading. You have been awesome!

Here’s my email: pharmacist61@gmail.com.

If you write, remember, please provide only your thoughts and solutions. We are all in this together.

The surprise is a gift card which will be mailed to you. I love playing Santa, but I don’t want to look like him, so I will stop writing and put down the cookies!

Merry Christmas. Be well.

Russell Stevenson
Sun City

COVID-19, virus